Lupus Mouth Sores (Oral Lupus Erythematosus)
Lupus mouth sores are easy to miss. Many people with lupus find out they have one only because a doctor or dentist spots a red patch on the roof of the mouth during an exam. Others notice a sore spot that stings with hot coffee or spicy food, or a rough, scaly patch on the lower lip that won't go away. This page covers what these sores look like, how they differ from ordinary canker sores, and what helps.
Lupus mouth sores are ulcers or red patches that lupus can cause inside the mouth, most often on the hard roof of the mouth. They're often painless and aren't contagious, and they usually calm down as a flare is treated. Tell your rheumatologist about new sores. See a dentist if one hasn't healed in 2 weeks, hurts enough to stop you eating, or comes with white patches that wipe off.
Not sure this is what you have? Answer five quick questions in our mouth spot checker. It compares what you see with more than 40 common conditions and tells you how soon to have it looked at.
- What lupus mouth sores look like
- Where they show up
- Lupus on the roof of the mouth
- Lupus mouth sores vs. canker sores
- Lupus vs. herpes, lichen planus, and thrush
- Lupus tongue
- Lips and nose
- Why lupus causes mouth sores
- Other lupus mouth symptoms
- Do they come and go?
- Who diagnoses lupus
- What to do at home
- Over-the-counter options
- What a dentist can do
- Fewer flare-ups in the mouth
- Dental visit tips
- Kids, pregnancy, and immune-suppressing medicine
- Doctor or dentist?
- FAQ
What do lupus mouth sores look like?
Lupus mouth lesions don't all look alike, which is part of why they get missed or mistaken for something else. The most common patterns are:
- A red patch or shallow ulcer, often on the hard palate. It may have a pale or slightly raised edge.
- A red center with fine white lines radiating out from it, a bit like the spokes of a wheel. This pattern is typical of the discoid type of lupus, and it can look a lot like oral lichen planus.
- White, slightly thickened areas, sometimes scarred, that build up over months in the same spot.
- Small red dots or bruise-like spots (petechiae), which can come from low platelets rather than from the sores themselves.
The big surprise for most people is that lupus mouth ulcers often don't hurt much. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases describes them as "usually painless." That's very different from a canker sore, which hurts far more than its size would suggest.
Open-license photos of lupus in the mouth are hard to come by, so we haven't shown one here. The illustrations on this page show the typical look. The two photos below are look-alikes worth knowing about: an ordinary canker sore, and thrush, a yeast infection that's common in people taking steroids.
Where lupus mouth sores show up
The hard palate is the classic spot. A 2022 systematic review found that every study that looked at location agreed: the roof of the mouth comes first. After that, lupus sores show up on the inner cheeks, the soft palate, the gums, the lips, and less often the tongue.
That location is a useful clue, because ordinary canker sores rarely form on the hard palate. They prefer the loose, moveable lining of the lips, cheeks, and underside of the tongue. When we see a red ulcer on the roof of the mouth in someone who didn't burn it on pizza, we start thinking about other causes, and lupus is one of them.
Lupus sores can show up one at a time or several at once. Some people get them on both sides of the mouth, but they don't need to be symmetrical.
Lupus on the roof of the mouth: palatal lesions
Because the hard palate is where lupus shows up most, it's worth knowing the different forms a palatal lesion can take. You may see one of these, or more than one at the same time.
