Health Advice
- Weight Management
- Quit Smoking
- Acne
- Child Health
- Pain
- Oral Care & Hygiene
- Aneurysm, abdominal aortic
- Tummy ache
- Abscess
- Periods, absent
- First aid
- Reflux
- Blackheads
- Acupuncture
- Gallbladder, inflammation
- Leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic
- Leukaemia, acute myeloid
- Addiction
- Addison's disease
- Adenoids and adenoidectomy
- Frozen shoulder
- Agoraphobia
- Air embolism
- Alcohol misuse
- Alcohol poisoning
- Alexander technique
- Rhinitis, allergic
- Indoor allergy
- Mountain sickness
- Alzheimer's disease
- Lazy eye
- Macular degeneration
- Memory loss
- Amniocentesis
- Amputation
- Motor neurone disease
- Steroid misuse
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia
- Anaesthesia
- Anal fissure
- Brain aneurysm
- Angelman syndrome
- Anger management
- Angina
- Angioedema
- Arteriography
- Stent insertion
- Dog bites
- Fractured ankle
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Anorexia nervosa
- Smell sense, loss of
- Antacid medicines
- Penicillin
- Anticoagulant medicines
- Antidepressants
- Antifungal medicines
- Antihistamines
- NSAIDs
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Hypochondria
- Anxiety disorders in children
- Stress
- Appendicitis
- Wrist, broken
- Arterial thrombosis
- Arthritis
- Asbestosis
- Asthma
- Astigmatism
- Eczema
- Atrial fibrillation
- Hearing tests
- Bird flu
- B12 vitamin deficiency
- Skin rashes in babies
- Weaning
- Lumbago (low back pain)
- Septic arthritis
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Weight loss surgery
- Barium enema
- Bartholin's cyst
- Pressure ulcers
- Bedbugs
- Nocturnal enuresis
- Behçet’s disease
- Facial paralysis
- Tongue pain or soreness
- Prostate enlargement
- Beta-blockers
- Bicarbonate test
- Binge eating
- Biopsy
- Bipolar disorder
- Spider bite
- Eye, black
- Bladder cancer
- Cystitis
- Bladder stones
- Blisters
- Blood donation
- Blood gases test
- Blood groups
- Coughing up blood
- Semen, bloody
- Urine, blood in the
- Vomiting blood
- Septicaemia
- Hypertension
- Low blood pressure
- Blood tests
- Blood transfusion
- Blushing
- Bromhidrosis (body odour)
- Bone cyst
- DXA scan
- Bone marrow donation
- Stem cell transplant
- Borderline personality disorder
- Bottle feeding
- Botulism
- Rectal cancer
- Polyps, bowel
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Orthodontics
- Brain abscess
- Head injury, severe
- Brain tumour, benign (non-cancerous)
- Brain tumour, malignant (cancerous)
- Brain tumours
- Breast abscess
- Breast cancer
- Male breast cancer
- Screening for breast cancer
- Nipple discharge
- Mastitis
- Breast lump
- Breastfeeding
- Shortness of breath
- Osteoporosis
- Fractured collarbone
- Hip fracture
- Leg, broken
- Fractured nose
- Rib injuries
- Toe, broken
- Tooth, broken or knocked out
- Smelly feet (bromodosis)
- Bronchitis
- Teeth grinding
- Thyroid eye disease
- Bulimia
- Burns and scalds
- Heart bypass
- Caesarean section
- Food poisoning
- Cancer
- Thrush
- Thrush, men
- Thrush, oral - adults
- Thrush, oral - babies
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cartilage damage
- Nasal congestion
- Rib, cervical
- Smear test
- Sore lips
- Chemotherapy
- Chest infection, adult
- Chest pain
- Herpes zoster virus
- Statins
- Kidney disease, chronic
- Leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic
- Leukaemia, chronic myeloid
- Cirrhosis
- Claustrophobia
- Cluster headaches
- White coated tongue
- Gluten intolerance
- Herpes simplex virus
- Cold
- Colic
- Colostomy
- Coma
- Combined contraceptive pill
- Pneumonia
- CT scan
- Concussion
- Hole in the heart
- Heart failure
- Conjunctivitis
- Constipation
- Contact dermatitis
- Corns and calluses
- Coronary heart disease
- Vegetative state
- Topical corticosteroids
- Steroid medication
- Cosmetic surgery
- Cough
- Counselling
- Leg cramps
- Crohn's disease
- Swallowing pills (problems)
- Undescended testicles
- Lacerations
- Cystic fibrosis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Dandruff
