So sick of mouth ulcers

[giddykipper3]

I get one maybe once a month or every other month. Sometimes mild, sometimes severe like the one I’ve got now. It’s not just the localised pain it’s the headache, fatigue and raised glands - my body is clearly fighting it and that takes its toll. I’ve tried everything - only use sensodyne toothpaste, use anti bac mouthwash, all the topical treatments you can buy. I had a full blood count done 6 months ago for something else and they all came back normal.

My dentist referred me to the hospital last year and they were very dismissive. Basically just said some people are susceptible to them and I should work on my stress levels 🙄

When I don’t have one I kind of forget how bad they are. But then I get a nasty one like I have on my inside cheek at the moment and I feel rotten for a week and think I can’t carry on with this. It’s been happening on/off for years.

This is going to sound really odd but sage is brilliant for easing mouth ulcers. Either hold a leaf on it for as long as you can, or if you only have rubbed sage (the small bits in a herbs jar) steep a spoonful in boiling water for a few minutes then when it’s cool enough, put some of the bits of sage against the ulcer, again for several minutes.

I taught a youngster who was on strong medication for something unpleasant; a side-effect was horrific ulcers. She was in despair. I suggested sage to her. A week later her mum emailed to thank me. It didn’t interfere with her medication, didn’t taste too bad and actually worked. If nothing else, it’s cheap and easy to use.

My dentist advised me to never use ‘normal’ mouthwash but when I have an ulcer to use this one ‘Curasept’ you can get it from Amazon or the dentist.
and it works very well to get rid of them. Yours do sound out of the ordinary though, if it’s causing a lot of pain on top. Might help for a short term help though, not too expensive so worth a try maybe.

@giddykipper3solidarity, no advice really but I'm in exactly the same situation as you, it's so disheartening when they come back within a week or 2 of them going. My new doctor has said I should take a daily vitamin c, but also said I have oral thrush, so im 2 days in with antifungals and vitamin c, really hoping it makes a difference, i doubt it though, I'm so unbelievably fed up!

I used to get major apthous ulcers, easily get to a cm across and last for several weeks at a time. Horrendous pain that no-one can understand these are not regular ulcers. You used to be able to get a steroid ointment from your dentist but they stopped making it. Only thing that worked for me until I found out I had dairy, yeast and benzoates allergies and gave all that up. Only used to be able to use McLeans toothpaste but can use some colgate versions nowadays due to the benzoates. I only get the odd one now from trauma like you say but not always. I could add a picture but nobody wants to see that! You can buy Orabase ointment online and crush up a tiny bit of steroid pill if you have any lying around, but I didn't say that.

I know it’s not the same reasoning but I used to get them when I had braces and the thing I found was difflam throat spray to numb them and difflam mouthwash to treat them. But if yours are related to mental cycle as opposed to friction (rubbing on teeth / braces) might be a different thing but solidarity OP they are awful and affect every area of your life.

Vitamins.
Try to track any foods that trigger - for me it’s often in sweet food, terrys chocolate orange (sob) and certain flapjack type bars. No idea why!
When you get them - use difflam rinse regularly. Absolutely saved me when I had hand, food and mouth.
mine also cycle related. They are hideous.

I have suffered with mouth ulcers my entire life so I completely feel your pain, they’re horrible. I was referred to a consultant and after the usual investigations revealed nothing, I was prescribed prednisolone soluble tablets to rinse my mouth with and they’re the best thing I’ve tried because they don’t numb the pain, they heal the ulcer (and I’ve tried everything). Another thing that works is a brown steroid inhaler as technically it’s the same medication as the mouth wash, sprayed directly on the ulcer, heals it super quick! Often overnight if done at the first sign of one coming.

For pain relief, rub a paracetamol tablet directly on the ulcer, that takes the pain away better than bonjela and all those of gels that don’t even touch the sides!

