Mouth ulcers can develop on any soft tissue within the oral cavity.
They are most commonly found on the inner cheeks, lips, under the tongue, on the soft palate, and along the edges of the tongue.
Less frequently, they may occur on the gums, but always on the part not firmly attached to the tooth.
Common locations include:
Regardless of their location, ulcers are usually painful and can interfere with speaking, eating, and maintaining oral hygiene.
Yes, mouth ulcers can also occur in children.
Children's oral mucosa is sensitive, and their immune system is still developing, making them more prone to ulcers—especially during periods of stress, fever, or after viral infections.
Mouth ulcers can also appear in infants.
In children, ulcers most commonly occur on the tongue, lips, inner cheeks, or under the tongue. They may cause pain, food refusal, and irritability.
Although they usually heal on their own within 7 to 10 days, if they are frequent or interfere with eating, it is advisable to consult a dentist.
One of the most commonly used natural remedies for mouth ulcers is rinsing the mouth with a solution of sea salt and warm water, which helps clean the sore and reduce inflammation.
Chamomile or sage compresses are also used due to their soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Honey can also be applied directly to the ulcer, as it promotes healing and relieves pain.
However, it's important to note that while natural remedies can ease symptoms, they do not always address the underlying cause. If ulcers are frequent or last longer than ten days, it is advisable to seek advice from a dentist.
Although viral aphthae is a common term in everyday language, they are not true aphthae. These are sores caused by viral infections, most often herpes simplex virus, which may resemble aphthae in appearance but differ significantly in cause, course, and treatment.
True aphthae are not contagious, whereas viral lesions are infectious and part of a systemic viral disease. Therefore, in professional practice, we refer to viral ulcerations rather than viral aphthae.
In other words, viral aphthae do not technically exist. It is more accurate to describe them as viral ulcerations, which may look like aphthae but differ completely in nature and treatment.
This term is sometimes used in everyday conversation but is avoided in professional practice to clearly distinguish the different mechanisms behind oral sores.
Canker sores on the tongue are painful, shallow ulcers that most often appear on the surface of the tongue, but also frequently on its sides.
They typically look like a white or yellowish patch, usually round in shape. Canker sores on the tongue usually develop due to a combination of factors such as weakened immunity, deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid or iron, as well as stress and minor injuries to the mucosa.
Canker sores on the tongue cause discomfort when speaking, eating, and drinking. While canker sores on the cheek or lips may not necessarily be painful, those on the tongue are often extremely painful.
The pain caused by canker sores on the tongue can be so intense that a person is unable to consume food and drink.
They may also be triggered by mechanical injuries to the tongue, such as contact with hard food or accidentally biting the tongue. T
here is no difference in the nature of canker sores in the mouth compared to those on the tongue, but in terms of symptom intensity and the problems they cause for patients, canker sores on the tongue are much more severe.
