Mouth ulcer treatment

The cost of treatment for mouth ulcers depends on your individual circumstances. At the time of your appointment your consultant will discuss all options with you and ensure all your questions are answered.

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant's outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you.

There are several different types of mouth ulcers, each with their own causes and symptoms.

Canker sores

Otherwise known as aphthous ulcers, canker sores are the most common type of mouth ulcer. They appear as small, round or oval sores that can be white, yellow or grey in the centre and red around the edges.

You may have a single mouth ulcer, several at once, or canker sores that keep coming back. The cause isn't always clear, but they may develop due to local trauma, such as biting your tongue or inner cheek, or eating a lot of acidic foods. You can also develop mouth ulcers when you're unwell or run down, or in response to stress.

Oral thrush

Caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans, oral thrush is a fungal infection common in babies, elderly people and those with a weakened immune system. You can also get oral thrush after antibiotic treatment, if you wear dentures, or have asthma and don't rinse your mouth out after using an inhaler.

This fungal infection causes creamy white patches on your tongue, inner cheek, palate, gums and tonsils, soreness, and occasionally bleeding and redness if the patches are rubbed.

Oral lichen planus (OLP)

Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the mucosa on the inside of your mouth, causing white thread-like lesions and bright red gums. This condition is most common in women over the age of 50, and while the cause isn't fully known, it's thought to be connected to autoimmune disorders, where your body mistakenly attacks its own cells.

Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is the result of excess cell growth in your mouth, causing white or grey patches on the inside of your mouth. While it can occasionally happen with no apparent cause, leukoplakia has been linked to chronic irritation from alcohol, smoking or chewing tobacco.

Leukoplakia is usually harmless, but rarely, can be an early sign of mouth cancer.

Erythroplakia

Usually affecting smokers or people who chew tobacco, erythroplakia causes red patches in your mouth, inner cheeks, tongue, and on the floor of your mouth.

Erythroplakia is considered a precancerous condition, and while most lesions are harmless, some can become, or may already be, cancerous.

Mouth cancer

Mouth cancer, or oral cancer, can cause red or white mouth ulcers that won't heal on their own.

Other symptoms of oral cancer include:

• Red or white patches on the inside of your mouth
• A lump inside your mouth or on your lip
• Mouth pain
• Difficulty swallowing

If you have had a mouth ulcer for more than three weeks, you should contact your consultant.

Mouth ulcers look like sores in your mouth, and are usually white, yellow or grey in the middle and red around the edges. They can develop anywhere in your mouth, and you can have one or more at the same time.

Other mouth ulcer symptoms include:

• Pain, especially when touching the ulcer, eating spicy, salty, or sour foods or while brushing your teeth
• Swelling around the ulcer
• Difficulty eating on the affected side of your mouth due to pain

Mouth ulcer or cold sore?

Mouth ulcers and cold sores may appear similar, but the causes and treatment are very different.

Cold sores are a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). They appear as fluid-filled blisters that burst and scab over, typically on or around your lips. They can also spread to your nose or chin and can appear inside your mouth.

Cold sores are highly contagious and can spread easily from one person to another. They may be accompanied by symptoms such as a fever, swollen lymph glands in your neck, tiredness and feeling generally unwell.

Mouth ulcers, on the other hand, are not contagious, and appear as small, painful red sores with a white, yellow or grey centre.

Mouth ulcers can have a variety of causes including physical injury to your mouth, hormonal changes and stress. In some cases, mouth ulcers can be a sign of an underlying disease. 

Some common causes of mouth ulcers include:

• Injury to your mouth by biting the inside of your cheek or tongue
• Wearing poorly-fitting dentures or braces  
• Burns to your mouth or tongue from eating or drinking food or drinks that are too hot
• Cuts inside your mouth from eating rough, hard, crunchy or sharp food
• Using products such as toothpaste or mouthwash containing a chemical additive called sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) which has been shown to cause oral ulcers in some people
• A food sensitivity or allergy 
• Eating acidic foods like pineapples, oranges and strawberries 
• Hormonal changes – such as during your period or pregnancy
• Certain medications – including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), beta-blockers (a heart medication) or nicorandil (a medicine used to treat angina)
• Stress, anxiety or tiredness 
• Stopping smoking – may temporarily cause oral ulcers 

Some health conditions associated with mouth ulcers include: 

• Vitamin deficiencies — including iron, vitamins B and D,  folic acid, and zinc
• Infections including viral, bacterial and fungal infections 
• Digestive diseases such as coeliac disease or Crohn's disease
• A weakened immune system from conditions like HIV or lupus
• Hand, foot and mouth disease — a mild viral infection that causes mouth ulcers as well as a rash on the hands and feet

Mouth ulcers are usually harmless and go away on their own, but in some cases, they can be a sign of something more serious and may need treatment.

