Mouth blisters are sores on the lips, cheeks, tongue, or areas inside or around the mouth. They can be caused by dental work, an accidental bite from eating, irritation or injury, viral infections, or cancer of the mouth.

A mouth blister is a sore on the lips, cheeks, tongue, or other soft areas inside or around the mouth. Everything from dental work to an accidental bite while eating can cause these uncomfortable blisters.

 

Many types of mouth sores will go away on their own, but some may require medical attention.

 

The following are different types of mouth blisters: 

 

Canker sores, also known as mouth ulcers, usually appear inside the lips, but they can also appear on the tongue, cheeks, and gums. They are usually under a half-inch long, are white or yellowish, and are oval-shaped, often with a red ring around them and slightly raised. Left alone, minor canker sores usually heal within a week. 

 

 

Cold sores, also known as oral herpes, appear outside of the mouth on the surface of the lips or the skin surrounding them. Caused by a virus, they are usually small with a white or yellowish surface and can form in patches of several at once. They begin with a tingling, burning, or itching sensation for a day or two, then grow into blisters.

 

Symptoms such as muscle aches, fatigue, headache, and fever can accompany a cold sore first appearance. Once the blisters pop, they scab over and heal without scarring in two to three weeks, but they can reappear later. Cold sores are highly contagious.

 

Also known as tongue or “lie” bumps, these are small, inflamed sores on the top or sides of the tongue. Usually very small, these blisters can have a red or white surface and occur when taste buds (papillae) become irritated. They can be painful, but they heal on their own within a few days after appearing.

 

Sometimes referred to as thrush, this type of mouth blister is a white or light-colored rash that appears in patches on the tongue or other areas inside the mouth. This infection can cause burning sensations or soreness in the mouth or throat, along with bad breath. Thrush can sometimes heal on its own but may need medical treatment.