Recommend a suitable product immediately as the cause is obvious

Ulcers can be a sign of underlying health problems, so while the lady believes she knows the cause, it’s important to rule out any serious pre-existing medical conditions that may have caused the ulcer.

Ask how long she has had the ulcer

Ulcers usually heal within 10-14 days. People with unexplained mouth ulcers that have persisted for more than three weeks without sign of healing, or ulcers that keep coming back or are unusual in any way, should see their GP. This is very important to exclude the rare possibility of oral cancer, which can benefit from early diagnosis and treatment.

Explain that she needs to take precautions to ensure she doesn’t spread the ulcer to her family members or close friends

You can’t catch mouth ulcers from sharing drinks or utensils, or even from kissing. That’s because mouth ulcers aren’t caused by an infection.

Advise her that mouth ulcers can usually last up to 14 days and there is nothing she can do to speed up the healing process

Iglü mouth ulcer treatments shield the ulcer to help speed up the healing process.

Reassure her that mouth ulcers are very common and explain that they can be caused by minor mouth injuries

Over 20 per cent of people suffer from mouth ulcers at some point in their lives. They can be caused by injuries, such as accidentally biting the inside of the mouth or aggravation from a toothbrush, brace, denture or rough tooth.

Ask if she has any underlying medical conditions, or is taking any other medication

Some underlying medical conditions (such as iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12 deficiency), and some medication (such as nicorandil, or beta‐blockers) can cause mouth ulcers. It’s important to rule these out before discussing over the counter treatments, so if someone is taking other medication they should be referred to the pharmacist.