Types of mouth ulcers
Minor mouth ulcers
- They are usually small
- They are oval with a red border
- Heals without scarring in one to two weeks
Major mouth ulcers
Major mouth ulcers are less common and:
- They are larger and deeper than minor canker sores
- They are usually round with sharp edges but may have ragged edges when they are very large
- Can be extremely painful
- It can take up to six weeks to heal and can leave extensive scars
Herpetiform mouth ulcers
Herpetiform mouth ulcers are rare and usually develop later in life, but they are not caused by an infection with the herpes virus. These mouth ulcers:
- Are exactly sized
- They often occur in groups of 10 to 100 sores but can merge into one large ulcer
- Have ragged edges
- Heals without scarring in one to two weeks