Mouth Ulcers Treatment in Delhi, India

Mouth ulcers appear as small, ovoid, red, and painful bubbles on any surface of the mouth - palate, tongue, gums, lips, and cheeks. They may contain fluid and burst easily on applying pressure.

Mouth ulcers are of the following types:

• Major ulcers - The major ulcers are large and deeply penetrated within the mucosa. They are irregular in shape, slightly raised, and likely to leave scar tissue when they disappear after several weeks.

• Minor ulcers - Minor ulcers are small, oval, red, and often fluid-filled blisters. They are shallow and disappear within two weeks. 

• Herpetiform ulcers - They are a sub-type of aphthous ulcers and resemble herpetic sores. It is not contagious and doesn’t recur. Its characteristic feature is an irregular margin, and it heals without scarring. Other features of Herpetiform ulcers are:

• Large ulcers
• New ulcers appear in the mouth even before the existing ones heal
• Painless sores that persist for more than three weeks and extend to the lips, too.
• Sometimes, suffering uncontrolled pain that does not fade with over-the-counter medicines
• Accompanying fever and diarrhoea
• Difficulty in eating and drinking

Ulcers may appear due to the following reasons:

• Dehydration - Not drinking plenty of water may lead to painful ulcers in the mouth, especially on the tongue. They resolve when adequate fluids are taken orally.

• Injury - If one accidentally bites their cheeks when chewing food, it may cause an ulcer. This ulcer may be painful and usually disappears within a day or two.

Injury when brushing teeth, the constant rubbing against misaligned or sharp/broken teeth may cause ulcers.

• Gingivostomatitis - It is a common infection affecting children. It produces tender blisters on the gums or cheeks and has a greyish-yellow border and a red, inflamed center. It may cause fever, drooling, and pain with eating.

• Folate deficiency - Vitamin B deficiency is the common cause of mouth ulcers. Vitamin B deficiency may occur when an individual is suffering from anaemia or low blood cells. It may accompany symptoms such as weakness, ulcers, grey hair, paleness of the skin, and fatigue.

Apart from these, ulcers are also caused by burns from eating hot food, injury from a toothbrush (brushing too hard and injuring gums, constant rubbing of dentures or braces against oral mucosa, irritation from strong mouthwash, infectious diseases, and oral cancer.

Treatment of ulcers largely depends on the cause. The majority of ulcers do not require any treatment and resolve on their own. However, if they occur too frequently and affect day-to-day life, the following line of treatment can be followed:

• Application of topical gels containing an anaesthetic component about 3-4 times a day.
• Drinking plenty of fluids to eradicate dehydration.
• Rinse mouth with saltwater and baking soda or apply its paste to the ulcer
• Application of ice for canker sores
• Placing milk of magnesia on the ulcer
• Using a steroid mouthwash to control pain and swelling
• Taking supplements such as Vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folic acid, and Zinc.
• Keeping damp tea bags on the ulcer

One has an increased risk of getting mouth ulcers in case of:

• Vitamin deficiency
• Stress
• Viral infection
• Imbalanced hormones
• Allergic to certain medications or food
• Genetic predisposition to ulcers

The following can prevent ulceration in the mouth:

• Drinking adequate fluids and avoid the situation of dehydration
• Brushing teeth gently
• Adopting methods such as exercise to reduce stress
• Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet
• Regular check-ups for timely diagnosis of underlying medical condition

Reviewed by Dr. Anurag Singh, Principal Consultant - Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon and Implantologist on 16-Dec-2022.

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