An ulcer in your mouth looks like a white crater that has a reddish contour, and it can either be very small or as big as a coin. This lesion can be caused by many things. Most of the times this happens after a trauma where an ulcer forms after you have bitten your tongue or the inside of your cheek. Sometimes it just appears by itself and it’s called a canker sore. These canker sores usually emerge when you have an acidic diet, or when your body lacks some vitamins or minerals.

In either way, ulcers and canker sores are usually painful, but only last from 7 to 14 days. There are several antiseptic products sold at the drug store that can help eliminate them faster (for example Amosan from Oral-B). Also, pharmacies sell anesthetic gels that you can apply on the ulcer to temporarily relief the pain (example Ora-gel). You can use those numbing gels before a meal in order to eat more comfortably.

If the ulcer lasts more than three weeks, it is important to consult your dentist to examine it. Oral cancers occur less frequently than ulcers and canker sores, but if detected early, treatment is more successful.

The information above should be used as a reference only. Any medical decision should not be taken before consulting a health care professional.

The masculine gender may have been more used in the article, but without prejudice, to make reading easier.

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