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Michael Sherbin, D.O. and Associates

Condition · Throat, head and neck

Sore throats and mouth sores.

Painful sores can appear in the mouth, on the tongue and in the throat for many reasons: viral, bacterial, fungal, or simple irritation. Most last ten to fourteen days, but without treatment they can linger far longer, and they sometimes point to an underlying problem only a doctor can diagnose.

Request an appointment What causes them

Overview

Sores of the mouth, tongue and throat

Painful sores can appear in your mouth, on your tongue and in your throat for a variety of reasons. Sores are not only painful but also embarrassing and can disturb your lifestyle. Mouth, tongue and throat sores can be viral, bacterial, fungal or simply the result of irritation around the infected area. Sometimes called “cold sores” or “fever blisters”, they emerge anywhere in your mouth, including on parts of your lips, gums and inner cheeks. Although they generally last only ten to fourteen days, they may last as long as six months or more without treatment.

Causes

Where sores come from

Mouth, tongue and throat sores are treated differently, depending on their causes. Sores may also indicate an underlying problem, which only your doctor can diagnose. Generally, causes of sores to the mouth, tongue and throat include but are not limited to:

  • Virus
  • Infection
  • Oral yeast infection
  • Stress
  • Hormones
  • Immune weakness
  • Physical irritation to the infected area (such as braces or dentures)
  • Mouth burns (from hot food or drinks)
  • Tobacco use
  • Low levels of certain vitamins

Keep going

Related in throat, head and neck

HoarsenessCondition Difficulty swallowingCondition TonsillectomyProcedure

All throat, head and neck

Common mouth sore questions

Asked in this office, answered in plain language.

How long do mouth and throat sores last?

Generally only ten to fourteen days. Without treatment, though, they may last as long as six months or more, which is why a sore that lingers deserves an evaluation.

What causes sores in the mouth and throat?

They can be viral, bacterial, fungal or simply the result of irritation. Common contributors include stress, hormones, immune weakness, physical irritation from braces or dentures, mouth burns from hot food or drinks, tobacco use, and low levels of certain vitamins.

Are cold sores and fever blisters the same thing?

Those are two names for the same kind of sore. They can emerge anywhere in the mouth, including on parts of the lips, gums and inner cheeks.

When should a sore be looked at by a doctor?

When it outlasts the usual ten-to-fourteen-day course, keeps coming back, or is unusually painful. Sores can indicate an underlying problem, and only a doctor can diagnose it; treatment differs depending on the cause.

The next step

Two weeks is long enough.

Request an appointment online, or call the office that is most convenient for you. The evaluation sorts out the rest.

What the evaluation involves
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