Aphthous stomatitis
Common CausesMost mouth sores are cold sores (also called fever blisters), canker sores, or other irritation caused by:
Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus and are very contagious. Usually, you have tenderness, tingling, or burning before the actual sore appears. Herpes sores usually begin as blisters and then crust over.
The herpes virus can reside in your body for years, appearing as a mouth sore only when something provokes it. Such circumstances may include another illness, especially if there is a fever, stress, hormonal changes (such as menstruation), and sun exposure.
Canker sores are NOT contagious and can appear as a single pale or yellow ulcer with a red outer ring, or as a cluster of such lesions. The cause of canker sores is not entirely clear, but may be related to:
For unknown reasons, women seem to get canker sores more often than men. This may be related to hormonal changes.
Less commonly, mouth sores can be a sign of an underlying illness, tumor, or reaction to a medication. Such potential illnesses can be grouped into several broad categories:
Drugs that may cause mouth sores include chemotherapeutic agents for cancer, aspirin, barbiturates (used for insomnia), gold (used for rheumatoid Arthritis), penicillin, phenytoin (used for seizures), streptomycin, or sulfonamides.
Home CareMouth sores generally last 10 to 14 days, even if you don't do anything. They sometimes last up to 6 weeks. The following steps can make you feel better:
For canker sores:
Nonprescription preparations, like Orabase, can protect a sore inside the lip and on the gums. Blistex or Campho-Phenique may provide some relief of canker sores and fever blisters, especially if applied when the sore initially appears.
Additional steps that may help cold sores or fever blisters:
Antiviral medications for herpes lesions of the mouth may be recommended by your doctor. Some experts feel that they shorten the time that the blisters are present, while others claim that these drugs make no difference.
Call your health care provider ifCall your doctor if:
Your doctor will perform a physical examination, focusing on your mouth and tongue. Medical history questions may include the following:
Treatment may depend on the underlying cause of the mouth sore.
A topical anesthetic (applied to a localized area of the skin) such as lidocaine or xylocaine may be used to relieve pain (but should be avoided in children).
An antifungal medication may be prescribed for oral thrush (a yeast infection).
An antiviral medication may be prescribed for herpes lesions (although, some feel that this does not shorten the length of time that the lesions are present)
Anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed for severe or persistent canker sores.
PreventionYou can reduce your chance of getting common mouth sores by:
You can avoid mechanical irritation by:
If you seem to get canker sores often, talk to your doctor about taking folate and vitamin B12 to prevent outbreaks.
If you get cold sores often, taking L-lysine tablets or increasing lysine in your diet (found in fish, chicken, eggs, and potatoes) may reduce outbreaks. Do NOT use L-lysine if you have high cholesterol, Heart disease, or high triglycerides.
To prevent the spread of herpes sores, do not kiss or have oral sex with someone with a cold sore or fever blister. Do not participate in these activities when you have an active cold sore. Do not share razors, lip balm, toothbrushes, or lipsticks.
To prevent cancerous mouth lesions:
Daniels TE. Diseases of the mouth and salivary glands. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 451.
Aphthous stomatitis
Common CausesMouth sores may be caused by irritation from:
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virusand are very contagious. Usually, you will have tenderness, tingling, or burning before the actual sore appears. Cold sores usually begin as blisters and then crust over. The herpes virus can live in your body for years. It only appears as a mouth sore when something triggers it, such as:
Canker sores are NOT contagious. They can appear as a single pale or yellow ulcer with a red outer ring, or as a cluster of these sores. Women seem to get them more than men. The cause of canker sores is not clear, but may be related to:
Less commonly, mouth sores can be a sign of an illness, tumor, or reaction to a medication. This can include:
Drugs that may cause mouth sores include aspirin, chemotherapy, penicillin, sulfa drugs, and phenytoin (used for seizures)
Home CareMouth sores often go away in 10 to 14 days, even if you don't do anything. They sometimes last up to 6 weeks. The following steps can make you feel better:
For canker sores:
Over-the-counter medications, such as Orabase, can protect a sore inside the lip and on the gums. Blistex or Campho-Phenique may provide some relief of canker sores and fever blisters, especially if applied when the sore first appears.
To help cold sores or fever blisters, you can also apply ice to the sore.
Call your health care provider ifCall your doctor if:
Your doctor will perform a physical examination, focusing on your mouth and tongue. You will be asked questions about your medical history and symptoms.
Treatment may include:
You may reduce your chance of getting common mouth sores by:
If you seem to get canker sores often, talk to your doctor about taking folate and vitamin B12 to prevent outbreaks.
To prevent cancer of the mouth:
Daniels TE. Diseases of the mouth and salivary glands.In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds.Cecil Medicine. 24th ed.Philadelphia,PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 433.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 11/13/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Sores inside the mouth are called canker sores.
Mouth sores are caused by Chewing Tobacco.
they are little sores in your mouth
cheilosis: crack like sores at the corner of the mouth. (lip disease)
Well, sores in your mouth could be, in fact, the indicators of the beginnings of a fatal disease. Mouth sores are normally caused by irritation, injury, infection, or even inflammitory disorders.
Sores in mouth are caused by many different factors. Those caused by physical injuries such as canker sores, are not contagious. However, mouth sores caused by virus or bacteria could be contagious through kissing.
ulcers
No, canker sores are abrasions inside your mouth and can be caused by biting your mouth, stress, drinking coffee etc. Cold sores (oral herpes) can be spread by someone else.
Mouth ulcers
Herpes
No.
A black and white tegu with mouth sores may need to have medication applied until the sores leave. It should be seen by a veterinarian, as it may need antibiotics.