How long should a mouth ulcer take to heal?
Most mouth ulcers heal within about two weeks. That includes the common kind that comes and goes, and the ones caused by biting your cheek or a sharp edge of tooth rubbing your tongue.
If an ulcer has not healed in three weeks, have it examined. That holds even if it does not hurt, and even if you feel otherwise well.
Ulcers that come and go in different places, each one healing within a couple of weeks, are usually the common recurring kind. If they are very frequent or unusually large, mention them anyway, because they sometimes have a cause worth looking into.
What else should be looked at?
Have these checked too: a red or white patch that does not rub off, a lump or a thickened area anywhere in the mouth, a lump in the neck that does not go away, a tooth that becomes loose for no clear reason, numbness of the tongue or lip with no obvious cause, and bleeding in the mouth that you cannot explain.
A mouth that has slowly become stiff and harder to open, or that burns with spicy food, is worth mentioning as well, especially if you chew supari. It can be a sign of changes in the lining of the mouth that need watching.
None of these is a diagnosis. They are reasons to be examined, not reasons to panic. Do not wait for pain, because many of them do not hurt at the start.
Do tobacco, gutka and supari make a difference?
Yes. Chewing tobacco, gutka, khaini, paan with tobacco and smoking all raise the risk of mouth cancer and of the patches that can come before it. So does areca nut (supari), even on its own without tobacco. Drinking alcohol alongside tobacco raises it further.
These habits are common in India, and many people have chewed sweet supari or pan masala for years without thinking of it as a risk. That is understandable, and it is exactly why this is worth knowing.
If you use any of them, tell the dentist honestly. Nobody is there to judge you. It simply changes what they look for, and it makes a regular check of the mouth more worthwhile.
What happens when you get it checked?
The dentist looks at the whole mouth, not only the spot that worried you: the sides and underside of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, the cheeks, the gums and the roof of the mouth. The neck is gently felt for lumps. It takes a few minutes.
You will be asked how long it has been there, whether it has changed, and about tobacco, supari and alcohol. If there is an obvious cause, such as a broken tooth or a denture rubbing, that may be dealt with first and the area checked again a couple of weeks later. If there is no clear cause, or it looks suspicious, a biopsy is usually the next step.
What is a biopsy?
A biopsy means taking a small piece of the tissue and sending it to a laboratory, where it is examined under a microscope. That is how the cause is properly diagnosed, because looking alone cannot tell.
It is done under local anaesthetic, so the area is numb first, and it is usually a short procedure. A stitch or two may be placed, and the spot is usually sore for a few days. If the area is small, it is sometimes removed completely at the same time.
The result takes some days. Ask when to expect it and how you will be told. Most ulcers and patches that get checked turn out not to be cancer, and when one does need treatment, finding it early usually makes it easier to treat.
Who checks it at STHIRA?
Dr Bhargav Kuchu examines you, and where the case calls for it he seeks the opinion of Dr Swetha Basu, our consultant in oral medicine, radiology and orofacial pain.
Screening, consultation, biopsy and follow-up care all happen at the clinic. Cancer surgery itself is not done here. If you need it, we help you reach an oncology centre, and follow-up after the surgery can continue with us.
The clinic is in Rai Durg, on the Old Mumbai Highway, and this page shows how to find the clinic with the address and timings.
Our page on oral cancer screening and consultation explains what is done at the clinic and when you would be referred on.
Common questions
How long is too long for a mouth ulcer?
Three weeks. Most ordinary ulcers heal within about two, so one that is still there after three should be examined, even if it does not hurt.
Does a white patch in the mouth mean cancer?
Usually not, and many have a simple cause such as a tooth or denture rubbing. A white or red patch that does not rub off should still be examined, so the cause is known rather than guessed.
Does a mouth biopsy hurt?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic first, so most people feel pressure rather than sharp pain while it is done. It is usually sore for a few days afterwards.
Is supari harmful without tobacco?
Yes. Areca nut raises the risk of mouth cancer, and of a slow stiffening of the mouth lining, even on its own, and more so with tobacco. If you chew it, regular checks are worthwhile.