What triggers recurring mouth ulcers?
Recurring mouth ulcers affect up to one in four Australians and stem from stress, nutritional gaps, hormones, immune disorders, or medications.
Mouth ulcers are small sores inside your mouth, also known as aphthous ulcers or canker sores. Up to one in four Australians suffer from recurring ones.
Most ulcers are minor, small, round, and take no more than two weeks to heal, but some are large and take months. They're often caused by injury like biting your cheek, but recurring ones usually have a deeper cause.
Stress and hormone shifts can trigger them, as can deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, vitamin C, or folate. Some people's immune systems mistakenly attack the cells lining the mouth, causing inflammation.
Coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and conditions like lupus or Sjögren's can all cause ulcers. Certain medications, including some painkillers and antidepressants, may trigger or worsen them.
If an ulcer doesn't heal after two weeks, see a dentist or doctor to rule out something serious. Most are harmless, but early checks matter.
- Up to 1 in 4 with recurring ulcers
- Australians affected
- No more than 2 weeks
- Minor ulcer healing
- 80% of ulcers
- Minor ulcer type
- Up to 1 in 2 report this
- Family history
Why it mattersRecurring ulcers might signal a nutritional gap or hidden health issue that a simple blood test could uncover, making them worth a doctor's visit rather than just tolerating the pain.
AustraliaIf you're one of the one in four Australians with repeated mouth ulcers, they may point to iron or vitamin deficiency, something your GP can easily test and fix.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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