Traumatic

Diagnosis usually obvious, such as ill-fitting dentures or sharp teeth and ulcers heal when the precipitating cause is removed.

Aphthous

Patient presents with small, painful ulcers, usually inside the cheeks or lips. They heal in about one week but others may occur while the initial ulcers are healing. A number of patients will have a history of gastrointestinal disease, e.g. coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease. They may also arise in patients with debilitating disease.

Inflammatory