So what can we do about them? Well there are various things we can try which can help alleviate the pain. These include over the counter treatments in the form of gels, mouthwashes and sprays containing ingredients like salicylate, lidocaine or benzadymine hydrocholoride which can help to reduce the soreness. Leukoplakia usually doesn't cause permanent damage to tissues in your mouth. However, leukoplakia increases your risk of oral cancer. Oral cancers often form near leukoplakia patches, and the patches themselves may show cancerous changes. Even after leukoplakia patches are removed, the risk of oral cancer remains. Hairy leukoplakia Stoopler ET, et al. Oral mucosal diseases: Evaluation and management. Medical Clinics of North American. 2014;98:1323.

Hairy leukoplakia results from infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Once you've been infected with EBV, the virus remains in your body for life. Normally, the virus is dormant, but if your immune system is weakened, especially from HIV/AIDS, the virus can become reactivated, leading to conditions such as hairy leukoplakia. Risk factors Warnakulasuriya S, Ariyawardana A. Malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia: A systematic review of observational studies. J Oral Pathol Med 2016;45(3):155–66. doi: 10.1111/jop.12339. Search PubMed surgery – where the cancerous cells are surgically removed and, in some cases, some of the surrounding tissue Herpetiform recurrent aphthous ulceration: this is is uncommon, and is characterised by crops of numerous grouped 1–3 mm ulcers on or under the tongue.Mouth sores, which include canker sores, are usually a minor irritation and last only 1 or 2 weeks. In some cases, they can indicate an infection from a virus, such as herpes simplex, or more severe causes, such as mouth cancer. Wong T, Yap T, Wiesenfeld D. Common causes of ‘swelling’ in the oral cavity. Aust J Gen Pract 2020;49(9):575–80. Search PubMed

A GP or dentist may prescribe stronger medicine to treat severe, persistent or infected mouth ulcers. If you have a dental problem you should always phone your dentistfirst. If you’re not registered with any dental practice then you should read our advice on dental emergencies.

A lump in your neck

Expert Group for Oral and Dental. Recurrent aphthous ulcerative disease. In: eTG complete [Internet]. West Melbourne, Vic: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited, 2019. Search PubMed Some people confuse canker sores with cold sores (fever blisters), but they’re very different. A canker sore appears inside your mouth. A cold sore forms outside your mouth, usually on your lips. Canker sores aren’t contagious, but cold sores are. How do you know if your mouth ulcer is bad? Canniff JP, Harvey W. The aetiology of oral submucous fibrosis: The stimulation of collagen synthesis by extracts of areca nut. Int J Oral Surg 1981;10(Suppl 1):163–67. Search PubMed It may help if you avoid spicy, salty foods and acidic drinks (like fruit juice) while you're using this medicine. It may also help if you drink cold drinks through a straw. Do not use a straw for hot drinks as you could burn yourself. Serious side effects Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet syndrome) — with papulovesicular plaques, fever, neutrophilia