Definition
Mouth ulcers are sores or open lesions within the mouth caused by various disorders. (See also
mouth sores or
aphthous ulcer.)
Alternative Names
Oral ulcer; Stomatitis - ulcerative; Ulcer - mouth
Causes
Mouth ulcers are caused by many disorders. These include canker sores, leukoplakia, gingivostomatitis, oral cancer, oral lichen planus, oral thrush, herpes simplex, and other disorders. The skin lesion of histoplasmosis may also appear as a mouth ulcer.
Aphthous ulcer is more common in young adults than in children or older adults.