| What you might see on the palate | What it usually means | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| A flat red patch, often near the middle of the hard palate, sometimes on both sides | Palatal erythema, one of the most typical lupus mouth findings | Often painless, so it's easy to miss. In people with lupus it can go along with active disease, so it's worth mentioning to your rheumatologist. |
| A red center with fine white lines radiating out from it, sometimes with tiny visible blood vessels at the edge | A discoid-type lupus lesion | It can look a lot like oral lichen planus or a white patch. A biopsy is sometimes the only way to tell them apart. |
| A shallow sore, alone or in the middle of a red patch | A lupus mouth ulcer | Usually less painful than a canker sore. Painless mouth sores are one of the features rheumatologists look at when they classify lupus. |
| Pinpoint red or purple dots | Small bleeds under the lining (petechiae) | In lupus, these can come from a low platelet count or blood thinners. Tell your doctor promptly, especially with easy bruising or bleeding gums. See blood-related mouth changes. |
| Blue-gray or dark staining on the hard palate | Often a side effect of hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) | Usually harmless, but tell your rheumatologist, who may want your eyes and medicine reviewed. Any new or changing dark spot should be examined. |
| White patches that wipe off, or a red, burning palate | Usually thrush, not lupus | Common with steroids and immune-suppressing medicines. It needs an antifungal, not a lupus treatment. |
Plenty of red spots on the palate have nothing to do with lupus: a burn from hot food, small blood spots after coughing or vomiting, irritation under a denture, or the "smoker's palate" that comes with pipe and cigarette smoke. Our guide to red patches in the mouth covers those. What points toward lupus is a painless patch or sore on the hard palate that keeps coming back, especially alongside joint pain, rashes, sun sensitivity, unexplained fevers or deep tiredness.
What to do: If you already have lupus, a new palatal patch is worth a message to your rheumatologist, since mouth lesions can track with flares. If you don't have a diagnosis but have body-wide symptoms too, see your physician; blood tests and a rheumatologist make the diagnosis, not the mouth exam. And any red or white patch that hasn't healed in 2 weeks should be examined, because a few look-alikes need a biopsy.
Lupus mouth sores vs. canker sores
This is the question we hear most. Both are non-contagious ulcers, and both can come back again and again. The differences are in where they sit, how they feel, and what else is going on in your body.
| Lupus mouth sore | Canker sore | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual spot | Hard palate, also cheeks, gums, lips | Inner lips, cheeks, under and along the tongue, soft palate |
| Look | Red patch or shallow ulcer, sometimes with white radiating lines | Round, yellow-white center with a red ring |
| Pain | Often painless or mild | Sharp pain, worse with food and talking |
| How long | Tracks with lupus activity. Discoid-type patches can last months. | Minor ones heal in 7–14 days |
| Other clues | Joint pain, rash, fatigue, hair loss, fevers, sun sensitivity | Usually none. Triggers like stress or a cheek bite. |
| Contagious? | No | No |
| Who confirms it | Rheumatologist, with blood and urine tests. Sometimes a biopsy. | Usually diagnosed by how it looks |
Most people with recurring canker sores don't have lupus. A canker-type sore by itself, in someone who otherwise feels fine, is almost always just a canker sore. Our guide to mouth ulcers covers the other common causes.
Lupus mouth sores vs. herpes, lichen planus, and thrush
Several other conditions can look like lupus in the mouth, and a few of them are more likely in people who already have lupus because of the medicines they take.
| Look-alike | How it usually differs | Why it matters with lupus |
|---|---|---|
| Cold sores (herpes) | Starts as a cluster of tiny blisters that break into small, painful sores. On the lip, it crusts. Inside, it favors the gums and hard palate. | Immune-suppressing medicines can make herpes flare more often or last longer. It needs antiviral treatment, not steroids alone. |
| Oral lichen planus | Lacy white lines, usually on both inner cheeks, sometimes with raw red areas. Lasts months to years. | Discoid-type lupus can look almost identical. A biopsy often sorts it out. |
| Oral thrush | Creamy white patches that wipe off and leave red spots, or a red, burning palate under a denture. | Common with steroids, biologics, and dry mouth. It's treated with antifungal medicine. |
| Leukoplakia | A white patch that doesn't wipe off and has no other obvious cause | Long-standing white lupus patches can look similar. Any white patch that changes gets a biopsy. |
| Medication ulcers | Sores that start after a new drug or dose change | Methotrexate and some other lupus and arthritis medicines can cause mouth sores. Your prescriber may adjust the dose or add folic acid. |
Lupus tongue: sores, swelling, and soreness
Lupus tongue sores are possible, but the tongue is a less common spot than the palate or cheeks. When lupus ulcers do form on the tongue, they tend to sit on the sides or underneath, where they're easy to mistake for a bite or a canker sore.
A sore or burning tongue in someone with lupus has other likely causes too:
- Dry mouth, which leaves the tongue sticky, cracked, or tender.
