Mouth ulcers are probably more common than you may think.  In reality, any time you have an open sore in your mouth that appears as the result of a rupture in the mucus membrane, you have a mouth ulcer.  There are numerous kind of mouth ulcers, and the causes are numerous and varied.  Among the types of mouth ulcers, perhaps the two most common are cold sores and canker sores.  And while cold sores are actually caused by the herpes virus (and generally present themselves as the result of a weakened immune system), canker sores don’t always have a clearly defined underlying cause.  However, many experts believe that chemical exposure can cause the painful sores to manifest themselves.   This concept begs the question: “Can alcohol cause mouth ulcers?”

The fact of the matter is that it has been widely demonstrated that not only does alcohol cause mouth ulcers; it may actually do so more frequently over time.  This is because of the chemicals contained in alcohol, which actually destroy the mucus membrane, leading to mouth sores.  Many chronic drinkers can tell you with authority that they are prone to mouth ulcers, primarily after copious indulgence or binge drinking.

If you develop a mouth ulcer, as the result of alcohol or otherwise, you will certainly know it.  The fact of the matter is that mouth ulcers are notoriously painful, as the delicate tissues underneath the protective mucus membrane are simply not designed to be exposed.  Depending on your overall health and overall oral health, you may find that mouth ulcers tend to take their time healing fully, which can mean that they are bothersome for the long term.  Fortunately, mouth ulcer pain can be managed with numerous topical analgesics.  Many of these products are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased OTC.  Additionally, if you have persistent mouth sores, you may find them less painful if you take an OTC antacid or antihistamine (especially if the ulcer is particularly inflamed).

There are also methods that can be used to prevent or lower the instance of mouth ulcers.  For example, if you have determined that alcohol is the cause of your mouth ulcers, you may derive much relief from reducing your alcohol intake.  An additional prevention technique that often proves helpful is to rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash daily.  If you are unsure what is causing your mouth ulcers, you may want to consider changing toothpastes.  One key ingredient in most toothpaste, sodium lauryl sulfate, has been demonstrated to contribute to mouth ulcers; you may want to consider switching to toothpaste that is either sodium lauryl sulfate free or contains a significantly smaller amount.

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