Mouth sores or ulcers may appear for people with lupus during a flare-up. In most cases, the mouth sore will disappear as the lupus flare goes away. But factors like stress or fatigue might cause your mouth ulcers to worsen even after your flare-up fades.
A mouth sore occurs when the top layer of skin erodes, exposing the tissues beneath. These sores are common for people with lupus and mainly occur on the roof of the mouth. This type of ulcer may also occur in the nose and vagina. Mouth sores can spread to your lips if your lupus spreads to other major organs, such as the kidneys.
Not all mouth ulcers are the same. Many people get mouth ulcers at least once in their lives — specifically, aphthous mouth ulcers, or canker sores. These are the most common type of mouth sores and can occur even in people without lupus.
You may develop an aphthous mouth ulcer due to avoidable causes like:
- Food allergies
- Biting your cheek from the inside
- A burn or cut from food
- Injury from a toothbrush or toothpaste containing irritants
- Injury from a sharp tooth, braces, badly fitted dentures, or a rough tooth filling
Other causes of mouth sores include:
- Infections
- Alcohol and tobacco use
- Immunotherapy medication
- Chemotherapy
- Dehydration
- Radiation treatment (specifically of the neck and head)
- Poor mouth hygiene
- Deficiency of some vitamins and proteins
- Oxygen therapy
Treatment
While mouth sores caused by lupus flares may go away by themselves, prednisolone (steroid tablets) or hydroxychloroquine (an anti-malarial drug) — prescription medications used to treat lupus — may help the mouth sores heal more quickly. Nasal sprays might also be helpful if your ulcers have spread to the nasal area.
Other over-the-counter solutions include corticosteroid lozenges, antimicrobial mouthwash, and painkiller gel or spray. These might prove helpful in preventing infections and managing pain and discomfort. Make sure to talk to your doctor before purchasing them.
Tips for Managing Your Mouth Sores
Mouth sores can be rather uncomfortable. Luckily, there are some things you can do to manage the situation and heal them more quickly:
- Drink enough fluids.
- Keep your lips moist by applying petroleum jelly or lip balm.
- Stick to chilled drinks and foods.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco use.
- Eat food that is easy to swallow (soft and moist).
- Avoid drinking fizzy drinks.
- Eat smaller amounts of food more frequently instead of larger meals.
- Avoid sweet and spicy foods.
- Talk to your doctor about pain medication.
- Avoid fruits and raw vegetables and dry, crusty foods.
