HomeAnswersOral and Maxillofacial Surgeryoral ulcerI have an ulcer on the roof of my mouth. Could it be a cancerous lesion?

What could cause an ulcer on the roof of the mouth?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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iCliniq medical review team

Published At November 10, 2022
Reviewed AtSeptember 7, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have an ulcer on the roof of my mouth. I have shared the picture also. I just gargled it with salt water. Last week I ate a lot of complex chips.

Kindly help.

Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have seen the ulcer (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). It looks inflamed. And a bit whitish too. I will give you a series of remedies that you can follow. It looks like a clear case of trauma to the palate. I am a maxillofacial surgeon. So please follow the remedies I suggest, Start lukewarm salt water rinsing for the next week at least three to four times a day. It will help prevent further infection of the ulcer. Start using Dentogel or Dologel CT (Choline Salicylate and Lidocaine 2%) dental gel .The dental anesthetic agent in these gels will ensure that you do not face too much pain or that they do not ulcerate further (apply onto the ulcer spot every night). Avoid hot, hard or spicy foods on the palate. Chew more from your lower teeth, avoiding too much pressure on the upper front teeth for a week. You can also use Chlorhexidine Gluconate mouthwash twice a day to prevent further infection of your ulcer.

I hope that can help.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thanks for your reply.

I would like to ask one more question. This does not look like any type of cancer, right?

Hello, Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, These are ulcers and are not any kind of cancer. Please avoid sharp or spicy foods like chips definitely for at least two weeks, or the ulcer can relapse again. Instead, gargling with concentrated two tablespoon salt in a glass of water is more effective. But if the ulcer persists for ten to fifteen days, please get a check-up in the clinic from the maxillofacial surgeon or dentist nearest you. Rarely, it can be secondarily infected, or it might be any other lesion, but if it persists past 15 days, you can consult the clinic. After you follow all these remedies, you should find relief. Nothing to worry about. You can also enclose your images again after 15 days to show me if the ulcer has healed. I can help you anytime. I hope I was able to explain in detail all your doubts. Please, follow the instructions. Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

These ulcers started appearing seven days ago. So how long can it take to heal?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Any ulcer should not persist past 15 days. So I suggest you start with salt water rinsing, the dental application, and Chlorhexidine mouthwash. Even after you follow these remedies and avoid hot spicy or hard foods and you still find the ulcer persistent after a week, you can reconsider, or you can get an opinion in a clinic from the dentist. Do not worry. It is too early to think of a small ulcer as a precancer or cancer. If you have a habit of smoking, I would suggest you quit.

Regards

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Does a mouth ulcer look like oral cancer? I mean, does my mouth ulcer look like oral cancer? You mentioned dental gel, is it the same as oral gel?

Hi, Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, many ulcers are precancerous. But they can be so only if they usually persist for more than 15 days. But, again, this is a second opinion platform, so the dentist will check the texture, size, and shape of the lesion in the clinic to confirm non-healing ulcers. So if you feel it is persistent and painless, you need to consult the clinic.The picture (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity) looks like a large ulcer or inflammatory cyst with an ulcer. But in the clinic, the examination is always practical to learn the texture of your lesion. So do not worry. Not all ulcers like the one you have may be cancerous or precancerous. But keep an eye on it and follow all the suggested measures. After one week to 10 days, if the size has not come down or you still can observe that it is there without any change, a biopsy may be required. Do not stop the salt water rinsing, start with Chlorhexidine and Dentogel over the ulcer. Do not worry. Many ulcers like how you have now are usually self-limiting, meaning that they heal in a maximum of 15 days. But despite the following remedies, if it does not, then that should create suspicion. You are getting the point, right? So do not worry. Follow all precautions and try to eliminate the ulcer. So if it persists past a week, go for an examination at your nearest dentist. I would prefer you visit a maxillofacial surgeon if the ulcer is still there by Monday. You will need to check the composition. Dentogel is Choline Salicylate and Lidocaine 2%. Your local brand may vary. But yes, the oral gel will also help. Apply it at night time.

Thanks

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Is cancer of the hard palate rare?

Hi, Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, it is infrequent compared to other parts. But do not worry, as cancers take much time to progress. They do not appear acutely in the mouth. So do not be worried. Get some good rest, and follow all the remedies suggested. And I think after precisely one week if you enclose a picture again, I can help you out. Just wait seven to 10 more days to see if it is healing.

Thanks

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply,

Oral cancer belongs to the mouth, right?

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, you are right.

Do you feel any bump or protrusion on the hard palate? Anything bony?

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

The hard palate is already hard.

I do not understand what the hard palate is, but I do not feel any hard little knots in the mouth if that is what you mean by the hard palate.

Hello, Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, but if you are so worried, you should get your mouth checked in the clinic only. Because this is a second opinion platform, I can try my best to give you remedies and keep an eye on the lesion. But it has been only a week since you observed, so please do not be so tense. Follow the remedies and then see if it persists or not. I hope you understand. Oral cancer is varied in its forms. Any persistent lesion past a fortnight prompts us to do a biopsy. So only time tells about such lesions. Do not get tense, from visual observation looks more like a large ulcer only on the palate. Try the remedies, stay calm and then observe. Then, you can repeat your query after a week with a clear picture. That is good if you are not feeling any knot-like thing. Relax then. Just observe after a week, and you can let me know. Enclose a new image after a week.

Take care. Regards

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I felt more pain last week and comparatively less in the second week.

Hello, Welcome back to icliniq.com.

That is also good. It is a definite sign of improvement, and there is no cause for tension. Let us hope you will be relieved of this ulcer by next week! You can just take a slightly farther image of your palate and send me next week, just for the photo clarity. Then, give it another week of healing time, so I can assess it better.

Take care. Have a good day.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You are most welcome.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I forgot to tell you that I had a dental checkup one month ago. I also paid for an oral cancer screening. The person took a light and went through my entire mouth with it. The results were negative. But if, for some reason, I had oral cancer. Would that oral cancer screening could have detected it as they also checked the roof of my mouth?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

That is very good. See, that is assuring. But I still feel you should keep an eye on the ulcer and follow all remedies. Some lesions would be potentially precancerous, so never ignore them. Do let me know by next week if it has healed.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Let me ask you, it looks cancerous just from looking at the ulcer.

Hello, Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The answer is no. But that is an inconclusive diagnosis. Please wait and watch. From the visual examination, even precancerous lesions cannot be certified or authenticated. If it persists post remedial measures, please attach the new pics again. I hope the answer is clear.

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Achanta Krishna Swaroop
Dr. Achanta Krishna Swaroop

Dentistry

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