Hi,
Thank you for using Healthcare Magic.
Most single mouth ulcers are caused by damage to the inside of the mouth from accidentally biting the inside of your cheek, trauma from a sharp tooth, food or filling are incorrectly brushing your teeth.
Some people find they develop mouth ulcers during times of stress or anxiety. Some women develop mouth ulcers during their monthly period. They can run in families and around 40% of people are affected this way.
Mouth ulcers can be related to eating certain foods. These include coffee, chocolate, peanuts, strawberries, cheese, tomatoes and wheat flour.
Stopping smoking can cause ulcers to appear but this will be temporary and is related to the changes in the bodies chemicals when you stop smoking.
Recurrent mouth ulcers may be caused by an underlying medical condition. These include iron deficiency. Also, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease and arthritis can be associated with ulcers.
Conditions related to immunodeficiency such as HIV can cause ulcers.
Medicines that can cause mouth ulcers include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and aspirin. Much less common cause are herpes simplex or cold sore infection, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux and chicken pox.
I hope this has been of help. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger
MBChB FRCA

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