- Thrush, which can make the tongue red and sore or coat it in white.
- Low iron, B12, or folate, which can make the tongue smooth, red, and sore.
- A fissured (deeply grooved) tongue, which some studies have found more often in people with lupus.
Real tongue swelling isn't a typical lupus mouth sign. Sudden swelling of the tongue, lips, or throat is an emergency, whatever the cause. Call 911.
Lupus on the lips and in the nose
Discoid lupus on the lips usually shows up on the lower lip as a red, scaly, or crusted patch that may lose its sharp border with the skin. Over time it can scar and leave lighter or darker areas. Sun makes it worse, so a lip balm with SPF helps. Long-standing lip and mouth patches are something we keep an eye on at every visit, and any patch that thickens, hardens, or starts to bleed easily gets a biopsy.
Lupus mouth and nose sores often go together. Sores just inside the nose, often painless, are part of the same pattern. If you notice both, mention it to your rheumatologist, because it can be a sign that lupus is becoming more active.
A lupus rash on the face, like the butterfly rash across the cheeks and nose, doesn't spread into the mouth. Red patches inside the mouth during a flare are their own lesions, not the rash crossing over.
Why does lupus cause mouth sores?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. The immune system makes antibodies against the body's own tissues, and inflammation follows. The lining of the mouth is one of those tissues. Immune cells gather just under the surface and damage the cells on top, which leaves a red patch or an ulcer. It's a close cousin of what happens in lupus skin rashes.
That's why mouth sores often show up when lupus is more active. Doctors count oral ulcers as one of the criteria in the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification system for lupus, alongside things like rashes, hair loss, joint pain, and blood and kidney findings.
In people who already have lupus, not every mouth sore comes from the disease itself. Medicines, yeast, herpes flares, and dry mouth cause a lot of them. Figuring out which one you have is the first job.
Lupus mouth symptoms beyond sores
Sores get the attention, but they aren't the only way lupus shows up in the mouth:
- Dry mouth. Common in lupus, and some people also have Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune condition that targets the salivary glands. Less saliva means more cavities, more thrush, and cracked lip corners. Read about Sjögren's and the mouth and how we manage dry mouth.
- Burning or a sore mouth without visible sores, often from dryness or thrush.
- Gum problems. Studies link lupus with more gum disease, especially in people who've had it for years.
- Gray-blue staining on the palate. Long-term hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) can leave flat, painless gray-blue or brown patches, usually on the hard palate. It isn't harmful, but tell your rheumatologist, since they track side effects. See dark spots in the mouth for other causes.
- Bleeding gums or tiny red dots, which can mean low platelets. That's a call to your doctor, not just us.
- Jaw pain or stiffness. Lupus can affect the jaw joint the way it affects other joints. We can help with jaw joint (TMJ) problems.
Do lupus mouth sores come and go?
Usually, yes. Lupus tends to run in flares and quieter stretches, and mouth sores often follow the same rhythm. Many people notice them during a flare, along with fatigue, joint pain, or a rash. They usually settle as the flare is brought under control.
Two exceptions are worth knowing. Discoid-type patches can stay put for months and heal with a scar. And a sore that keeps hanging on despite treatment needs a second look, because it may be thrush, herpes, a medication reaction, or something unrelated to lupus.
The two-week rule still applies. Any mouth sore that hasn't healed in two weeks should be checked, lupus or not.
Who diagnoses lupus, and with what tests
A dentist doesn't diagnose lupus. A rheumatologist does, and there's no single test for it. The diagnosis comes from your symptoms, an exam, and a set of tests, which usually include:
- ANA (antinuclear antibody). Nearly everyone with lupus has a positive ANA, but plenty of healthy people do too, so a positive result alone doesn't mean lupus.
- More specific antibodies, such as anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) and anti-Smith.
- Complement levels (C3 and C4), blood counts, kidney tests, and a urine test.
- A biopsy of the skin, kidney, or sometimes a mouth sore, when the picture isn't clear.
Where we fit in: we look in mouths every day, so we sometimes notice a pattern first. When we see sores that don't fit a simple explanation, we document them with photos, treat the mouth, take or arrange a biopsy if it's needed, and send a note to your physician. That's the heart of our oral medicine and diagnosis visits. If you already have a lupus diagnosis, we share what we find with your rheumatologist.
