Mouth ulcers are little troublemakers that set up camp in your mouth and turn every meal into a battlefield. So, if you find yourself wincing in pain over a mouth ulcer, just know you’re not alone in this war against the mini-mouth monsters.
Emihle Nombewu from Mfuleni in Cape Town gets mouth sores every year. They hurt so much that eating becomes a struggle, she says.
“Spicy food, hot drinks, even anything tangy is a no-go,” Nombewu says.
“I stick to bland foods like yoghurt, amasi, and soups until the sores heal.”
Emihle Nombewu
The clinic gives her medicine that helps in about a week, but she wishes they’d tell her more. “No one ever explained the cause of these sores or how to prevent them.”
A recurring pain
Phumza Tafeni, from Belhar, Cape Town, shares her struggle with Health for Mzansi, revealing she’s battled mouth ulcers twice. Each time, they took about a week to heal before returning, she says.
Tafeni believes they’re triggered by cuts from eating, tough foods, and burns from hot beverages.
“To ease the pain, I rinse my mouth with warm salt water, used numbing gels, and sometimes applied a baking soda paste.”
Phumza Tafeni
She says mouth ulcers disrupt her daily life, making it uncomfortable to eat, drink, and brush her teeth, and causing sleepless nights.
What causes mouth ulcers?
According to Dr Siyanda Mgangato, who oversees the mobile clinics for the youth health movement #Keready in the Pietermaritzburg region of KwaZulu-Natal, some common causes and triggers of mouth ulcers include stress or lack of sleep, certain foods like acidic fruits and spicy foods, and even rough pieces of toast.
“Mouth ulcers are like little craters in the lining of your mouth. They can be on your gums, inside your cheeks, under your tongue or on the roof of your mouth.”
Sometimes, an injury such as biting your cheek or using a rough toothbrush can be a cause.
Mgangato says in some cases a deficiency in vitamin B12, zinc, or folic acid may be responsible. “Smoking can also increase the chances of getting ulcers.”
She further explains that other health-related causes include viral infections, autoimmune or gastrointestinal conditions, hormone changes, and smoking or quitting smoking.
READ NEXT: Rather don’t kiss a newborn baby, here’s why
Underlying health conditions linked to mouth ulcers
Mgangato says that sometimes not getting enough vitamins like B12, iron, and folic acid can lead to mouth ulcers. “Try to eat enough fruits and veggies when you can.”
Also, she adds, if you’re into sharp or spicy food, maybe pause with that for a bit as these can irritate your mouth more.
“If you’re worried it’s something more, or you are also experiencing other symptoms, you should see a healthcare provider.”
Dr Siyanda Mgangato
She further explains that sometimes mouth ulcers keep showing up because of something more going on in our bodies, like gluten sensitivity – if bread and pasta bother your tummy, hormone changes, coeliac disease – rare but serious, where your body can’t handle gluten – or other things like diabetes, or even some viruses, bacteria, or fungi.
Treatment options
Finding the right treatment can involve a bit of trial and error. Generally, these treatments are pretty effective at easing the pain and speeding up healing, typically within 1-2 weeks, she says.
“Over-the-counter mouthwashes from your pharmacy can be helpful; there are special ones designed to aid with mouth ulcers that can reduce irritation and alleviate pain.”
She suggests at-home remedies like stirring a teaspoon of salt into warm water, swishing it around your mouth for a minute, then spitting it out. “Repeat this a couple of times a day to clean the area.”
Additionally, she says managing stress levels and eating a balanced mix of foods can help prevent new ulcers from forming.
Sometimes dental gear like braces or a sharp tooth can be the cause of trouble, she explains that even s quick chat with your dentist can resolve these issues, so your mouth isn’t constantly irritated.
ALSO READ: Joining the dots between shingles and stress
Get the Health For Mzansi newsletter: Your bi-weekly dose of kasi health, wellness and self-care
