Psychosomatics of stomatitis and mouth ulcers
A painful sore with a red edge in the mouth makes eating and talking hurt. It’s a canker sore (aphthous stomatitis): a common condition that usually clears up on its own in one to two weeks. If it lasts longer than three weeks, see a doctor.
Updated
What psychosomatics says
Psychosomatics doesn’t explain why mouth ulcers appear. They have clear physical causes, and you’re not to blame for them. If a sore is long-lasting or unusual, see a doctor.
In psychosomatics, the mouth is linked to what we “accept” and “swallow”: food, words, circumstances. Mouth sores are talked about alongside something wanted that you can’t get and something unwanted that you can’t get rid of. It’s an image, not a diagnosis.
MedlinePlus and the NHS name stress as one of the triggers, so questions to yourself are fitting: what was happening in your life before the sore appeared.
What it is
Canker sores are small, round, painful sores in the mouth: on the inside of the cheek or lip, under the tongue or on the tongue. They usually have a red edge and a grey centre (MedlinePlus), and you can have several at once. They aren’t contagious and differ from cold sores on the lips, which herpes causes.
The NHS writes that mouth ulcers usually clear up on their own within 1 to 2 weeks. Causes include biting the inside of the cheek, badly fitting dentures, braces, a sharp tooth, burns from hot food, a food intolerance or allergy, gums irritated by a toothbrush or toothpaste, tiredness, stress and anxiety. Sometimes hormonal changes, for example in pregnancy, and genes trigger them. MedlinePlus also names a viral infection, lack of vitamins and minerals, and periods.
A soft toothbrush, cool drinks through a straw, soft food, avoiding spicy, salty, acidic and rough food, toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulphate and a salt mouthwash (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) help. A pharmacist can suggest antiseptic mouthwash and painkilling gels.
You need a doctor if the sore hasn’t healed in three weeks, is unusually big, sits far back in the throat, bleeds, or turns redder and more painful. Also go if you have sores on the skin or genitals, or painful, swollen joints. A long-lasting mouth sore needs to be checked to rule out serious causes.
How it shows up
- A painful round sore in the mouth
- A red edge and a grey or white centre
- Spicy, salty and acidic food hurts
- There can be several sores
- They appear after tiredness, stress or before your period
- The sore heals on its own in 1 to 2 weeks
Start with a dentist: they’ll examine your mouth, smooth a sharp tooth or adjust a denture. If sores keep coming back or you have other symptoms, you need a general practitioner: they’ll order tests, for example for iron and vitamins.
Frequently asked questions
Are canker sores contagious?
MedlinePlus and the NHS write that canker sores aren’t contagious. Don’t confuse them with cold sores (herpes), which are contagious and appear on the lips and around the mouth.
Can canker sores come from stress?
MedlinePlus and the NHS name stress and tiredness among factors that can trigger canker sores, along with injury to the lining of the mouth, allergies and hormonal changes. These are triggers, not the only cause.
When is a mouth ulcer dangerous?
According to the NHS, see a dentist or general practitioner if the sore lasts longer than three weeks, is unusually big or deep at the back of the throat, bleeds, or gets more painful and red. Most mouth ulcers are harmless, but a long-lasting one needs to be checked.
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Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.