What to do for lupus mouth sores at home
Home care won't treat lupus, but it can keep sores comfortable and help prevent the infections that make them worse.
- Tell your rheumatologist. New or more frequent mouth sores can mean lupus is more active. That's useful information for your doctor, even if the sores don't hurt.
- Rinse gently 3–4 times a day. Warm salt water (½ teaspoon salt in a cup of water) or a baking soda rinse (1 teaspoon in ½ cup water). Swish and spit.
- Brush with a soft brush and a mild toothpaste. An SLS-free paste stings less. Keep cleaning around the sores. Plaque left behind makes everything sorer.
- Go easy on the sore spots. Skip very hot drinks, spicy food, citrus, tomato, and crunchy foods like chips while a sore is raw.
- Keep your mouth moist. Sip water through the day, chew xylitol gum, and run a humidifier at night if your mouth is dry.
- Look for white patches. If you're on steroids and notice creamy white spots or a red, burning patch, call us. That's often thrush, and it needs its own treatment.
- Protect your lips from the sun. A lip balm with SPF 30 or higher, reapplied often, helps if you have lupus patches on your lips.
Things to skip
- Alcohol-based mouthwash. It stings and dries the mouth.
- Aspirin, peroxide, or salt placed directly on a sore. These burn the tissue.
- Leftover antibiotics. Lupus sores aren't a bacterial infection.
- Changing your lupus medicines on your own because of mouth sores. Talk to your prescriber first.
Over-the-counter options
None of these treats lupus itself, but they can make sore spots and a dry mouth more comfortable. Use them as the label directs.
| Type | What it does | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Numbing gels and liquids (benzocaine, lidocaine) | Short-term pain relief, handy before meals | Do not use benzocaine in children under 2. The FDA warns it can cause a rare, dangerous blood condition (methemoglobinemia). |
| Protective pastes, patches, and films | Cover a sore so food and teeth don't rub it | Dry the area first so it sticks. Works on cheeks and lips. It's harder to keep on the palate. |
| Alcohol-free rinses | Keep the area clean without stinging | Swish and spit. Don't swallow. |
| Saliva substitutes, dry-mouth gels, xylitol lozenges | Ease dryness and burning | Helpful at night. Look for sugar-free products. |
| Pain relievers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) | Overall pain control | If you have lupus kidney disease, take blood thinners or steroids, or are pregnant, ask your doctor before using ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. |
Lupus mouth sores treatment: what a dentist can do
The main treatment for lupus is whatever your rheumatologist prescribes to calm the disease, often hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), sometimes with steroids or other medicines. As lupus settles, mouth sores usually do too. Our job is the mouth itself.
- Sort out what the sore is. We look at where it is, how it looks, and how it's behaving, and check for thrush, herpes, a sharp tooth, or a denture rubbing.
- Prescription topical steroids. A steroid gel, paste, or rinse applied right to the sores can calm them quickly. We keep an eye out for thrush while you're using it.
- Antifungal medicine such as nystatin rinse or clotrimazole troches when thrush shows up, and antiviral medicine for herpes flares.
- Dry-mouth care: prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste, fluoride varnish, and more frequent cleanings to protect your teeth.
- Fix sources of irritation: smooth a rough tooth or filling, or adjust a denture.
- Biopsy a sore that doesn't heal, doesn't look typical, or changes over time, or refer you to an oral surgeon for one. Sometimes a special test on the sample (direct immunofluorescence) helps tell lupus from lichen planus or other immune conditions.
- Coordinate with your doctors. We send photos and notes to your rheumatologist, and refer to an oral medicine specialist or dermatologist when sores don't respond.
People with lupus often have several doctors and a long medication list. That's the kind of patient our care for medically complex patients is set up for.
Fewer lupus flare-ups in your mouth
You can't always prevent lupus mouth sores, because they follow the disease. These habits help:
- Take your lupus medicines as prescribed and keep up with rheumatology visits. Steady disease control is the biggest factor.
- Protect yourself from the sun, including your lips. Sunlight can trigger skin and lip flares.
