What is it?
An aphthous ulcer, is a small, shallow and painful mouth ulcer or sore. It’s also the most common type of mouth ulcer. Some people notice them inside their mouth, lips, cheeks or at the base of the gums. They’re usually white or yellow and surrounded by red, inflamed soft tissue.
What are the symptoms?
- The main symptom is a painful sore in the mouth that can make it hard to eat and talk.
Other symptoms include:
- A small white or yellow oval-shaped ulcer in your mouth.
- A painful red area in your mouth.
- A tingling sensation in your mouth.
In some cases, other symptoms may also be present, including:
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- A fever.
- Not feeling well.
What to expect?
Things you can try at home to reduce symptoms if you have an aphthous ulcer:
- Avoid spicy or hard food and sour drinks. These may increase the pain.
- Use a numbing mouth gel. You can buy these at a pharmacy.
- Be careful during brushing your tooth and avoid to touch the aphthous ulcer.
- Some people find that they can prevent the recurrence of canker sores by avoiding foods that may have previously triggered the outbreak. These may include spicy, salty, or acidic foods.