Mouth ulcers or canker sores are different types of sores that can occur in different areas and cause great discomfort. Usually these sores are caused by some external factor that creates a wound in our mouth, but they can also occur due to certain diseases or conditions such as emotional stress. If you think you are suffering from them, check out this article at oneHOWTO to find out what the symptoms of mouth ulcers are.
The most common kind of mouth ulcers are cankers, which can develop into a painful and annoying condition for the patient. Mouth ulcers can be caused by external factors, for example:
- The use of oral appliances that generate friction and discomfort in the mouth
- A broken tooth causing damage to any area of the mouth
- Dentures that are misplaced or poorly fitted
- Burning or biting a particular area of the mouth
- Chewing tobacco regularly
However there are other conditions that can also lead to the formation of mouth ulcers, such as the following examples:
- Suffering from cold sores in the mouth
- Suffering from oral thrush
- High emotional stress
- Hormonal changes
- Having a weakened immune system, for example when suffering from cancer or HIV
- Suffering from stomach infections such as gastrointeritis
- Although less frequent, mouth ulcers also occur in oral cancer patients
The symptoms of mouth ulcers are easy to recognize. They are characterized by the presence of a small, reddish lesion that becomes more painful with time. Part of this lesion turns white or yellow, remaining open and causing great discomfort when touched or when you eat very hot or spicy foods.
Less common symptoms of mouth ulcers include the following:
- A fever
- Swollen glands and general discomfort
These signs may indicate a bacterial, viral or even fungal infection. This is why. in these cases, it's important to pay your doctor a visit.
Usually mouth ulcers go away by themselves or with the help of a topical treatment, which you can learn how to use in our article on how to treat mouth ulcers. However in some cases they can remain open, fail to heal, or be accompanied by other worrying symptoms. If the lesion has not closed after two weeks, is accompanied by symptoms such as high fever, diarrhea or rash, or if your mouth ulcers occur several times a year, it is important to visit a doctor to determine what is causing the condition.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to What Are the Symptoms of Mouth Ulcers, we recommend you visit our Family health category.