Medical Health Encyclopedia

Mouth ulcers

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Oral thrush Canker sore (aphthous ulcer) Lichen planus on the oral mucosa Mouth sores

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Mouth ulcers

Definition:

Mouth ulcers are sores or open lesions within the mouth caused by various disorders. (See also mouth sores or aphthous ulcer.)

Alternative Names:
Oral ulcer; Stomatitis - ulcerative; Ulcer - mouth

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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Mouth ulcers are caused by many disorders. These include canker sores, leukoplakia, gingivostomatitis, oral cancer, oral lichen planus, oral thrush, herpes simplex, and other disorders. The skin lesion of histoplasmosis may also appear as a mouth ulcer.

Aphthous ulcer is more common in young adults than in children or older adults.

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