“These are the least well understood, heal quickly although often recur intermittently and are often linked to dietary deficiencies, stress, menstrual cycles or quitting smoking bizarrely.”
She warned: “Ulceration that hasn’t healed after two weeks could be a sign of something more serious, such as mouth cancer, so it’s important to speak to your dentist, who can refer you straight to a specialist for further tests.”
Mouth cancer can develop on the surface of the tongue, the inside of the cheeks, the roof of the mouth (palate), the lips or gums.
The NHS says: “Tumours can also develop in the glands that produce saliva, the tonsils at the back of the mouth, and the part of the throat connecting your mouth to your windpipe (pharynx). However, these are less common.”