- Don't smoke. Smoking is linked to more active skin lupus and can make hydroxychloroquine work less well.
- Keep your mouth clean and moist, especially if you're on steroids, so thrush and gum disease have less to work with.
- See us regularly. A thorough dental exam every 3–6 months lets us spot changes early and compare them with past photos.
Dental visit tips if you have lupus
- Bring your current medication list, including steroids, biologics, blood thinners, and any bone-strengthening drugs.
- Share recent lab results, especially platelets and white blood cell counts. Low numbers can change what we do and when.
- Let us know if you're in a flare. We'll postpone elective work and focus on comfort.
- Tell us if you have antiphospholipid syndrome or take warfarin or another blood thinner, so we can plan for bleeding.
- Tell us about heart valve problems or kidney disease. Antibiotics before dental work are only recommended for certain heart conditions, so we'll check with your cardiologist rather than guess. Kidney disease can change which pain relievers and antibiotics are safe.
- If you take long-term steroids, ask your physician whether you need any change before a bigger procedure.
- Ask for breaks if your jaw gets stiff or sore. Shorter visits help.
Kids, pregnancy, and immune-suppressing medicine
Children and teens
Lupus that starts in childhood often hits harder, and mouth ulcers seem to be more common. One study in the 2022 review found oral ulcers in about 45% of people whose lupus began in childhood, compared with about 18% of those diagnosed as adults. A child with repeated mouth sores plus fevers, joint pain, a facial rash, or unusual tiredness should see their pediatrician. For comfort, use cold soft foods, plenty of fluids, and children's acetaminophen as directed. No benzocaine under age 2.
Pregnancy
Most women with lupus can have healthy pregnancies when the disease is under control, and pregnancy is managed together with a rheumatologist and an obstetrician. Gums can get puffier and bleed more in pregnancy, so cleanings matter. Check with your obstetrician before using medicated mouth products, and avoid ibuprofen unless your doctor approves it.
People on steroids, biologics, or other immune-suppressing medicine
These medicines are what keep lupus in check, but they make thrush and herpes flares more likely. Any new sore while you're on them should be looked at, and fever with mouth sores is a reason to call your doctor the same day.
When to call your doctor vs. your dentist
Make a dental appointment if:
- A mouth sore hasn't healed in 2 weeks
- Sores are painful enough to make eating or brushing hard
- You see white patches that wipe off, or a red, burning area under a denture
- A patch on your lip or in your mouth is thickening, hardening, or changing
- Your mouth is dry, or you're suddenly getting cavities
- You notice gray-blue or dark patches on the roof of your mouth
Call your rheumatologist or physician if:
- Mouth or nose sores start up along with joint pain, a rash, fatigue, hair loss, or fevers
- Mouth sores are new, or more frequent than usual for you
- Your gums bleed easily, or you see tiny red dots or bruises in your mouth
- Sores started after a new medicine or dose change
Get care today if:
- You have a fever with mouth sores while taking steroids or other immune-suppressing medicine
- You can't drink enough fluids because of mouth pain
- Your gums are bleeding and won't stop
- Your lips, tongue, or throat swell suddenly, or you have trouble breathing or swallowing (call 911)
Lupus mouth sores FAQ
What do lupus mouth sores look like?
Lupus mouth sores usually look like red patches or shallow ulcers, most often on the hard roof of the mouth. Some have fine white lines radiating out from a red center. Others look like white, slightly thickened or scarred areas. They're often less painful than they look, which is different from canker sores.
Is a red patch on the roof of my mouth lupus?
Usually not. Most red spots on the palate come from a burn, irritation, coughing, a denture or thrush. Lupus is more likely when the patch is painless, sits on the hard palate, keeps coming back, and shows up with joint pain, rashes, sun sensitivity or fatigue. A physician makes the diagnosis with an exam and blood tests, and any patch that lasts more than 2 weeks should be examined.
Do lupus mouth sores hurt?
Often they don't, or they only hurt a little. That's why many people don't know they have one until a doctor or dentist spots it. Some do sting, especially with hot, spicy, or acidic food, and a sore that becomes very painful may have thrush or herpes on top of it.
