Why do I keep getting mouth ulcers?

First, ask where

This is the question that splits the answer, and you can answer it yourself:

Do they keep appearing in the same spot, or in different places each time?

Same place every time — something is rubbing

That pattern usually means a physical cause: a sharp tooth edge, a broken filling, an orthodontic bracket, or a denture margin catching the same piece of tissue. The tissue keeps being injured, so it keeps ulcerating.

Fixing the cause is what stops the cycle, and it is usually a quick fix — a filling smoothed, an edge rounded, wax over a bracket, a denture adjusted. This is worth an appointment precisely because it is so easily solved and so persistent if it is not.

Different places — triggers, and sometimes something systemic

Common triggers:

• Minor injury, from biting the cheek or from dental work.
• Stress.
• Hormonal changes.
• Certain foods.
• Some toothpaste ingredients, which is worth knowing because it is a variable you can change and test.

Beyond those, recurrent ulcers can relate to nutritional deficiency or an underlying medical condition. If you get them constantly and no mechanical cause is found, that is the direction worth investigating with a professional rather than guessing at.

What helps while one is healing

Topical gels or rinses containing a numbing or protective agent. Avoiding spicy, acidic, salty and very hot food while it heals. A soft brush and gentle cleaning around the area to reduce irritation.

A warm saltwater rinse soothes and keeps the area clean, and many people find it helps — as a comfort measure rather than a cure.

What to bring to the appointment

If you can, note where they appear, how often, how long each one lasts, and whether anything preceded them — a new toothpaste, a stressful period, dental work. That pattern is more useful diagnostically than the ulcer in your mouth on the day, especially if it has healed by the time you are seen.

And the timing rule still applies: an ulcer lasting more than two weeks should be examined regardless of how well it fits a familiar pattern.

Full detail on the mouth ulcers page; see also when to worry about an ulcer. Consultation ₹500, waived against treatment.