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ulcers
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Author’s Bio: Dharshini Senthilkumar is an incoming college freshman majoring in biology. She is interested in the medical sciences and hopes to provide awareness on serious medical conditions.

Ulcers are small lesions or open sores that occur either in the stomach, in the small intestine, or in the mouth. Peptic ulcers form when the stomach acid eats away at the digestive tract’s protective layer. Peptic ulcers can be very dangerous in that if it goes untreated or unnoticed, it can cause internal bleeding and hospitalization.

Mouth Ulcers form for a variety of reasons and make eating, drinking, and talking a very uncomfortable experience. They are not contagious and usually go away in a week or two.

What are the types of Ulcers?

There are 3 types of ulcers: gastric, duodenum, and mouth ulcers.

– Peptic ulcers
o Gastric ulcers- occur inside the stomach
o Duodenal ulcers- occur on the inside of the small intestine

–  Mouth ulcers (Canker sores)- occur along the inside of the mouth.

Peptic ulcer form when stomach acid damages the walls of the stomach and small intestine. The causes are:


– Bacteria- Although H. pylori is common in most people’s bodies, some individuals react to the bacteria differently in that their stomach acid production quantity increases which leads to the mucus layer breaking down and irritating the digestive tract.

– Certain pain relievers- Frequent Aspirin usage over a long-time period can increase likelihood of a peptic ulcer. NSAIDs like ibuprofen block your body from making a chemical that protects your inner stomach and small intestine walls from stomach acid.


Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol can also increase the likelihood of developing an ulcer. Stress and eating spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but they may perpetuate them.

There is no definite cause behind mouth ulcers, but there are many factors that may include:

  •     Minor mouth injuries- dental work, brushing, or accidental biting
  •     Toothpastes and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate
  •     Food sensitivity to acidic food- strawberries, citrus, or coffee
  •     Lack of essential vitamins- B12, zinc, folate, and iron
  •     Allergic response to bacteria
  •     Hormonal changes
  •     Braces
  •     Stress or lack of sleep

A burning pain or discomfort between your belly button and chest which worsens on an empty stomach. This pain may last between a few minutes to a few hours.

  •     Bloated
  •     Burping
  •     Lack of appetite
  •     Loss of weight
  •     Nausea or vomiting
  •     Blood or dark poop

There are three types of mouth ulcer that each have various looking sores.

  •     Minor- these sores are small, oval, and round ulcers in the mouth that heal within a week or two with no scarring.
  •     Major- these sores are larger and deeper than minor ulcers. They have irregular edges and take up to 6 weeks to heal. Long-time scarring is highly likely with these kinds of sores.
  •     Herpetiform- these sores are pinpoint size and occur in clusters. These have irregular edges and heals within 1-2 weeks. Scarring is not very likely.

You should see a healthcare provider if you develop any of the following:

  •     Unusually large sores
  •     New ulcers form before old ones heal or any sores that last for more than 3 weeks
  •     Painless sores
  •     High fever or diarrhea
  •     Severe issues in eating or drinking
  •     Pain that cannot be ­­­suppressed by painkillers

Book an Appointment

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 1

Call or Book your online Doctor Visit

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 2

Talk to a doctor over the Phone/ Tablet

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 3

If needed pick up your medication at the pharmacy

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, NSAID usage, and medical history. This information along with checking for bloating will tell your healthcare provider enough to be able to diagnose you. However, to be absolutely sure about an ulcer, your doctor must take a look inside. An x-ray or endoscopy will help in this process.

A physical exam will let your healthcare provider know whether you have mouth ulcers or not. If you have frequent or extremely painful mouth ulcer, it is recommended that you test for other medical conditions like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.

Peptic ulcers tend to heal on their own, but then they may become recurrent. If H. pylori bacteria is the culprit, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to kill it. If NSAIDs are the reason, you may be directed to cut down their usage, stop their usage, or just replace them.

Antacids may also be prescribed in order to lessen the stomach acid that your body is creating. Prescription drugs like cytoprotective agents can protect the lining of the stomach or small intestine. This way, the ulcer can heal on its own time.

Mouth ulcer do not generally need treatment. If persistent and painful mouth sores occur, the following treatments may help.

  •     Use a saltwater and baking soda rinse to gargle in your mouth
  •     Milk of magnesia placed on the sore itself
  •     Covering mouth sores with toothpaste and baking soda
  •     Over the counter benzocaine will help with pain management
  •     Applying ice or damp tea bag to the canker sore
  •     Taking nutritional supplements like folic acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and zinc

To prevent the spread of bacteria, wash your hands with soap and water regularly. As a step further, wash your food and cook it properly to ensure safe consumption.


Another way to prevent peptic ulcers is to stop or limit the use of NSAIDs. If you need to take painkillers, limit the usage of the pills as much as you can and do not consume alcohol afterwards.

Avoiding foods that irritate your mouth can help prevent canker sores. Instead of acidic foods like pineapple or oranges, choose whole grains and alkaline fruits and vegetables.

Avoid talking while eating to reduce chances of accidentally biting. Also, reducing stress and maintaining good oral hygiene health will also help. Using soft bristle toothbrushes and mouthwashes that do contain sodium lauryl sulfate.

Online Doctor Consultation for Ulcers

If you or someone in your family have concerns about ulcers, please contact  and seek help from our doctors online.

At Home Urgent Care provides telehealth services so you can safely and confidently keep your health in check with our primary and urgent care services and get treatment online.

Book an online doctor appointment today with our health care experts available at your convenience 365 days a year and get your prescription/medication available online.

Book an Appointment

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 1

Call or Book your online Doctor Visit

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 2

Talk to a doctor over the Phone/ Tablet

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 3

If needed pick up your medication at the pharmacy

Sources