- Date rape drugs
- Thyroiditis
- Hearing impairment
- Dehydration
- Tooth abscess
- Teething
- Tooth decay
- Fluoride
- False teeth (dentures)
- Depression
- Dyspraxia in children
- Diabetes insipidus
- Diabetes
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Dialysis
- Traveller's diarrhoea
- Nutrition
- Rectal examination
- Double vision
- Nummular eczema
- Shoulder dislocation
- Diverticular disease and diverticulitis
- Lightheadedness
- Down's syndrome
- Dry eye syndrome
- Thirst
- Dyslexia
- Periods, painful
- Indigestion
- Swallowing problems
- Dyspraxia (adults)
- Swimmer's ear
- Earache
- Earwax
- Eating disorders
- Ebola virus disease
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Restless legs syndrome
- Endoscopy
- Threadworms
- Tennis elbow
- Epidural
- Epilepsy
- Watering eyes
- Nosebleed
- Impotence
- Tremor (essential)
- Ocular cancer
- Eye injuries
- Red eye
- Falls
- Family planning
- Fever, childhood
- Fibromyalgia
- Flat feet
- Wind
- Seasonal flu
- Nail patella syndrome
- Food allergy
- Foot pain
- Frostbite
- Gallstones
- Stomach removal surgery
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastritis
- Gastroparesis
- Gastroscopy
- General anaesthetic
- Genetics
- Herpes, genital
- Warts, genital
- Rubella
- Gestational diabetes
- Gum disease
- Goitre
- Gout
- Recurrent limb pain in children
- Iron overload disorder
- Haemophilia
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
- Piles (haemorrhoids)
- Ingrown hairs
- Leukaemia, hairy cell
- Hallucinations
- Hamstring injury
- Hand pain
- Tendon repair, hand
- Hand, foot and mouth disease
- Hangover
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis
- Head and neck cancer
- Head injury, minor
- Nits
- Headaches
- Hearing and vision tests for children
- Myocardial infarction
- Heart block
- Palpitations
- Heart transplant
- Heart-lung transplant
- Heat exhaustion and heatstroke
- Sweat rash
- Periods, heavy
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis
- Herbal medicines
- Hernia, femoral
- Hiatus hernia
- Hernia, inguinal
- Hernia, umbilical
- Hernia
- Herpes simplex eye infections
- Hip pain in adults
- Hip replacement
- HIV and AIDS
- Welts
- Lymphoma, Hodgkin
- Homeopathy
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Huntington's disease
- Rabies
- Hyperglycaemia
- Sweating, excessive (hyperhidrosis)
- Joint hypermobility
- Sleepiness in the day (severe and unexplained)
- Thyroid, overactive
- Hypnotherapy
- Testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism)
- Underactive thyroid
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Painkillers, ibuprofen
- Shoulder tendon, trapped
- Urinary incontinence
- Infertility
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Ingrown toenail
- Inquest
- Insomnia
- Type 1 diabetes
- Intensive care
- IVF
- Jaundice in newborns
- Jaundice
- Stings, sea creatures
- Jet lag
- Joint pain
- Kidney stones
- knee-pain
- Knee replacement
- Knee surgery, anterior cruciate ligament
- Milk intolerance
- Laryngeal (larynx) cancer
- Laryngitis
- Laxatives
- Legionnaires' disease
- Weil's disease
- Liver cancer
- Liver disease
- Liver transplant
- Local anaesthetic
- Twisted neck
- Tetanus
- Loss of libido
- Sperm count, low
- Lumbar puncture
- Swelling or lump
- Lung cancer
- Lung transplant
- Lyme disease
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Lymphoma
- Magnesium test
- MRI scan
- Malaria
- Male contraceptive pill
- Malnutrition
- Mastectomy
- Rubeola
- Shin splints
- Skin cancer (melanoma)
- Meningitis
- Menopause
- Metallic taste in mouth
- MRSA infection
- Migraine
- Miscarriage
- Mobile phone safety
- Moles
- Travel sickness
- Oral cancer
- Mouth ulcers
- Multiple sclerosis
- Mucositis
- Multiple system atrophy
- Mumps
- Muscular dystrophy
- Selective mutism
- Short-sightedness
- Nose and sinus cancer
- Polyps, nose
- Nasopharyngeal cancer
- Natural family planning
- Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Night sweats
