What is a mouth ulcer?

Mouth ulcers are small, painful and often recurrent superficial lesions of the oral mucosa. They can occur in different areas of the mouth, including the inner lips, buccal mucosa, tongue, soft palate and floor of the mouth. When they recur periodically, the condition is known as Recurrent Oral Aphthous Ulceration (R.O.A.U.).

Alongside R.O.A.U., other inflammatory conditions may also affect the oral mucosa and cause painful erosive or ulcerative lesions. One of these is Oral Lichen Planus (OLP), a chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa. It may present with white lace-like patches, redness, erosions or painful ulcerative lesions, most commonly affecting the buccal mucosa, gums and tongue.

Although R.O.A.U. and OLP are distinct conditions, both can significantly affect the integrity and comfort of the oral mucosa and may be associated with recurrent painful lesions.

Incidence

Mouth ulcers are among the most common disorders of the oral mucosa and can affect people of all ages.

  • Up to 50% of the population may be affected.
  • The reported frequency is approximately 33% in children.
  • It may reach around 40% in children with coeliac disease.

Risk factors and predisposing causes

Several factors may contribute to the onset or recurrence of mouth ulcers, including:

  • stress, emotional distress and fatigue;
  • local trauma, dental procedures and orthodontic appliances;
  • certain foods;
  • viral or bacterial infections;
  • some medicines;
  • iron, folic acid and vitamin B1 deficiencies;
  • hormonal factors;
  • genetic predisposition;
  • systemic conditions such as coeliac disease, diabetes and Crohn’s disease;
  • chemotherapy and radiotherapy.