You may not even notice that you have a mouth ulcer until you eat or drink something sour. We have a few tips on how you can best treat these painful blisters.
Eating when you have an ulcer is no fun: With every bite that you take, you can’t help but notice that there’s a small wound in your oral mucosa. Vinegary salad dressings in particular put a quick stop to your enjoyment. Ulcers are milky-coloured sores with a red border that can appear on the inside of your cheeks and lips. They can also crop up on your gums, tongue or palate, and often suddenly become noticeable when they produce a burning or itching sensation.
Most often this is what is called a minor aphtha – a small sore that heals on its own after a few days or weeks. Sometimes, however, ulcers can be as large as three centimetres in diameter. These larger sores are very painful and can take up to six weeks to clear up.
Causes: how you get these pesky sores
No one knows why mouth ulcers form, but one thing we know for sure is that it has nothing to with oral hygiene. Some people think they are caused by physical or mental stress. In many cases they occur when the immune system is weak, for example due to allergies, viral infections or also digestive issues. It is also unclear whether hormone imbalances or certain foods may be responsible. However, unlike cold sores, which are caused by herpes viruses and appear on the outside of the lips, mouth ulcers are not infectious.
How can you alleviate the symptoms?
There is no way to prevent mouth ulcers, and they often occur again and again. However, as soon as you notice one, you can take steps to reduce the pain and speed up the healing process. Pharmacies stock gels which can be used to disinfect the affected area, reduce some of the pain and form a protective barrier over the ulcer.
Home remedies for mouth ulcers
There are also a number of herbal remedies that can help. The inflamed oral mucosa can be rinsed regularly with sage or chamomile tea, for example. Myrrh is also recognised as an effective treatment for inflammation in the mouth. It should ideally be applied to the affected area in the form of a tincture. You can either buy a myrrh tincture at a pharmacy or make one yourself. To prepare it, simply immerse the myrrh in pure alcohol for a few days and then pour the resulting tincture into a separate container by straining it with a coffee filter.
Be careful while eating
During the healing phase, you should also refrain from eating foods that irritate the mucous membranes in your mouth. These include very hard, spicy or sour foods. Food should be cooled enough to avoid additional pain.
