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Mouth Disorders
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Mouth Teeth

Mouth Disorders

Your mouth plays a vital role in eating, speaking, and expressing emotion, but various disorders can disrupt these functions.

Overview

The mouth is essential for many bodily functions. It allows you to:

  • Take in food and drink
  • Breathe in air
  • Start digestion, with your teeth chewing the food you eat and your salivary glands releasing saliva to help break down the food
  • Speak and sing
  • Show emotion, by smiling or pouting

Common Mouth Problems

  • Cold sores – painful sores on the lips and around the mouth, caused by a virus
  • Canker sores – painful sores in the mouth, caused by bacteria or viruses
  • Thrush – a yeast infection that causes white patches in your mouth
  • Leukoplakia – white patches of excess cell growth on the cheeks, gums or tongue, common in smokers
  • Dry mouth – a lack of enough saliva, caused by some medicines and certain diseases
  • Gum or tooth problems
  • Bad breath

Treatment & Management

Treatment for mouth disorders varies, depending on the problem. If a mouth problem is caused by some other disease, treating that disease can help. It is also important to keep your mouth clean and healthy by brushing, flossing, and not using tobacco.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cold sores (fever blisters) are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), are highly contagious, and usually develop on the outside of the mouth, such as on the lips or around the borders of the mouth. They often start with a tingling or burning sensation and form fluid-filled blisters that eventually crust over. In contrast, canker sores (aphthous ulcers) develop strictly inside the mouth on movable tissues like the inner cheeks, gums, or tongue. Canker sores are round, white or yellow craters with a red border, and they are completely non-contagious, usually triggered by tissue trauma, stress, or nutritional deficiencies.
ny mouth sore, ulcer, lump, or discolored patch (red, white, or mixed) that does not heal within two weeks requires an in-person evaluation by a dentist or physician. Additional warning signs include unexplained bleeding in the mouth, difficulty or pain when chewing or swallowing, persistent numbness of the tongue or lips, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. A healthcare provider can determine if an in-office biopsy is necessary to rule out malignant or precancerous tissue changes.
Because saliva washes away bacteria and neutralizes acids, chronic dry mouth (xerostomia) sharply increases the risk of rampant tooth decay and gum disease. To manage it, sip water frequently throughout the day, use a bedside humidifier at night, and chew sugar-free xylitol gum to stimulate salivary glands. Avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes, tobacco, caffeine, and overly salty or acidic foods, as these worsen irritation. Patients with chronic dry mouth should also ask their dentist about over-the-counter saliva substitutes and prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste to protect teeth.
Oral thrush (a fungal infection caused by Candida) produces creamy white, curd-like patches that can typically be wiped or scraped away, usually revealing a raw, red, bleeding base underneath. Leukoplakia causes thickened, firm white patches that cannot be wiped away and is often linked to chronic irritation from tobacco or rough teeth. Thrush is treated with prescription antifungal medications, such as nystatin oral suspension or fluconazole pills. Patients using steroid inhalers should always rinse their mouth with water immediately after each dose to prevent thrush recurrence.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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