- Nightmares
- Rhinitis, non-allergic
- Type 2 diabetes
- Winter vomiting disease
- Obesity
- OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
- Sleep apnoea
- Occupational therapy
- Swollen ankles
- Oesophageal cancer
- Periods, irregular
- Organ donation
- Orthopaedics (orthopaedic surgery)
- Osteoarthritis
- Rickets
- Osteopathy
- Pacemaker implantation
- Shoulder pain
- Paracetamol
- Ulcerative colitis
- Pancreas transplant
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pancreatitis, acute
- Pancreatitis, chronic
- Panic disorder
- Pins and needles
- Paralysis
- Parkinson's disease
- Pelvic pain
- Ulcer, peptic
- Ruptured eardrum
- Pericarditis
- Periods
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Peritonitis
- Personality disorder
- Whooping cough
- Strep throat
- Phobias
- Physiotherapy
- Pilonidal sinus
- Plastic surgery
- Pleurisy
- Pneumococcal infections
- Poisoning
- Reflux in babies
- Potassium test
- Pre-eclampsia
- Slipped disc
- Urinary PSA test
- Prostate disease
- Prostatitis
- Psoriasis
- Puberty
- Radiation
- Radiotherapy
- Red blood cell count
- Rheumatic fever
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Root canal treatment
- Roundworm
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Salivary stones
- Salmonella infection
- Scabies
- Scarlet fever
- Scars
- Schizophrenia
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Scurvy
- Self-harm
- Septic shock
- Sexual health clinics
- STIs
- Shingles
- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
- Vomiting in children and babies
- Sinus headache
- Sinusitis
- Skin rashes in children
- Sleep paralysis
- Sleepwalking
- Urine, smelly
- Snake bites
- Snoring
- Spina bifida
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Sports injuries
- Sprains
- Squint
- Stuttering
- Stomach cancer
- Streptococcal infections
- Stroke
- Stye
- Suicide
- Sunburn
- Swollen glands
- Syphilis
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Tension-type headaches
- Testicular cancer
- Testicular lumps and swellings
- Thyroid cancer
- Tics
- Tinnitus
- Tongue-tie
- Tonsillitis
- Toothache
- Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC or transferrin) test
- Total protein test
- Tourette's syndrome
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Traction
- Travel vaccines
- Trigger finger
- Typhoid fever
- Ultrasound scan
- Urinary tract infection, children
- Urinary tract infection
- Vaginitis
- Vaginal cancer
- Vaginal discharge
- Varicose eczema
- Varicose veins
- Warts and verrucas
- Vertigo
- Vitamins, minerals and supplements
- Vomiting in adults
- Warfarin
- Weight loss (unexpected and unplanned)
- Whiplash
- Wisdom tooth removal
- X-ray
- Yellow fever
- Bowel cancer screening
Latest from blog
Every parent’s heart sinks when they receive the dreaded note from school warning about head lice. Don’t worry – Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy in Donabate is here to to give us advice and tips. The first thing to do is to check the child’s head. You will need some tea tree conditioner, a... Read more >
Read moreWe ask Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy Donabate how to make the most of great sunny summer days whilst protecting our skin from harmful rays. Jane says “The Irish Cancer Society SunSmart program has great guidelines to keep us safe. See below for some useful tips and advice” Ways to protect your skin: Shade... Read more >
Read morePollen Highs & Watery Eyes… Talk to Jane Brennan, your Hay Fever Expert in Donabate Are your eyes itchy, red or watery? Is your throat scratchy? Are you sneezing? Do you have itchy ears, nose or mouth? Do you have a blocked or runny nose? Do you wake up feeling exhausted? Hay fever can cause... Read more >
Read moreNHS Choices - Causes of mouth ulcers
(19/03/2014)
Most minor, single mouth ulcers are caused by damage to the mouth, for example by accidentally biting the inside of your cheek while you are eating or from a sharp tooth, food or filling.
