What Could be Causing Mouth Sores?

What Causes Mouth Sores?

Mouth sores can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose mouth sores, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "mouth sores" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

Chemotherapy Side-Effects
Mouth Cancer
Sjogren's Syndrome
Leukoplakia
Melanoma
Candida / Yeast
Increased Folic Acid Need
Lupus (SLE)

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

melanoma in family members

tender muscles

bleeding/enlarging/tender moles

frequent infections

black/brown fingernails

high refined sugar consumption

discomfort caused by mold/mustiness

suspected vaginal yeast infection

sinusitis

candidiasis

history of seizures

pain medication use

... and more than 70 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of mouth sores:

Cause	Probability	Status
Melanoma	90%	Confirm
Chemotherapy Side-Effects	23%	Unlikely
Mouth Cancer	12%	Unlikely
Sjogren's Syndrome	2%	Ruled out
Candida / Yeast	2%	Ruled out
Increased Folic Acid Need	1%	Ruled out
Lupus (SLE)	1%	Ruled out
Leukoplakia	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate mouth problems, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Have you had any ulcers, sores, or red or white patches inside your mouth lasting for more than three weeks? (Mouth Ulcers / Canker Sores generally heal within a couple of weeks.)

Possible responses:

→ No / don't know
→ Yes, but not now
→ Yes, barely noticeable AND lasting under 2 months
→ Yes, significant OR lasting over 2 months
→ Yes, significant AND lasting over 2 months

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate history of mouth sores, minor mouth sores, mouth sores or significant mouth sores, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Chemotherapy Side-Effects

Mouth sores during chemotherapy are one of the most common short term side-effects.

Leukoplakia

Lupus, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)

Melanoma

Mouth Cancer

Oral Lichen Planus

About half of those who get lichen planus also develop mouth sores.

Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjogren's Syndrome can result in painful mouth sores due to a dry mouth and/or Candida infection.

STD Syphilis

Flat white sores can appear in the mouth and/or throat during the second stage of syphilis infection.