What should I do if I have sores in my mouth?

What should I do if I have sores in my mouth?

Jason Hamilton (Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon) gives expert video advice on: Why should I be concerned if I am hoarse?; Can I treat a sore throat myself or should I see a doctor? and more...

Sores in the mouth are typically caused by viral infections. They can affect the cheeks, the tongue, or the pallet, and they usuallly look like small white ulcerations that are usually benign and pass pretty quickly. Sometimes sores in the mouth can be early signs of a cancer. So any sore in your mouth that lasts for more than a week or two should be evaluated by a laryncologist and possibly biopsy to rule out any evidence of carcinoma. Fever blisters, or a cold sore, is caused by a herpes virus, and some of the lesions inside the mouth are caused by a herpes virus as well and they look very similar. So, they can both be spread actually, but typically a canker sore inside the mouth is usually caused by a local trauma, meaning that someone hit their gums with a toothbrush, and that's what people say, "I have a canker sore". A real ulceration in the mouth that kind of comes and goes is usually caused by the same virus that causes a fever blister, so it actually can be spread as well.