Make an appointment with your consultant if you have:

• A mouth ulcer or ulcers that last longer than three weeks
• A mouth ulcer that’s painless, larger than usual, extends to your lips or is near the back of your throat
• A mouth ulcer that bleeds or is increasingly red or painful 
• Severe pain that doesn’t get better with over-the-counter medications 
• Difficulty eating and drinking 
• Other symptoms such as ulcers on other parts of your body (like your skin or genitals), painful, red or swollen joints, diarrhoea or a high fever

At your first consultation, you'll be seen by a consultant doctor or dentist specialising in conditions affecting your oral health, including mouth ulcers.

Your consultant will ask you about your symptoms, general health, medical history and any medications you take regularly. They'll then examine your mouth and the appearance, size, shape and number of your oral ulcers.

How is a diagnosis made?

Your consultant can normally diagnose mouth ulcers by looking at them. In some cases, they may order tests, such as a blood test, to check for any underlying health conditions that could be causing your oral ulcers.

Why is this first consultation so important?

At Circle Health Group, your first appointment is very important as it's where you meet your consultant, the doctor responsible for your care. Your consultant will spend time getting to know you, discuss your expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have. It is important to us that you are as well-informed and comfortable as possible during your treatment, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment.

At the end of your appointment, your consultant will decide on the best treatment for you depending on your symptoms and diagnosis.

Mouth ulcers usually get better on their own within a week or two without any specific treatment, but if your ulcer is causing you discomfort, there are steps you can take to manage your pain and prevent mouth ulcer development in the future.

How to treat mouth ulcers at home

If your mouth ulcer has a physical cause, it's best to address this first. For example, if your mouth ulcer has been caused by poorly fitting braces, your orthodontist could provide you with wax to apply to your braces, preventing them from rubbing against the inside of your mouth. You could also ask your dentist to check for anything that could be causing your ulcer.

To prevent further irritation and inflammation:

• Eat soft food until your oral ulcer has healed
• Avoid spicy, salty, acidic, rough or crunchy food
• Drink cool drinks through a straw
• Suck ice cubes or ice chips to cool, soothe and reduce any swelling
• Avoid very hot or acidic drinks (such as fruit juice)
• Brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush
• Don't use toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)
• Rinse your mouth with a warm saline solution (half a teaspoon of salt in a glassful of warm water) a few times a day to relieve pain and reduce the risk of infection

Over-the-counter treatments

Over-the-counter remedies can help relieve pain caused by your mouth ulcer and reduce the risk of infection. Your pharmacist can recommend a suitable treatment.

Over-the-counter treatments for mouth ulcers may include:

• Painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to relieve pain and reduce inflammation
• Mouthwashes, gels, lozenges or sprays containing painkillers, anti-inflammatories and in some cases local anaesthetic to relieve pain, and inflammation

Medical care for mouth ulcers 

If your oral ulcers are severe, infected, not going away or keep coming back, your consultant may prescribe stronger medications such as steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs or an antiseptic mouthwash.

Steroids

Corticosteroids work by suppressing your body's immune system, reducing inflammation and swelling. By reducing inflammation, steroids can help speed up the healing of your oral ulcer.
Steroid treatment for mouth ulcers includes hydrocortisone buccal tablets that you can dissolve in your mouth next to your ulcer, or soluble prednisolone tablets that are dissolved in water. Your consultant may also prescribe steroids as a mouth spray, paste or inhaler.

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs

If your mouth ulcers are causing severe pain, your consultant may prescribe stronger medication in the form of a mouthwash, mouth spray, lozenge, ointment or gel. Some medications for mouth ulcers contain a local anaesthetic that you apply directly to the ulcer to numb the area.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like benzydamine come as a mouthwash, spray or lozenge and help to reduce pain and inflammation. Choline salicylate is another NSAID that is available as a gel and helps relieve the pain of mouth ulcers.

Antibacterial mouthwashes

If your consultant suspects an infection, they may prescribe an antiseptic mouthwash containing chlorhexidine to reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth. Chlorhexidine mouthwash can reduce pain, help your oral ulcers heal faster and treat or prevent any bacterial infection.

Treatment of underlying health problems

If your test results show an underlying health condition or vitamin deficiency that could be causing your mouth ulcers, your consultant will prescribe a suitable medication or supplement.

Sometimes mouth ulcers can't be prevented, but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing them, such as:

• Take care of your oral health by brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing once a day
• Have regular dental check-ups
• Brush your teeth carefully using a soft-bristled toothbrush
• Eat a healthy diet high in nutrients
• Avoid eating too many acidic foods, such as oranges, grapefruits and pineapples
• Make sure any medical conditions you have are well-controlled
• Reduce stress

At Circle Health Group, we have the experience and expertise to ensure the best possible care and outcome for our patients. As a patient with Circle Health Group, you can expect the highest standards of care including:

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• A range of delicious healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about oral ulcer treatment, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 189 5499.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in February 2025. Next review due February 2028.

1. Oral ulceration, Patient 
2. Oral ulceration and inflammation, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
3. Mouth ulcers, NHS
4. Mouth Ulcers, Oral Health Foundation
5. Mouth Ulcer, Cleveland Clinic