How often do you get mouth ulcers?

[BiscuitDrama]

The internet isn’t helping!
I’m trying to work out what’s normal

It entirely depends on why you get them. Some people never have them, others always have one or two.
I can go months without one, but then I’ll have 3 or 4 constantly for a few weeks. Mine are down to coeliacs so conincide with if I’ve eaten something I shouldn’t, but the list of causes is endless.

They come with my monthly periods or when I'm run down. I hate them as I'm also allergic to bonjela and igloo etc

Once or twice a year if ive bitten the inside of my cheek it can turn into an ulcer..goes within 2 days though so nothing major.

DD gets them constantly, at least one a month if not two

Thanks everyone, dentist has suggested to DH that he goes to the GP as he mentioned them on two dentist visits. Can’t quite work out what getting them ‘frequently’ is though or whether he just makes a fuss about them.

He gets one or two a month which seems kind of normal to me but maybe not.

Once or twice a month is quite frequent. Ulcers are normally caused by something.

They are often caused by either aneamia, or deficiencies. Hence the gp visit. They can also be caused by certain bowel disorders which lead to the deficiencies.

Another big cause is an allergy to benzoates, which is a chemical in foods normally things like ketchup, crisps and fizzy drinks. Can sometimes also be an allergy to ingredients in toothpaste. Also an allergy to chocolate.

Normally we would recommend cutting out foods containg benzoates, chocolate, crisps, fizzy drinks. And then seeing if this reduces the frequency. If it does then you can always gradually add the foods back in until they start reappearing. Then you would know what triggers them

Me and ds both used to get them frequently. They have completed cleared up since we stopped using toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulphate (almost all mainstream toothpastes contain SLS).

I recommend AloeDent from the health food shop, or Elgydium which I order in packs of 12 tubes at a time from an online pharmacy. Pricey but so worth it!

But it would be worth going to the go to test for aneamia and coeliacs.

Often even if someone isn't aneamic officially they can have be on the low side for them and once they drop below a certain threshold it can trigger the ulcers. So can be triggered by for example periods.

I would try the above and then if that doesn't improve visit the go

Ooh interesting! DD 10, healthy diet, v rarely (I mean once every few months!!)has fizzy drinks, being monitored for growth, been check for being coeliac intolerant and came back fine...will keep watching

Once or twice a month is a lot in an otherwise healthy person. I very rarely get them.

Also sensodyne daily care is SLS free and the right amount of fluoride, it can be an allergy to the sls or sometimes flavourings in the toothpaste. So you could also try the above

Aloedent I don't think contains fluoride and neither does elgydium

joyce benzoates are in loads of things so have a look! Not just unhealthy things, normally tomato based products.

These plagued DH until he took L-Lysine, initially he took a b but too but it’s the lysine. It’s changed his life! He takes it semi regularly now and never gets any. If he stops for long enough they come back. I know it has worked for other ulcer suffers and some cold sore sufferers too.

I would echo all of the above.. not normal, triggered by something, usually immune related, could be pernicious anemia or celiac disease. Failing that cut out SLS toothpaste, try propolis tincture to help heal, and then some "gut healing", probiotics, vitamin A, D, C, fatty acids, lots of fresh vegetables and the possibly look at a structured exclusion and reintroduction.

I had one once as a child, wouldn’t think it was normal to get them every month.

Never had one as far as I know. Very rarely had a cold sore either, probably 2/3 times in my lifetime.

I have them more often than twice a month, but I think that's because of health issues. I used to have them constantly, always one or two going, so I'm probably not to be used as a comparison point!

I got them all the time before I was diagnosed with a B12 deficiency due to pernicious anemia. Now I have B12 injections every 8 weeks but a couple of days before it is due I always get a couple on the roof of my mouth. So maybe worth getting B12 checked out.

That’s really interesting everyone, thanks!

Amazingly we can rule out toothpaste

I get massive blisters on my gums that turn to an ulcer every time I'm glutened. Couldn't figure out why it happened for ages, even tried SLS free toothpaste but it did nothing. Diagnosed with Coeliac and Anemia and bingo. Now I know when I've been glutened.

maybe once a year/2 years ish

Mine improved a lot when I started reflux medication, so I've been assuming it was the constant reflux that caused the constant ulcers, but I don't actually know if that's a real cause and effect!

I know being coeliac can mean you get more, DH gets them.

For everyone looking for SLS free toothpaste at a reasonable price Lidl is the place to go, certainly their sensitive toothpaste has no SLS and possibly other types too (Golden one maybe...and perhaps the children's one too). Since we cut SLS from our toothpaste I haven't had a single mouth ulcer

B vitamin deficiency can also cause ulcers so it might be worth him picking up a vitamin B complex supplement to see if it makes a difference?