Mouth Problems, Noninjury: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Do you have one or more sores in or around your mouth?

See significance of mouth sores if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Is your baby having difficulty swallowing or is unwilling or unable to eat?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Does your child have a general feeling of illness?

Yes

Do you have a rash?

Yes

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the sore?

Yes

Is the area around the sore increasingly tender to the touch?

Yes

Do you have pus in or around the sore?

Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Yes

Do you have one or more sores on or near your lip that have crusty, honey-colored drainage?

Yes

Are you concerned a new sore was caused by sexual contact?

Note:

If you think that you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease (STD), it is important to be evaluated promptly by a health professional. This will help prevent serious health problems for yourself and reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to others. Do not have sexual contact while waiting for your appointment. This will reduce the possibility of spreading a disease to your partner. Your partner may need to be checked as well.

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a sore for 24 hours or longer?

Yes

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck or under the jaw for 24 hours or longer?

Yes

Do you have a painful sore that has not gotten better after 48 hours of home treatment?

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had sores for 2 weeks or longer?

Yes

Do you frequently develop sores?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	September 26, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Steven K. Patterson, BSc, DDS, MPH - Dentist
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer