How long ulcers take to heal

The good news is that most mouth ulcers clear up by themselves and won't last longer than a week or so. To relieve pain and inflammation during this period, it's worth asking your pharmacist to recommend a topical gel or ointment to speed the healing process along.

However, if your mouth ulcer is hanging around for over three weeks, or you are experiencing them on a regular basis, it may indicate an infection or other underlying problem and it's worth seeking medical advice. If there is an issue or they need to refer you on, they will both refer you to the same place - oral surgery or oral pathology. It's worth bearing in mind that if you have other symptoms, a doctor is often the more appropriate healthcare professional to seek out. For instance, lack or iron , vitamin B12 or folic acid are associated with mouth ulcers, albeit relatively uncommonly.

In these cases, you may have other symptoms of anaemia, such as tiredness, feeling faint or getting breathless easily. Mouth ulcers can also be a symptom of coeliac disease , which can lead to tummy pain, wind, bloating and diarrhoea as well as tiredness.

Whilst a persistent mouth ulcer could be a sign of cancer, it's important to remember that this condition is relatively rare. To get rid of the infection completely, you must take the full course of antibiotics — usually for 10 to 14 days.

NSAIDs can irritate or inflame the lining of your stomach and small intestine, leading to a peptic ulcer. Taking other medications along with NSAIDs, including steroids, anticoagulants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, can affect ulcer healing or make the complications of ulcers such as bleeding worse. If your doctor suspects medication may be to blame for your ulcer, he or she may recommend you switch to an alternative medication that is less likely to irritate your stomach and intestine lining.

That usually involves taking a proton pump inhibitor. These medications help promote healing by reducing the amount of acid your stomach makes. Most people who have a peptic ulcer need to take a proton pump inhibitor for at least six to eight weeks, depending on the size and location of the ulcer. Reviewed by: J. Fernando del Rosario, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is an Ulcer? Peptic ulcers are common, but mostly affect adults.

Most can be cured. What Causes an Ulcer? Most peptic ulcers are caused by: bacteria called Helicobacter pylori or H. They weaken the protective coating of the stomach and upper small intestine. Acid in the stomach then gets through to the sensitive lining underneath. Acid and bacteria irritate this lining, causing ulcers. These medicines fight inflammation and help treat long-term, painful conditions like arthritis.

Smoking increases the risk of ulcers because nicotine causes the stomach to make more acid. Omeprazole , pantoprazole and lansoprazole are the PPIs most commonly used to treat stomach ulcers. Ranitidine is the most widely used H2-receptor antagonist for treating stomach ulcers. All of the above treatments can take several hours before they start to work, so your GP may recommend taking additional antacid medication to neutralise your stomach acid and provide immediate, but short-term, symptom relief.

Some antacids also contain a medicine called an alginate, which produces a protective coating on the lining of your stomach. These medications are available to buy over the counter at pharmacies. Your pharmacist can advise on which is most suitable for you. Antacids should be taken when you experience symptoms or when you expect them, such as after meals or at bedtime.

You may be advised to use an alternative painkiller not associated with stomach ulcers, such as paracetamol.