Patient guide · Park Road Dental
A mouth ulcer that is not healing: when should you get it checked?
Arrange a dental or medical assessment for a mouth ulcer that has not healed after about two weeks, and seek advice sooner if it is worsening or affecting eating and drinking. An ulcer can follow irritation or be part of a recurring condition, but a persistent sore should not be diagnosed from a photograph or treated indefinitely with gels.
The pattern matters
A sore that appears after accidentally biting your cheek is different from an ulcer that repeatedly returns or never fully heals. Tell the clinician when you first noticed it, whether it has changed and whether you have had similar sores before.
A review of recurrent oral ulceration describes several possible causes, including trauma, medicines, infection and systemic conditions. Similar-looking ulcers can have different explanations. That is why an examination and history matter more than matching an online image. Review of recurrent oral ulceration.
Why use two weeks as a checkpoint?
Expert consensus guidance on difficult oral ulcers recommends further investigation when an unexplained ulcer persists beyond two weeks or does not respond as expected. This is a prompt for assessment, not a diagnosis of cancer and not a rule that every ulcer needs a biopsy. The clinician decides whether referral or tests are appropriate. Consensus guidance on persistent ulcers.
Do not wait for that checkpoint if you have a growing lump, unexplained bleeding or worsening symptoms. Seek urgent medical care for difficulty breathing or swallowing, or if you cannot keep up fluid intake.
What can you record before the visit?
Write down the approximate start date and location. A clear photograph taken when you first notice the sore can help show a change, especially if it partly heals before the appointment. Bring your medication list and mention symptoms elsewhere in the body.
If a sharp tooth, denture or retainer seems to rub the area, bring the appliance where possible. Do not file a tooth or alter a denture yourself. Ask whether the irritation explains the appearance and what follow-up is needed to confirm healing.
Comfort measures are not the whole plan
Avoid foods that noticeably sting and choose comfortable textures while you seek advice. A pharmacist or clinician can advise on a suitable symptom-relief product. Repeatedly changing gels should not postpone assessment of a persistent sore.
Before leaving the appointment, clarify the next step: when should it improve, who should you contact if it does not, and is a review already needed? If a proposed cause is removed, confirming that the ulcer heals is part of a useful plan.
Talk to us
For advice about your own teeth and gums, explore our general dental care or book an appointment at Park Road Dental in Cheltenham. You can also call (03) 9584 4949. Tell us what is bothering you when booking so we can help arrange an appropriate visit.
Research behind this article
Frequently asked questions
Does a persistent ulcer mean cancer?
No. There are several possible causes, but persistent or unusual ulcers need examination so that important conditions are not missed.
Should I keep using gel until it disappears?
Symptom relief should not delay assessment. Arrange a review if the ulcer is not healing after about two weeks, or sooner if it worsens.
Is a photo enough to diagnose an ulcer?
A photo can help document change, but history and a clinical examination are usually needed. The clinician may recommend further tests or referral.
Ready when you are
Park Road Dental — 155 Park Road, Cheltenham. New patients welcome, all major health funds accepted on the spot.
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