Mouth ulcers are more than just annoying. Some of them can be downright painful, like canker sores, or frightfully embarrassing, as is the case with cold sores (sometimes known as “Herpes Lite”). All the same, anybody wondering how to prevent mouth ulcers had better know right away that no matter what you do you can’t avoid the occasional ulcer in your mouth. Herpes simplex, for example, will flare up whenever it pleases and there is nothing you can do about it. Mouth ulcers can arise from just about any source but, if you follow some of these guidelines, you can avoid these nagging problems as much as possible.

A mouth ulcer is, put simply, a break in the protective mucous membrane in your mouth. This layer is meant to protect the inside of your mouth from germs and bacteria and it is particularly weak and easily damaged. Biting the inside of your mouth or having a chipped tooth, for example, can quickly damage the lining in your mouth and cause a mouth ulcer simply from the irritation. Similarly, a visit to the dentist will often deliver you painful ulcer later because of the constant damage the weak tissue in your mouth takes from dental tools. While you certainly should keep going to the dentist twice a year, ask the dentist to rub some petroleum jelly on your gums and the inside of your cheek. This will add further defense to your mouth. In the case of a chipped tooth rubbing your mouth raw, a visit to the dentist will of course remedy the problem but feel free to put some petroleum jelly on the affected area until then.

Sometimes the cause for a mouth ulcer is viral. Having chapped lips, for example, will set your mouth up as a breeding ground for viruses. Lip balm can solve this problem easily, though. You may have noticed that you’ll often get mouth ulcers when you are sick. This is not in fact due to the virus as many would think but is in fact a reaction created by your body when it is being assaulted by unknown pathogens. Thus, the way to avoid these kinds of ulcers is to simply not get sick. Vitamin C is well known for keeping your immune system up and stocking up on this vitamin will actually further bolster your defense against oral ulcers. Many vitamin C deficiencies manifest themselves into sores including those on the mouth.

Most mouth ulcers go away on their own but you can take some antihistamines or similar over the counter products meant to fight mouth ulcers and you should see a quick recovery period. The mouth, while very susceptible to germs, is amazingly adept at healing. If, however, your mouth ulcer persists for more than a few weeks, consult a physician. It is important to make sure that your mouth ulcer isn’t a harbinger of something worse.