Why won’t my tongue ulcer go away?

Symptoms:

A painful, 6

roundish ulcer that’s pale yellow on the side of your cheek, edge of your tongue or in front of your teeth.

It could be:

A traumatic ulcer. This is 6

caused by injury, perhaps from a sharp edge of a tooth, braces, badly fitting dentures or a bump from a toothbrush, or if you accidentally bite your tongue or cheek while eating.

Stop it:

Swirl a teaspoon of salt in 6

warm water or an antibacterial mouthwash around your mouth to combat any infection and apply an anaesthetic gel. See your GP if it gets more painful and inflamed or lasts more than three weeks. If it’s caused by a sharp tooth, dentures or braces, see your dentist.

Local anaesthetic 6

gels, available from pharmacies, will ease the pain. An antiseptic mouthwash will keep them clean. They may also be a sign of an underlying condition like iron or B12 deficiency so see your GP.

Get it checked by your 6

GP as soon as possible.