Mouth ulcers are sores or open lesions in the mouth.

See also: Canker sores

Oral ulcer; Stomatitis - ulcerative; Ulcer - mouth

Mouth ulcers are caused by many disorders. These include:

• Canker sores
• Gingivostomatitis
• Herpes simplex (fever blister)
• Leukoplakia
• Oral cancer
• Oral lichen planus
• Oral thrush

The skin lesion of histoplasmosis may also appear as a mouth ulcer.

Images

Lichen planus on the oral mucosa

Mouth sores

Oral thrush

Canker sore (aphthous ulcer)

Review Date: 02/17/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)