Reason for sore on roof of mouth that is painful?
Patient: For about a week I've had a sore on the roof of my mouth, but I've looked at the area with a flashlight and seen nothing. There's no redness, whiteness, swelling or anything else I can see. It doesn't hurt as long as my tongue doesn't move or put pressure on it. Its on the roof of my mouth, near the gums of my very back molars. It's a sharp pain. It feels kind of like like how you'd imagine rubbing sand on a rug-burn would hurt. It gets worse throughout the day, probably because of the friction of my tongue on it. Any ideas? Doctor: Hello, Thanks for your query.The roof of the mouth is divided into two major parts. The hard palate is a bony area in the anterior region of the mouth. Behind it, towards the back of the mouth, is the fleshy soft palate, which lacks a bony plate. Pain in this area may be due to a number of issues. A burning sensation on the palate along with the tongue and cheeks may be burning mouth syndrome, a chronic condition that does not have a clear cause.Discomfort accompanied by open sores may be canker sores or herpes.Effective treatment depends on the cause of palatal pain. Non-viral infections can be treated with antibiotics or, in the case of thrush, antifungal medication. The cause of burning mouth syndrome is unknown, so the best course of action is determined on a case by case basis. Canker sores, herpes and mild inflammation due to irritation usually resolve themselves on their own, but antiseptic mouth rinses can help with symptoms. Whatever the issue may be, it is best assessed by a doctor who can give a diagnosis and a plan of action for treatment.I do hope that you have found something helpful and I will be glad to answer any further query.Take care