Where do lupus mouth sores occur?
The hard palate, the bony roof of the mouth, is the most common spot. They also show up on the inner cheeks, gums, lips, and soft palate, and less often on the tongue. Ordinary canker sores rarely form on the hard palate, so a sore there is a useful clue.
Do lupus mouth sores come and go?
Yes, usually. They tend to show up during lupus flares and fade as the flare is controlled. Discoid-type patches are the exception and can stay for months. New or more frequent sores are worth telling your rheumatologist about, because they can be a sign of more active disease.
Do lupus mouth sores go away?
Most do, as lupus is brought under control with the medicines your rheumatologist prescribes. Prescription steroid gels or rinses can help them heal faster. Some long-standing discoid-type patches heal with a scar. Any mouth sore that hasn't healed in two weeks should be checked by a dentist or doctor.
Are lupus mouth sores contagious?
No. Lupus isn't an infection, and you can't catch it or pass it on through kissing or sharing drinks. Cold sores are contagious, though, and people with lupus can get those too, so it helps to know which kind of sore you have.
Can lupus mouth sores be on the tongue?
Yes, but the tongue is less common than the roof of the mouth or the cheeks. Lupus tongue sores usually sit on the sides or underside. A sore, burning, or coated tongue in someone with lupus is more often from dry mouth, thrush, or low iron or B12, so it's worth getting checked.
Why does lupus cause mouth sores?
In lupus, the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, and the lining of the mouth is one of them. Inflammation just under the surface damages the top layer and leaves a red patch or ulcer. That's why sores often appear when lupus is more active. Medicines, yeast, and dry mouth also cause mouth sores in people with lupus.
What can I do for lupus mouth sores?
Tell your rheumatologist, since new sores can mean lupus is more active. At home, use gentle salt-water rinses, a soft toothbrush, a mild SLS-free toothpaste, and avoid hot, spicy, and acidic foods. A dentist can prescribe a steroid gel or rinse for the sores and treat thrush if it shows up. See a dentist for any sore that lasts longer than two weeks.
Do lupus mouth sores bleed?
They can bleed a little when you brush or eat on them, because the surface is raw. Gums that bleed easily, or tiny red dots and bruises in the mouth, can mean low platelets, which lupus and some of its medicines can cause. That deserves a call to your doctor and a blood count.
Can lupus cause blisters in the mouth?
Blisters are unusual in lupus. Small blisters that break into painful sores are more often cold sores. Blisters that leave raw, peeling patches on the gums or cheeks can point to pemphigus or pemphigoid, which are other autoimmune conditions. Read about autoimmune mouth blisters. A biopsy usually tells them apart.
Does a mouth sore mean I have lupus?
Almost never on its own. Most mouth sores are canker sores, bites, or burns. Lupus becomes a question when sores sit on the roof of the mouth, keep returning, or come with other symptoms such as joint pain, rashes, fevers, hair loss, or unusual fatigue. Only a physician can diagnose lupus, using an exam and lab tests.
Can hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) cause mouth problems?
Yes, though it's uncommon. After long-term use, hydroxychloroquine can leave flat gray-blue or dark patches, most often on the hard palate. They're painless and not dangerous, but your rheumatologist should know. Any dark spot that's raised, growing, or changing should be checked.
Mouth sores and lupus? We can help with the mouth side.
If you're in the Jacksonville area and have lupus, or have mouth sores that don't fit the usual pattern, we're glad to take a look. Dr. Henley works with patients who have complex medical histories and shares what he finds with your rheumatologist and other doctors.
Related conditions
Sources
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). National Institutes of Health.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lupus basics.
- Aringer M, et al. 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(9):1400–1412.
- García-Ríos P, et al. Oral manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(19):11910.
- de Arruda JAA, et al. Oral lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus: a collaborative Latin American study. Lupus. 2024;33(8):864–873.
- Tosios KI, et al. Drug-associated hyperpigmentation of the oral mucosa: report of four cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2018;125(3):e54–e66.
This page is for general education and isn't a diagnosis. Every mouth is different. If you have a sore you're worried about, see your dentist or physician. Photos marked Wikimedia Commons are used under their listed licenses and may have been cropped or resized.