Mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores, regularly affect around 20 per cent of the population and most people will experience at least one during their lifetime.
Mouth ulcers can happen at any time, but they are more common when one is run down, busy or stressed, especially with exams, deadlines and other pressures building as we head towards the end of the year.
Do not be alarmed though, mouth ulcers are not contagious and usually clear up by themselves in a few days.
There are many causes, if your parents have had recurring mouth ulcers then there is a 90 per cent chance you will too.
Some medication causes mouth ulcers, as do allergies. People with coeliac disease may develop ulcers when they eat foods containing gluten. Fluctuating hormone levels can be a trigger – women are more likely than men to experience ulcers, usually when they are premenstrual, tired or pregnant.
Babies and young children may be affected as a result of common viruses. Once-off ulcers are usually the result of a minor injury such as accidentally biting the cheek.
Whatever the cause, mouth ulcers can be extremely painful, because they expose sensitive nerve endings, making drinking, eating and even talking uncomfortable.
For some people the pain is so severe they cannot sleep. IVOhealth’s oral hygiene expert, Dirna Grobbelaar, recommends some simple ways to manage the pain of mouth ulcers and assist the recovery.
She advises eating plainer food and drinks, avoiding spice and salt or acidic drinks like orange juice that might burn.
“Drinking with a straw to bypass ulcers in the front of the mouth will help, but be careful that the drink is not hot enough to burn the throat. After eating and before going to bed, rinse with salt water, homeopathic Ora-Salts or an anti-bacterial mouthwash such as GUM Paroex. These will prevent the ulcer becoming infected and promote quicker healing,” says Dirna.
Although preventing infection is important, pain relief may be a more pressing priority.
