What causes frequent mouth ulcers?
Sep 13, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Introduction
Recurrent oral ulcers are mainly caused by the following reasons:
1. Deficiency of vitamins and trace elements: Lack of trace elements such as zinc, iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 can lead to angular cheilitis;
2. Mental stress: Work fatigue, psychological tension, emotional fluctuations, and neurological disorders may cause oral ulcers to recur repeatedly;
3. Gastrointestinal diseases.
When this condition occurs, the affected area appears pale yellow, and there is often a red halo around the ulcer. Typically, the ulcers are small in diameter and multiple sores may appear simultaneously, characterized by being red, yellow, indented, and painful—meaning the surrounding area turns red, the ulcer itself appears yellow, it has a sunken appearance, and it causes pain. What causes recurrent oral ulcers?
What Causes Recurrent Oral Ulcers?
Recurrent oral ulcers are mainly caused by the following factors: 1. Deficiency of vitamins and trace elements: Lack of zinc, iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, and other trace elements can lead to angular cheilitis. 2. Mental stress: Work fatigue, psychological tension, emotional fluctuations, and neurological disorders can also cause repeated episodes of oral ulcers. 3. Gastrointestinal diseases: Recurrent oral ulcers may indicate underlying gastrointestinal problems. Medically speaking, many gastrointestinal conditions manifest as recurring oral ulcers, since digestive discomfort affects the body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients from food, thereby impairing the replenishment of essential elements.
Immune system disorders or immune deficiencies: If multiple oral ulcers occur repeatedly, accompanied by genital ulcers, acne-like skin lesions, and eye discomfort, Behçet's disease should be considered. When oral ulcers are associated with hair loss, facial reddish-purple rashes, and joint pain, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) may be the underlying cause.
If oral ulcers are accompanied by persistent fever and frequent infections, hematological (blood) disorders should be suspected. We hope this answer helps you. Wishing you good health and happiness!
