A mouth or oral ulcer (/ˈʌlsər/, from Latin ulcus and that from Greek "ἕλκος" - elkos, "wound") is an open sore in the mouth, or rarely a break in the mucous membrane or the epithelium on the lips or surrounding the mouth. The types of mouth ulcers are diverse, with a multitude of associated causes including: physical abrasion, acidic fruit, infection, other medical conditions, medications, and cancerous and nonspecific processes. Once formed, th...
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A mouth or oral ulcer (/ˈʌlsər/, from Latin ulcus and that from Greek "ἕλκος" - elkos, "wound") is an open sore in the mouth, or rarely a break in the mucous membrane or the epithelium on the lips or surrounding the mouth. The types of mouth ulcers are diverse, with a multitude of associated causes including: physical abrasion, acidic fruit, infection, other medical conditions, medications, and cancerous and nonspecific processes. Once formed, the ulcer may be maintained by inflammation and/or secondary infection. Two common types are aphthous ulcers ("canker sores") and cold sores (fever blisters, oral herpes). Cold sores around the lip are caused by viruses.
Mouth ulcers are relatively common. These lesions cause pain and if left untreated can cause tooth rot and gum decay. Epidemiological studies show an average prevalence between .15% and 4.5%. Mouth ulcers tend to be more common in women. Mouth ulcers occur most frequently among 16-25 year olds, and they rarely occur in anyone...
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