Hello,

I have been experiencing a recurrent mouth ulcer on the left side of my tongue (on the side of it). It starts off as a small white mark and gradually expands to become a large white circle (however, the area inside the circle is absolutely fine, it's just the edges that are the ulcer). Eventually it disappears and will then usually return with 2 days to 1 week. This has been going on now for at least 8 months. The ulcer is sometimes slightly sore, never very noticeably though, and never does anything more than appear, disappear and reappear. No bleeding or colour changes or anything like that.

When I last saw my dentist it was during a point where I had no ulcer and I didn't mention it to him. I'm seeing him again this week (6 months on) and will bring it up to him and get him to examine the area.

I just wondered if I could garner some opinion on my situation and any advice on whether I should do anything beyond have my dentist inspect the problem. I would have thought that since it's been so long, almost a year in fact, of having this same recurrent ulcer that it would have progressed to something else by now were it somerthing very serious (I have no other symptoms that I can think of), but I am no expert.

Hello John1981

It might be a benign migratory glossitis or geographic tongue. Also see my post on recurrent apthous ulcers. Hope that helps.

Let us know what your doctor or dentist says.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thank you very much for the reply.

I saw my dentist today (I have an ulcer right now so that helped), showed him the ulcer and explained the history. He asked about other symptoms I may have been having over the past months of having the recurrent ulcers and was particularly interested to know if I'd been ill, had the flu, been very tired etc etc (I assume to rule out any viral involvement). I have not however. He examined my mouth thoroughly and ended up not being concerned about them. He gave me some corsitol to use if required but otherwise said he didn't think there was anything to worry about and that sometimes recurring ulcers just happen.

I have read through both the links you kindly provided. I will give things a bit more time and if the recurrent ulcers continue I will bring it up with my GP and see if we can rule out/in things such as the glossitis/geographic tongue etc. etc..

Thank you again.

My grandfather used BONJELA GEL when he had mouth ulcer. He found quick relief when he used it. Before using the medicine he was not even able to open his mouth because of the pain that his mouth was giving him. Once he applied the medicine he could move his jaws and eat normally.

(Dr J's note: If the sore or ulcer in the mouth does not heal within three weeks, please see your doctor or dentist as it might be a mouth cancer.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

By far the best treatment (and relief!) for mouth ulcers is Adcortyl in Orabase. I have used this for years and recommended it to lots of people and everyone has agreed that it is amazing.

There's only one problem, the manufacturer has recently discontinued production for "commercial reasons" so it is no longer available either on prescription (the 10g size) or over the counter (the 5g size).

This product is so good that it is almost a crime to withdraw it - so I am asking everyone who has used, or would use Adcortyl to contact the manufacturer by email, telephone or snail mail to ask them to bring it back. I have written and emailed them myself but the power is in numbers, the more of us that contact them the more likely they are to bring Adcortyl back.

Please write or email them - and spread the word as far and wide as you can!

The contact details are:

E R Squibb & Sons Limited
Uxbridge Business Park
Sanderson Road
Uxbridge
Middlesex UB8 1DH
Phone: +44 (0)1895 523 000
Fax: +44 (0)1895 523 010
Medical Information direct line: +44 (0)1895 523 740
Medical Information facsimile: +44 (0)1895 523 677
Medical Information e-mail: Medical.information@bms.com

Is my Spidey sense mistaken or is there a troll among us?