MOUTH ULCERS

Iglü Sugar-Free Pastilles, £6.19, pack of 24 CLAIM: Dissolve slowly to soothe the pain and discomfort caused by mouth ulcers and sores. Antiseptic action helps to fight infection.

EXPERT VERDICT: ‘A good product to help ease the discomfort associated with a mouth ulcer, but it won’t get rid of it,’ says Dr Ben Atkins, a dentist in Salford and spokesman for the Oral Health Foundation.

‘They contain benzalkonium chloride, which can help inhibit bacterial growth, reducing the infection that caused the ulcer.

Usually a single ulcer is caused by biting the cheek or tongue or poor-fitting dentures. These are called “traumatic” ulcers.

If mouth ulcers keep coming back, it’s called recurrent aphthous stomatitis. An ulcer lasting several weeks should be checked by a dentist, as it can be a sign of something more serious.’