There are some people who for a variety of reasons, are more likely to develop a mouth ulcer than others. One person may develop the odd mouth ulcer but another may find themselves suffering from mouth ulcers on a regular basis.

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of a mouth ulcer but experts say that they are caused by a variety of factors which include:

Mouth injury: Biting or chewing the inside of the mouth causes ulcers as does the excessive use of a toothbrush. They can also be caused by dental treatment, a sports injury or poorly fitting dentures.

Poor diet: A diet lacking in certain vitamins, folic acid or iron can trigger the development of mouth ulcers.

Hormones: Women are more prone to mouth ulcers than men which are due to changes in their hormone levels. They are likely to develop mouth ulcers at the onset of a period, during pregnancy or after menopause.

Stopping smoking: Many people who stop smoking find that they develop mouth ulcers as a consequence. This is the body’s reaction to chemical changes from smoking cessation and these ulcers will disappear after a short period of time.

Hereditary: There are cases where more than one member of a family is prone to mouth ulcers. If either of your parents are prone to persistent mouth ulcers then there is very good chance you will do the same.

Medical condition: Mouth ulcers can be caused by an underlying medical problem such as Coeliac Disease, Crohns Disease, Reiter’s Syndrome. Any disease which causes an inflammation in the body or affects your immune system in some way can cause mouth ulcers.

Medicine: Mouth ulcers can develop as a reaction to a certain type of medication.

Bacteria: There are numerous kinds of bacteria present in the mouth and these can cause mouth ulcers.

Diet: Foods which are highly acidic are known triggers for mouth ulcers and include eggs, coffee, cheese, strawberries and pineapple.

Lifestyle: Excessive stress or anxiety puts pressure on the immune system which can also cause mouth ulcers. Smoking and drinking to excess can also lead to the development of ulcers.

Toothpaste: Many brands of toothpaste contain the ingredient sodium lauryl sulphate which can cause mouth ulcers.

Most cases of mouth ulcers are minor and can be treated at home. Very often they disappear without any need for you to do anything but sometimes they need a bit of extra help to disappear.

The minor type of mouth ulcer usually disappears without any need for treatment. But major or herpetiform types of ulcers may require medical attention.

Treatment for mouth ulcers eases the pain and helps them to disappear but it doesn’t stop them from reoccurring. However, if it is one consolation, they do tend to occur less and less over time.

A woman rushes to see her doctor, looking very much worried and all strung out.

She rattles off, "Doctor, take a look at me. When I woke up this morning, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw my hair all wiry and frazzled up, my skin was all wrinkled and pasty, my eyes were blood-shot and bugging out, and I had this corpse-like look on my face! What's wrong with me, Doctor?"

The doctor looks her over for a couple of minutes, then calmly says, "Well, I can tell you one thing... there ain't nothing wrong with your eyesight."