There may be one or several aphthous ulcers present. Twenty to sixty percent of the population have had aphthous ulcers at some time in their lives. People most frequently get them between the ages of 10 and 40 and they are often recurrent. Tingling or burning may precede the lesions by 24 hours. The acute painful phase lasts 3 to 4 days with complete healing in 7 to 10 days.
Aphthous ulcers heal without scaring.
Cause No specific cause of aphthous ulcers has been identified. Mouth trauma, local immune response, hormonal changes, certain foods, allergies, vitamin deficiencies, physical and emotional stress, are possible contributing factors. Aphthous ulcers are not cancerous or contagious. Since the cause for aphthous ulcers has not specifically been identified, no cure has been found. Therapy is aimed at controlling pain.