These ulcers will usually heal within a week or two and are not a sign of any serious problem.
Causes of recurrent mouth ulcers
The cause of mouth ulcers that keep coming back is not always clear. It is thought that your genes may make you more likely to develop mouth ulcers as a result of certain triggers, as around 40% of people who have recurrent mouth ulcers report that it runs in their family.
Some of the factors that may trigger recurrent mouth ulcers include:
- stress and anxiety
- hormonal changes – some women develop mouth ulcers during their monthly period
- eating certain foods – such as chocolate, coffee, peanuts, almonds, strawberries, cheese, tomatoes and wheat flour
- toothpaste additives – it has been suggested that the additive sodium lauryl sulphate, found in some toothpastes, may cause or aggravate mouth ulcers in some people
- stopping smoking – when you first stop smoking, you may find you develop mouth ulcers (as a result of your body dealing with the change in chemicals in your body)
If you are trying to stop smoking, don't be put off if you develop mouth ulcers. Remember that the mouth ulcers are temporary, and the long-term health benefits of not smoking are far greater than the short-term discomfort of the ulcers. Read more about stopping smoking.
Medical conditions
In some cases, recurrent mouth ulcers may be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as:
- viral infections – including the cold sore virus (herpes simplex), hand, foot and mouth disease and chickenpox
- vitamin B12 deficiency – where a lack of vitamin B12 causes the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that cannot function properly
- iron deficiency – where a lack of iron in your blood leads to a reduction in the amount of oxygen reaching your organs and tissues
- coeliac disease – a common digestive condition where a person has an adverse reaction to gluten
- crohn's disease – a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system
- reactive arthritis – a condition that causes inflammation in various places in the body, usually as a reaction to an infection
- lichen planus – a non-infectious, itchy rash that can affect many areas of the body
- Behçet’s disease – a rare and poorly understood condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels
- immunodeficiency – when the body's immune system is attacked or suppressed, for example in HIV or lupus
Medications and treatments
Mouth ulcers can sometimes be caused by a medication you are taking or treatment you are having, such as:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – such as ibuprofen and aspirin
- nicorandil – a medication sometimes used to treat angina
- beta-blockers – medications used to treat a variety of conditions that affect the heart and blood flow, such as angina, high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms
- chemotherapy and radiotherapy – two common cancer treatments
You may notice that you start to get mouth ulcers when you begin your treatment, or when your dosage is increased.
Speak to your GP or care team if you think your treatment is causing your mouth ulcers. You may be able to take an alternative medication or you may be offered medication to treat the ulcers until you finish your course of treatment.
Could it be mouth cancer?
In a few cases, a long-lasting mouth ulcer can be a sign of mouth cancer. Ulcers caused by mouth cancer usually appear on or under the tongue, although they can appear elsewhere in the mouth.
You are more at risk of developing mouth cancer if you are male, over 45 years old and you smoke or drink heavily.
If mouth cancer is detected early, the chances of a complete recovery are good. This is why it is always important to have regular check-ups with your dentist. They can carry out a thorough assessment of your teeth and mouth, and will be able to spot any possible signs of mouth cancer.
- Immune
- The immune system is the body's defence system, which helps protect it from disease, bacteria and viruses.