What Causes Frequent Mouth Ulcers?

Jun 09, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Liu Chao

Introduction

In general, recurrent oral ulcers may be caused by various factors, mainly including improper diet, mental stress, local irritation, low immunity, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Patients with frequent oral ulcers are advised to seek medical attention promptly and follow the doctor's recommendations for treatment, adjust lifestyle and dietary habits, and maintain adequate sleep and moderate exercise.

Generally, recurrent oral ulcers may be caused by various factors, mainly including improper diet, mental stress, local irritation, low immunity, and systemic lupus erythematosus. These conditions can be improved through general treatments and medication therapy. The detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Improper Diet

Long-term consumption of spicy, greasy, excessively hot, or hard foods may irritate the oral mucosa, affect the normal metabolism of oral mucosal cells, and increase the risk of ulcers causing oral ulcers. It is recommended to reduce the intake of spicy, hot, sour, or salty foods, such as chili peppers, Sichuan peppers, and pickled vegetables. Instead, eat more foods rich in vitamins, such as oats, lean meats, and oranges.

2. Mental Stress

Being in a state of long-term mental tension, anxiety, significant mood swings, or poor sleep may disrupt the body's hormonal balance, leading to decreased immunity and thus triggering oral ulcers. It is recommended to ensure adequate sleep, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time daily to establish a healthy biological clock, and relax the body and mind through deep breathing, meditation, listening to music, and other methods.

3. Local Irritation

Local irritation in the mouth, such as wearing orthodontic appliances, poor dental occlusion, presence of defective restorations or residual roots/crowns in the oral cavity, may cause wear on the oral mucosa, making specific areas repeatedly damaged and leading to oral ulcers. It is recommended to use medications such as lincomycin lidocaine gel, compound benzocaine gel, Guilin Watermelon Frost tablets, and others under a doctor's guidance for treatment.

4. Low Immunity

When the body's immunity is low, the repair capability of the oral mucosa weakens, and its resistance decreases, making it more susceptible to attacks from pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, thus causing ulcers. For recurrent oral ulcers caused by low immunity, immunostimulants such as vitamin C chewable tablets, transfer factor oral solution, thymopeptide enteric-coated tablets, and others may be used under a doctor's guidance to enhance the body's immunity.

5. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with various clinical manifestations. When the condition is severe, it may involve the mouth, causing damage to the oral mucosa and leading to oral ulcers. Treatment may involve the use of medications such as prednisone acetate tablets, compound cyclophosphamide tablets, mycophenolate mofetil capsules, and others under a doctor's guidance.

Patients experiencing frequent oral ulcers should seek timely medical attention and follow the doctor's recommendations for treatment. At the same time, adjusting lifestyle habits and dietary patterns, maintaining adequate sleep and moderate exercise, and enhancing immunity can help reduce the occurrence of oral ulcers.

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