Mouth Ulcers

911 warning

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Does this describe your child's symptoms?

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Causes

Canker Sores: The main cause of 1 or 2 mouth ulcers after age 5. Not contagious.
Hand-foot-mouth disease: The most common cause of multiple ulcers in the mouth, mainly on the tongue and sides of the mouth. Due to the Coxsackie A-16 virus. It is common between ages 1 to 5 years.
Herpes Virus (Cold sore virus): The first infection can be severe and cause 10 or more ulcers on the gums, tongue and lips. Key finding are ulcers on the outer lips or skin around the mouth. Also, fever and difficulty swallowing. Usually occurs age 1 to 3.

Return to School

Canker sores are not contagious. Children with fever or many mouth ulcers need to be examined before returning to child care or school.

Have thick-walled, small-blisters on the palms or soles, in addition to mouth ulcers, see HAND-FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

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	Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If
	Not moving or too weak to stand
	Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
	Your child looks or acts very sick Chemical in the mouth could have caused ulcers Signs of dehydration (very dry mouth, no tears and no urine in more than 8 hours) You think your child needs to be seen urgently
	Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
	You think your child needs to be seen, but not urgently 4 or more ulcers Bloody crusts on lips Red, swollen gums Ulcers and sores also present on outer lips One ulcer on the gum near a tooth with a toothache Fever or swollen face Large lymph node under the jaw Began after starting a medicine
	Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
	You have other questions or concerns Mouth ulcers last over 2 weeks
	Parent Care at Home If
	Probable canker sores and you don't think your child needs to be seen

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Canker sores are the #1 cause of mouth ulcers:
- 1 to 3 painful, white ulcers of the inner cheeks, inner lip or gums (no fever).
- Causes include injuries from rough food, tooth brushes, biting, food irritants, etc.
Liquid Antacid for Pain Relief:
- Use a liquid antacid 4 times per day for pain relief. (Avoid regular mouth washes, because they sting).
- Children over age 4 can use 1 teaspoon (5 ml) as a mouth wash after meals
- For younger children, put ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) in the front of the mouth after meals.
Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen for severe pain (especially at bedtime).
Fluids :
- Offer a soft diet.
- Encourage favorite fluids to prevent dehydration. Cold drinks, milkshakes, and popsicles are especially good.
- Avoid salty foods, citrus fruits and foods that need much chewing.
- For infants, give fluids by cup, spoon or syringe rather than a bottle (Reason: The nipple can cause pain).
Contagiousness: Canker sores are not contagious. Children with fever or many mouth ulcers need to be examined before returning to child care or school.
Expected Course: They heal up in 1 to 2 weeks on their own. Once they occur, no treatment can shorten the course, but treatment can reduce the amount of pain.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Mouth ulcers last over 2 weeks
- Your child becomes worse

Updated:

March 22, 2017