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Aphthous ulceration

Authoring team

Aphthous ulcers (also known as Canker sores) are painful, shallow ulcers on the tongue or mucosal surface of the mouth. The ulcer starts as a small vesicle which then breaks down. Healing occurs without scarring.

Aphthous ulcers affect an estimated 39% to 50% of people during their lifetime

  • onset typically occurs between ages 10 and 19 years, and aphthous ulcers are slightly more common in females than males
  • some individuals get aphthous ulcers once or twice a year; others develop them more than once a month
  • frequency of aphthous ulcers usually declines with age

Reference:

  1. Stoopler ET, Villa A, Bindakhil M, et al. Common oral conditions: a review. JAMA. 2024;331(12):1045-1054. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.0953

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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