Mouth Ulcer

Mouth Ulcer

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, in which some ulcers are a form of herpes.