A mouth ulcer or canker sore is a painful open sore inside the mouth caused by a break in the mucous membrane. The condition is also called aphthous stomatitis. An ulcer (from Latin ulcus) is an open sore of the skin, eyes or mucous membrane, often caused by an initial abrasion and generally maintained by an inflammation and/or an infection. ... The mucous membranes (or mucosa) are linings of ectodermic origin, covered in epithelium, that line various body cavities and internal organs. ...

Canker sore on the lower lip

Symptoms

A mouth ulcer appears as a yellow or grey oval, on average about 3 mm across, with an inflamed red border. The ulcer, which itself is often extremely painful when agitated, may be accompanied by a painful swelling of the lymph nodes below the jaw, which can be mistaken for toothache. Lymph nodes are components of the lymphatic system. ... A toothache, also known as odontalgia, is an aching pain in or around a tooth. ...

Causes

The immediate cause of mouth ulcers is unknown, but factors that appear to provoke them include stress and illness, damage from rough teeth, and deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folic acid. Stress (roughly the opposite of relaxation) is a medical term for a wide range of strong external stimuli, both physiological and psychological, which can cause a physiological response called the general adaptation syndrome, first described in 1936 by Hans Selye in the journal Nature. ... Cobalamin or vitamin B12 is a chemical compound that is also known as cyanocobalamine. ... Folic acid (the anion form is called folate) is a B-complex vitamin (once called vitamin M) that is important in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs) in the developing human fetus. ...

A common urban myth is that mouth ulcers are directly connected to the onset of the Herpes simplex virus, but in reality ulcers associated with herpes are of an entirely different nature from mouth ulcers. It is also said that excessive consumption of sweets is a cause of mouth ulcers - this is believed to be an old wives' tale. Urban Legend is also the name of a 1998 movie. ... The Herpes simplex virus infection (common names: herpes, cold sores) is a common, contagious, incurable, and in some cases sexually transmitted disease caused by a double-stranded DNA virus. ... The term confectionery refers to food items rich in sugar. ...

Other disorders can cause mouth ulcers, including oral thrush, leukoplakia, gingivostomatitis and oral lichen planus. Mouth ulcers are also associated with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, coeliac disease (gluten sensitivity) and Behcet's disease. The treatment depends on the cause. Oral thrush is an infection of yeast fungus, Candida albicans, in the mucous membranes of the mouth. ... Leukoplakia is a common condition (<1%) of the mouth that involves the formation of white spots on the mucous membranes of the tongue and inside of the mouth. ... Diagram of the Human Intestine Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the bowel, that usually affects the distal end of the large intestine and rectum. ... Crohns disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract and it can involve any part of it - from the mouth to the anus. ... Coeliac disease (also termed non-tropical sprue, celiac disease and gluten intolerance) is an autoimmune disease characterised by chronic inflammation of the proximal portion of the small intestine caused by exposure to certain dietary gluten proteins. ...

Treatment

Mouth ulcers normally heal without treatment within seven to ten days. The symptoms can be alleviated by medicines such as mouthwashes, pastilles and pain-relieving gels, which are available in drugstores. Treatments based on antibiotics and steroids are reserved for severe cases, and should be used only under medical supervision. Good oral hygiene and avoidance of spicy foods can help to reduce the pain. Rinsing one's mouth with a solution made from teaspoon of Baking soda in a cup of water will temporarily numb the ulcer by neutralizing the acidic environment in the mouth - traditionally a saline solution or milk have been used to soothe ulcers. Powdered alum has also been known to dry out mouth ulcers quickly, reducing pain and allowing for faster healing. Some people recommend swabbing the sore with hydrogen peroxide followed by a coating of milk of magnesia. Others swear by making a paste of baking soda and water or an antacid (like Tums) and water and applying the paste directly to the sore. Anbesol and Campho-Phenique will deaden the pain and some say help in healing. However, most home remedies seem to include something mildly antibiotic (Listerine or hydrogen peroxide) or an antacid (Tums, baking soda, or milk of magnesia) or both. An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ... In chemistry and biology, Steroids are a type of lipid, characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings. ... Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), or sodium hydrogen carbonate, also known as baking soda and bicarbonate of soda, is a soluble white anhydrous or crystalline compound, with a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate. ... Saline may refer to: Salinity Saline (medicine) Saline, Michigan Saline, Scotland - a village in the burgh of Fife, Scotland. ... A glass of milk Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. ... For alum meaning graduate, see Alumn. ... The chemical compound hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a viscous liquid that has strong oxidizing properties and is therefore a powerful bleaching agent that has found use as a disinfectant and (in high concentrations) as an oxidizer or monopropellant in rockets. ... Milk of magnesia Mg(OH)2 is a saline-type laxative. ... Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), or sodium hydrogen carbonate, also known as baking soda and bicarbonate of soda, is a soluble white anhydrous or crystalline compound, with a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate. ... An antacid is any substance that counteracts stomach acidity. ... A home remedy is a treatment or cure for a disease or other ailment that employs certain foods or other common household items. ...

If the ulcer does not heal within a week, a doctor may cauterize it using a silver-nitrate applicator. This procedure immediately burns off the sore, and will completely disappear within a few hours.

Some dentists recommend a sulfuric acid solution for treating mouth ulcers, such as debacterol. Dentists can also use a laser to stop the pain immediately and let the ulcer heal in two to three days. The miracle cures that are advertised should be viewed with skepticism. X-rays can reveal if a person has cavities Dentistry is the practical application of knowledge of dental science (the science of placement, arrangement, function of teeth) to human beings. ... Sulfuric acid (British English: sulphuric acid), H2SO4, is a strong mineral acid. ... Debacterol is a liquid topical agent that is used in the treatment of ulcerating oral mucosal lesions. ... Laser (US Air Force) A laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is a device which uses a quantum mechanical effect, stimulated emission, to generate a coherent beam of light from a lasing medium of controlled purity, size, and shape. ...

Prevention

In some cases, switching toothpastes can prevent mouth ulcers from occurring, with some being able to reduce the occurrence of ulcers by approximately 80%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate, a detergent found in most toothpastes, often increases the likelihood of an occurance of mouth ulcers. Using toothpaste free of this compound has been found to help many people by reducing the amount and size of ulcers and in some cases, completely stopping them. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS or NaDS) (CH3(CH2)11OSO3Na) (FW 288. ...

Rinsing your mouth with a mix of teaspoon of salt disolved in 250ml of water before brushing your teeth acts as a mild antibiotic and can speed up the time taken for the mouth ulcer to heal as well as reducing pain in the short term. An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ...