Q. I keep suffering from mouth sores – do I need to go and see my dentist?

A. There are different types of mouth sores, some can cause you to feel pain and some just don’t look very nice – either way it could be nothing or in some cases, a sign of something more serious.

If your mouth sore hasn’t gone away within a week, then it’s a good idea to book yourself in with your dentist – especially if you have orthodontic braces, wear dentures, have had a filling or have cracked, broken teeth – as it can often be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection.

Starting off my visiting your dentist is a good idea as they will be able to examine your mouth and look for a cause of the symptoms. You may be suffering from burning mouth syndrome, have a tooth abscess, oral thrush, leukoplakia or just a regular cold sore – which can be treated with antibiotics.

Most mouth sores can be easily treated, by making slight adjustments to your lifestyle. For example, you can get rid of burning mouth syndrome by cutting down on your intake of spicy or acidic foods and by quitting smoking.

If it’s a tooth abscess, your dentist may recommend a root canal treatment, to try and get rid of the infection and save the tooth. If you suffer from diabetes or wear dentures, the oral thrush can be eliminated through anti-fungal medication.

Leukoplakia is sometimes associated with cancer but often caused by ill-fitted dentures or crowns – your dentist can examine your mouth to find the source of any irritation.

For more information about dental problems contact Synergy Dental

Clinic Blackburn, email blackburn@synergydental.org.uk or go to www.synergydental.org.uk/dentist-in-blackburn