I know how you feel, I have an enormous one on the inside of my cheek at the same level as the edge of my teeth. It’s been there now for 11 days and shows no sign of going. It’s making eating difficult as well as brushing my teeth.
I usually get a cluster at one time so I am just waiting for the next ones to appear.

I also think take iron (ferrous fumerate), folic acid b12 and vit D for a month. You don't need blood tests first just try them and see if they help. If they do then you might need to see why you are low in them (celiacs can be a cause) My husband had terrible ulcers in the corner of his mouth and cracked sore tongue turns out the lanzoperazol he takes reduces absorption of vitamins and these were causing the problem.

Get acyclovir tablets from your gp. One a day and you wont have any more ulcers

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I am suffering once again and have been for the past two weeks, no sooner does one clear up then another one arrives. This time right on my soft palate making it hell to eat anything. I’ve finally ordered some Lysine tablets off Amazon - does anyone have any experience with these? Also going to request bloods with GP as this can’t be normal.

Get acyclovir tablets from the gp.

Sorry to hear they’re ongoing.

After having 7 ulcers at the same time I went through a raft of medical tests incl bloods. There was no underlying cause found.

I’ve been seeing an acupuncturist since and they haven’t come back.

Try ice, if they are regular. Cancer patients get given ice. https://www.facebook.com/groups/10841220594/posts/10173362613580595/. Nothing ventured and all that.

Otherwise, it may be an intolerance which means seeing a dietician. Try to see one au fait with the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit Elimination Diet. It really is the world’s best. More information here https://www.fedup.com.au/search?q=Mouth+ulcer

When my sister had recurring mouth ulcers her doctor made her take a steroid into her mouth. I think it was the brown inhaler type and I think this helped

I suffer horrendously. Just to survive eating etc ask for a tube of lydocaine. It's local anaesthetic and will completely numb it so you can eat. I have it on repeat prescription now.

Not preventative but garlic clove cut in half, pressed against the ulcer works wonders. They disappear overnight.
Hurts like hell, mind

I was going to suggest it’s a symptom of Coeliac disease, I see it was mentioned up thread, do you have any other nutrient deficiencies such as B12, iron/ ferritin?
there is a specific antigen blood test, although false negatives are possible.

My ds has a genetic condition where the neutrophils drop every 3 weeks ( the white blood cells that deal with bacteria) one of the symptoms are mouth ulcers on a cycle when the cells drop. It is very rare and unlikely you have this but his consultant prescribes Difflam mouth wash. It has an anaesthetic effect. That and a couple of Ibuprofen to help with pain

Have you checked your toothpaste and mouthwash for SLS?

I would swap to a dry mouth toothpaste and mouthwash such as Biotene or Bioxtra to see if it's SLS irritating your mouth and causing the ulcers.

Coming in to say to drink sage tea. You can buy it from health food stores.

My young adult DS was really struggling with frequent mouth ulcers. He's been taking high strength vitamin C plus zinc for about a year (the chewable kind) and says he hardly ever gets ulcers any more.

I will pick up some zinc and vitamin c today. Also have the Lysine tablets arriving too. I only use SLS free toothpaste. I have had a recent full blood test for something unrelated that didn’t flag up any deficiencies. I just need to find something that makes life more bearable when they happen or ideally reduces them altogether.

I just want to add my sympathies OP. I've had this issue for over a year now. I get the odd week without pain and am very grateful for it! My dentist said "it's soft tissue, so see your GP" GP said "it's the mouth. See your dentist" 🤷🏻

Some days the most innocuous foods are impossible to eat and have me whining and wailing with pain. Spice, acid, salty and even sugary foods can be a problem.

I've had to abandon whole plates of delicious foods in restaurants - it's miserable.

When it's bad my speech is affected.

Salt water helps and Orajel (after a few minutes of stratospheric agony) might enable me to eat something, but it doesn't last long.

So, you see why I sympathise so much!

After years of being plagued by them, I’ve relatively recently discovered that, as well as SLS, artificial sweeteners are a real trigger for mine. Appreciate there are likely different triggers for everyone though. Hope it improves for you.