Mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers are common and should clear up on their own within a week or 2. They're rarely a sign of anything serious, but may be uncomfortable to live with.

How you can treat mouth ulcers yourself

Mouth ulcers need time to heal and there's no quick fix.

Avoiding things that irritate your mouth ulcer should help:

speed up the healing process
reduce pain
reduce the chance of it returning

Do

use a soft-bristled toothbrush
drink cool drinks through a straw
eat softer foods
get regular dental check-ups
eat a healthy, balanced diet

Don't

do not eat very spicy, salty or acidic food
do not eat rough, crunchy food, such as toast or crisps
do not drink very hot or acidic drinks, such as fruit juice
do not use chewing gum
do not use toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulphate

A pharmacist can help with mouth ulcers

A pharmacist can recommend a treatment to speed up healing, prevent infection or reduce pain, such as:

antimicrobial mouthwash
a painkilling mouthwash, gel or spray
corticosteroid lozenges

You can buy these without a prescription, but they may not always work.

Find a pharmacy

Non-urgent advice: See a dentist or GP if your mouth ulcer:

lasts longer than 3 weeks
keeps coming back
becomes more painful and red – this may be a sign of an infection

Although most mouth ulcers are harmless, a long-lasting mouth ulcer is sometimes a sign of mouth cancer. It's best to get it checked.

Treatment from a dentist or GP

Your GP or dentist may prescribe stronger medication to treat severe, recurrent or infected mouth ulcers.

Check if you have a mouth ulcer

Single mouth ulcer on the inside of the bottom lip — Mouth ulcers usually appear inside the mouth, on the cheeks or lips.

Clear white-coloured mouth ulcer on the tip of the tongue — Ulcers can also appear on the tongue.

You may have more than 1 ulcer at a time and they can change in size.

Mouth ulcers are not contagious and should not be confused with cold sores.

Cold sores appear on the lips or around the mouth and often begin with a tingling, itching or burning sensation.

If you have several mouth ulcers, this can be a symptom of:

hand, foot and mouth disease, which also causes a rash on the hands and feet
oral lichen planus, which causes a white, lacy pattern inside the cheeks

You cannot always prevent mouth ulcers

Most single mouth ulcers are caused by things you can try to avoid, such as:

biting the inside of your cheek
badly fitting dentures, braces, rough fillings or a sharp tooth
cuts or burns while eating or drinking – for example, hard food or hot drinks
a food intolerance or allergy
damaging your gums with a toothbrush or irritating toothpaste
feeling tired, stressed or anxious

Sometimes they're triggered by things you cannot always control, such as:

hormonal changes – such as during pregnancy
your genes – some families get mouth ulcers more often
a long-term condition – such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), coeliac disease or Behçet's disease
a vitamin B12 or iron deficiency
medicines – including some NSAIDs, beta blockers or nicorandil
stopping smoking – people may develop mouth ulcers when they first stop smoking

Page last reviewed: 9 January 2018
Next review due: 9 January 2021