The short explanation
An ulcer that rubs against a sharp or broken tooth is often caused by repeated injury, and it may not heal until the sharp edge is fixed. However, any mouth ulcer that has not healed after about three weeks should be checked by a dentist or doctor, because occasionally a non-healing ulcer can be an early sign of mouth cancer, especially on the side of the tongue. The first step is usually for a dentist to smooth or repair the broken tooth. If the ulcer still does not heal soon after, or if it looks unusual, a biopsy may be suggested. Most such ulcers turn out to be harmless, but checking is important.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Tobacco, paan, gutka, alcohol and older age increase the risk of mouth cancer.
- Lumps, red or white patches, numbness, difficulty swallowing, or a lump in the neck are other warning signs.
- Government hospitals and dental colleges can examine and take biopsies.
- Avoid spicy and hard food while it heals.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you whether your ulcer is harmless or not. A dentist or doctor needs to examine it.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Can the broken tooth be fixed?
- Is this ulcer from injury?
- Do I need a biopsy?
- What signs should make me come back sooner?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Book an appointment soon
- See a dentist within a few days to fix the tooth and examine the ulcer.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Have regular dental check-ups, especially if you use tobacco.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Mouth ulcers NHS
- Mouth cancer NHS
- Oral cancer MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
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No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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