London Lupus Centre
May 12, 20232 min
People who suffer with lupus sometimes develop some type of skin problems during the course of their disease, the most common is painful ulcers or sores that appear in the mouth.
There are 2 different types of lupus mouth sores. The first type is usually painless and looks like a raised white bump surrounded by a reddish line. The second type is sometimes painful and appears red with a white halo or white lines around the sore.
Lupus mouth sores tend to develop on the roof of the mouth but can appear anywhere.
People often find that these mouth sores can sometimes appear during lupus flares. In others, stress or being overly tired may make mouth ulcers worse. In some people, mouth ulcers are a signal that a flare is coming.
These sores may be triggered during a severe flare, the hormonal changes of pregnancy, when you are low on vitamin B12 or iron, or when you take medication.
These sores can be quite uncomfortable or painful but are not usually dangerous to your health.
There are several things you can do to try to either help prevent mouth ulcers or help them heal once they appear such as:
Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to avoid irritating the gums
Eat soft foods and avoid rough, crunchy foods like popcorn
Get regular dental check-ups
Avoid very hot or acidic drinks such as too-hot coffee or orange juice
Avoid very spicy, salty, or acidic foods
Do not chew gum
Certain foods are known to increase the risk of developing mouth ulcers in some people. These items include:
Cheese
Almonds
Coffee
Chocolate
Peanuts
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Wheat flour
It maybe helpful to keep a food diary to identify which foods make your mouth more sensitive or seem to be connected to sores cropping up after eating.
This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.