Mouth Ulcers: What You Need to Know?

Answer 1

Mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores, can be truly uncomfortable to live with. These small, shallow ulcers usually crop up inside your mouth on your inner lip or gum line, and they can be smaller in size or larger, deeper, and more painful. They make eating, drinking, and talking painful. Mouth ulcers are commonly believed to be caused by stress, although they may also be caused by eating a highly acidic diet as well as injuries to your mouth such as when you accidentally bite your inner lip or when braces scratch the inside of the mouth.

Those who are prone to getting cankers will want to take preventive measures. Because stress is considered to be the leading cause of mouth ulcers, taking steps to minimize stress in your life can be beneficial. You can also take steps to reduce the intake of highly acidic foods by cutting out or cutting back on foods like lemons, limes, Oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, and other such foods.

While preventive measures may help to limit the frequency and severity of canker sores, you may still experience them from time to time. A common home remedy is to apply a small dab of baking soda to the sore to neutralize the effect, or to otherwise swish with a baking soda and water mixture. There are some over-the-counter topical oral pain relief options designed to offer temporarily pain relief for canker sores, too. If pain is severe, you can discuss the possibility of a prescription-strength pain reliever with your doctor.

If your mouth ulcers are common and severe in nature, consider talking to your doctor about your health issue. Recurring and severe mouth ulcers may be an indication of a more serious underlying issue such as a gastrointestinal disease like Cohn's or Celiac disease, or a deficiency in folic acid, zinc, iron, or vitamin B12. Your doctor may want to do a thorough exam to rule out these possibilities.