Mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers are common and should clear up on their own within a week or 2. But see a GP or dentist if you have a mouth ulcer that lasts longer than 3 weeks.

How you can treat mouth ulcers yourself

Mouth ulcers are rarely a sign of anything serious, but may be uncomfortable to live with.

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

Avoiding things that irritate your mouth ulcer should help:

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:

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

How to rinse with salt mouthwash
  1. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water – warm water helps salt dissolve.
  2. Rinse your mouth with the solution, then spit it out – do not swallow it.
  3. Repeat as often as you like.

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

  • lasts longer than 3 weeks
  • keeps coming back
  • grows bigger than usual or is near the back of your throat
  • bleeds or 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

A GP or dentist may prescribe stronger medicine to treat severe, persistent or infected mouth ulcers.

Possible treatments include:

Check if you have a mouth ulcer

A large, white, circular mouth ulcer on the inside of the bottom lip.
Mouth ulcers usually appear inside the mouth, on the cheeks or lips.
A large, white, circular mouth ulcer on the underside 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.

Causes of mouth ulcers

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

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

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

Page last reviewed: 19 January 2021
Next review due: 19 January 2024