---
title: "What Is Mouth sores? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Mouth sores are open spots, ulcers or blisters in the mouth. Most come from small injuries or common causes and clear up on their own."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/mouth-sores
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Conditions

# Mouth sores

Mouth sores are open spots, ulcers or blisters in the mouth. Most come from small injuries or common causes and clear up on their own.

Mouth sores include ulcers, blisters and sore spots anywhere in the mouth. Mouth ulcers are small sores that form on your gums, lips, tongue, inner cheeks or roof of your mouth.

Common causes include irritation from a sharp or broken tooth or poorly fitting dentures, biting your cheek, tongue or lip, burning from hot food or drink, and braces. [Canker sores](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/canker-sore) and cold sores are two common kinds. [Oral thrush](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-thrush) also causes sores.

Mouth sores often go away in 10 to 14 days, even if you do not do anything. Less commonly, they can be a sign of an illness, a tumor, or a reaction to a medicine. See a dentist or doctor if a sore does not heal or keeps coming back. Your dentist checks the soft tissues during an [oral cancer screening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-cancer-screening).

## Related terms

-   [Canker sore](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/canker-sore)
-   [Oral thrush](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-thrush)
-   [Leukoplakia](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/leukoplakia)
-   [Oral cancer screening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-cancer-screening)
-   [Burning mouth syndrome](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/burning-mouth-syndrome)

## Sources

1.  [Cleveland Clinic: Mouth Ulcers: Types, Causes & Treatment](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21766-mouth-ulcer)
2.  [MedlinePlus: Mouth sores](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003059.htm)

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