Mouth Ulcers: Why Do They Appear and How to Get Rid of Them?

The website Medical Xpress published an extended report, republishing an article from the scientific journal The Conversation, which addressed one of the most common and bothersome oral issues: mouth ulcers, which can turn eating, drinking, or even speaking into a painful experience despite their small size.

According to the report, up to a quarter of the world’s population experiences these ulcers at some point in their lives, with higher prevalence among teenagers and young adults. While some individuals suffer from only one or two ulcers per year, others experience them monthly. The report emphasized that, despite the genuine daily discomfort they may cause, mouth ulcers are generally non-contagious and not serious in the vast majority of cases.

The Conversation clarified that the causes of these ulcers are often simple and linked to direct injuries to the oral mucosa, such as accidentally biting the cheek, scratching the gums with a toothbrush, or irritation from braces or dentures.

The report noted that minor changes in daily habits can make a significant difference in reducing the frequency of these ulcers. Among the key preventive and therapeutic measures recommended were:

- Using over-the-counter topical treatments, which may alleviate pain and sometimes shorten the duration of the ulcer.

The report pointed out that most of these ulcers heal spontaneously within one to two weeks without the need for specialized medical intervention. It stressed that understanding the underlying causes of mouth ulcers, combined with adopting simple lifestyle adjustments, can make recurrences less bothersome and help individuals be better prepared to manage them if they reappear.