Diagnosing Mouth Sores

Mouth sores can occur for a variety of reasons and the correct diagnoses depends on being able to identify the cause. The most common types of mouth sores are a variety called recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

They can occur for a variety of reasons but they do tend to run in families. They can also be caused by an injury in the mouth such as biting down on the cheek, tongue or lip. Stress, lack of sleep and certain foods, particularly those that are high in acid or salt will also trigger them.

Foods to watch out for include coffee, almonds, cereals, peanuts, eggs, strawberries, cheese and tomatoes.

They begin with a painful burning sensation and a day or so later a sore or ulcer will start to develop on the soft tissue of the mouth. Doctors will immediately recognise this type of mouth sore as it is very painful.

The pain will be most severe during the first four to seven days. The sufferer is most likely to be surprised that such a small wound could cause such pain.

The wound or ulcer is usually a small swollen bump that appears on the soft tissue of the lip or cheek, on the tongue or under the tongue, the soft palate or the throat. They have a yellow-grey centre and a red line around the border.

Usually this type of mouth sore can last up to two weeks. But due to the pain, the sufferer will go to the doctor immediately. The doctor is likely to recommend mouth rinses and in some cases corticosteroids. In most cases, they disappear by themselves. They do not leave scars.

Another type of mouth sore is called a canker sore and the cause of these mouth sores is unknown. Yet they are one of the more common strains of mouth sore. This condition appears to look much more serious than the other kinds but is less painful.

This condition usually begins as a result of some kind of injury and can cause a hole or large gaping sore will appear in the roof of the mouth. Despite its scary appearance, this type of mouth sore can be treated with antiseptic and anaesthetic cream. It usually clears up after a period of three months.

Other types of mouth sores can be caused by infections such as hand-foot-mouth disease, irritation from loose dentures or jagged teeth as well as inflammatory bowel disease.