Managing mouth ulcers

Many people get mouth ulcers at some time in their life and, while they can be painful, they usually heal quickly by themselves and cause no other problems.

Mouth ulcers are breaks in the moist inside surfaces (mucosal membrane) of the mouth. Although generally quite small, their size can range from one millimetre up to several centimetres across.

Most mouth ulcers require no treatment and heal on their own within two weeks. If you are experiencing a mouth ulcer, the symptoms can be treated a number of ways. Speak with your local Life Pharmacist about the following:

• Warm salt water mouth washes.
• Paracetamol.
• Antimicrobial mouthwashes (these fight the bacteria, viruses and fungi that can cause infection if you are not able to brush your teeth properly).
• Local anaesthetic treatments in the form of a mouthwash, spray, gel or ointment (some of these are not suitable for children, so get advice from your Pharmacist).
• Acyclovir, if the ulcer is caused by a herpes virus (cold sore, chicken pox or shingles).
• Corticosteroids (Pharmacist only).

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