What causes mouth ulcers and how do I heal them faster?
Mouth ulcers are usually common aphthous ulcers, and they run in families. They flare with stress, minor bites, and certain toothpastes with SLS foaming agents. Acidic foods and dips in iron or B12 also set them off. They are not contagious, unlike cold sores.
Faster comfort: protective gels, medicated mouthwash, avoiding acid and spice while raw, switching to SLS-free toothpaste for repeat sufferers, and treating any low iron or B12.
The three week rule is firm: any single ulcer that has not healed in three weeks needs a professional look, particularly in smokers or drinkers. Frequent crops with gut symptoms or eye or joint inflammation also deserve joined-up assessment.
Source: NHS, mouth ulcers
See a doctor promptly if
- Iron deficiency in any man, or in any woman past the menopause, without an obvious bleeding cause
- Black tarry stools, visible blood in stool, or vomiting blood or material like coffee grounds
- Iron deficiency with unintentional weight loss, a change in bowel habit lasting over three weeks, or a family history of bowel cancer
- Breathlessness at rest, chest pain, fainting, or a resting heart rate persistently above 100
- Periods needing hourly pad or tampon changes, passing clots larger than a coin, or flooding through clothing and bedding
- Pica. Craving and eating ice, clay, chalk or raw rice
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
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A basic digital stick thermometer is accurate and costs a few dollars. Forehead scanners are fine for quick checks on children; ear thermometers need good technique to read true.
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