MOUTH ULCERS

---

A mouth ulcer is the loss or erosion of part of the delicate tissue that lines the inside of the mouth (mucous membrane). There are many things that cause mouth ulcers. The most common cause is injury, such as accidentally biting the inside of your cheek. Other causes include aphthous ulceration, certain medications, skin rashes in the mouth, viral, bacterial and fungal infections, chemicals, some medical conditions

Mouth ulcers can be caused by a wide range of factors including:

• accidentally biting the inside of your cheek

• injury from a toothbrush (such as slipping while brushing)

• constant rubbing against misaligned or sharp/broken teeth

• constant rubbing against dentures or braces

• burns from eating hot food

• irritation from strong antiseptics, such as a mouthwash

• viral infections such as the herpes simplex viral infection (cold sore)

• reaction to certain medications

• skin rashes in the mouth (for example, lichen planus)

• autoimmune diseases

• underlying vitamin or iron deficiency