Whether you call it an oral ulcer or a canker sore, the fact of the matter is that mouth ulcers are painful, annoying, and downright unpleasant. What makes it worse is the fact that a mouth ulcer can be caused by something benign like accidentally biting your cheek or it could be a symptom of something much worse, like oral cancer. To put your mind at ease, we’ll take a look at some of the most common causes of mouth ulcers in order to give you a better understanding of why your mouth is under attack.

Physical Injuries

As mentioned above, even something as simple as accidentally biting your tongue or cheek can lead to a mouth ulcer. While it may be painful, take some solace in the fact that an ulcer arising from a physical injury is essentially harmless. Many people will see an ulcer arise shortly after a visit to a doctor or an orthodontist. This is because many dental procedures like bridges, crowns, or braces, subject your mouth to undue pressure and swelling, resulting in that annoying pain in your mouth every time you drink orange juice! Keep in mind that your dentist, while sometimes the cause of a mouth ulcer, can also be your savior, as chipped or crooked teeth that are left untreated can just as easily cause mouth ulcers.

Eating Habits

It makes perfect sense that what you do and don’t eat will have an effect on the contents of your mouth. Fortunately, mouth ulcers that arise from problems having to do with your diet are also for the most part easily curable and are not harbingers of cancer or any other scary possibility. Keep in mind, though, that some of these practices may manifest themselves into cancer down the road if they are left unchecked.

Drinking alcohol can cause mouth ulcers when it is consumed excessively for too long. Smoking is similarly destructive to the mouth and can easily be the reason for your consistent mouth ulcers. While the dangers of both these drugs are well-known, the reason why they give you mouth ulcers may in fact surprise you. While minor damage is caused to your mouth from smoking and drinking, the mouth is a wonderfully versatile orifice and it heals itself with remarkable swiftness. Unfortunately, saliva is necessary for this healing to take place and smoking and drinking both reduce the amount of saliva in your mouth and leave it dry. This is the main reason why mouth ulcers can arise when too much of either or both of these substances prevail. It should be noted, however, that quitting smoking or dip can also cause ulcers as your gums and teeth go through withdrawals of the sweet leaf.

Signs of Disease

As we’ve seen, the top causes of mouth ulcers are generally harmless and can be remedied with little to no trouble. Don’t treat every mouth ulcer the same, though. Many diseases and pathogens can wreak havoc on your mouth in the form of mouth ulcers and quite a few of them deserve strict medical attention right away. Herpes simplex, the most common culprit, is harmless and affects over seventy-five percent of the population so it is a matter of waiting it out but your mouth ulcer could just as easily be a symptom of measles, chickenpox, candida, or even Mycobacterium tuberculosis! If your mouth ulcer is unnecessarily painful or persists longer than a week, please consult a physician!

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