Like any other part of the body, the roof of the mouth can have problems that cause discomfort or pain. It can be cut, burned, infected, irritated, or inflamed. Problems can affect the bony front part of the roof of the mouth, the hard palate, or the squishy back part of the roof of the mouth, the soft palate. The pain can range from mild discomfort to a low-intensity throbbing pain to a burning sensation to sharp, unbearable pain that makes it hard to eat, drink, chew, or swallow.
Pain on the roof of the mouth is a common symptom that may be caused by injury, burns, irritants, allergies, canker sores, cold sores, dry mouth, gum disease, infections, autoimmune disorders, sinusitis, and burning mouth syndrome. Less common causes include bony growths or oral cancer.
Typically, pain on the roof of the mouth does not require immediate medical attention.
Pain on the roof of the mouth generally does not require treatment, but some underlying causes do require treatment. It typically resolves with or without treatment within two weeks in most cases.
Treatments of pain on the roof of the mouth vary by cause.
Pain on the roof of the mouth can be managed with home remedies, gargling salt water, apple cider vinegar, essential oils, and avoiding certain foods.
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The most common causes of pain on the roof of the mouth are injuries. These include:
Cuts from eating certain types of foods, such as hard foods or sharp foods
Burns from consuming very hot foods or drinks
Canker sores (about 20% to 60% of people will have canker sores, a type of mouth ulcer caused by infection, stress, allergies, or hormonal changes)
Palate pain can also be caused by infections such as:
Cold sores caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection
Warts caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
Gingivitis, a bacterial infection of the gums
Oral thrush, a yeast (Candida albicans) infection of the mouth
Other common causes of pain on the roof of the mouth include:
Allergies to foods, drugs, or dental materials
Irritants such as spicy foods
Dry mouth
Dehydration (which can cause dry mouth)
Electrolyte imbalance
Burning mouth syndrome
Pain on the roof of the mouth also includes some autoimmune disorders, including:
Sjogren’s syndrome (which causes dry mouth)
Behcet’s disease (an autoimmune disorder that affects blood vessels)
Less common causes of pain on the roof of the mouth include:
Lichen planus, a type of skin or skin and mouth rash
Bony growths in the palate
Oral cancer
Side effects from certain medications
If the cause is obvious and the pain is manageable, there is no need to worry about pain on the roof of your mouth. If the pain is severe, does not improve, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling or fever, then see a doctor or other healthcare professional. Some causes of pain on the roof of the mouth may have complications such as oral cancer or autoimmune disorders. Seek emergency medical attention if there is severe pain, a serious mouth injury, or excessive bleeding, or the pain is accompanied by severe symptoms such as a high fever, difficulty breathing, or difficulty swallowing.
In most cases, a healthcare professional will diagnose the cause of pain on the roof of the mouth by symptoms, a medical history, and examining the mouth. That’s usually enough to diagnose the cause, but some conditions that cause mouth problems may require a more extensive workup, such as blood tests and imaging.
Infections may require that a clinician take a tissue sample or scrape to examine under the microscope (called a biopsy). Some conditions that cause mouth pain, such as Crohn’s disease, affect other parts of the body, so a more extensive physical exam and set of tests may be needed.
The most concerning cause of mouth sores and mouth pain is oral cancer. In those cases, there will be other symptoms besides ulcers and mouth pain, including trouble eating, trouble moving the mouth, swelling, numbness, voice changes, loosening teeth, ear pain, and denture problems.
Some of the causes of pain on the roof of the mouth are contagious infections, including canker sores, cold sores, and warts. They can be spread to other people, so people with these mouth infections should:
Avoid kissing when mouth ulcers, warts, or blisters are present
Not share glasses, eating utensils, towels, or washcloths
Regularly wash or sanitize their hands
It is also possible to spread a mouth infection to other parts of your body. A cold sore, for instance, can be spread to the eyes. Regularly wash and sanitize your hands, and do not touch your eyes with your hands or fingers.
Pain on the roof of the mouth is typically a temporary and short-lived issue. Allergic reactions and mild injuries to the palate heal quickly. The pain should improve in a few hours or days. Cold sores and canker sores are at their worst for only a few days. The pain and the blisters should resolve within two weeks. Pain on the roof of the mouth is concerning if it lasts for two weeks or longer and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Treatment options will depend on the underlying health condition causing the pain. In many cases, treatment may not be necessary, such as a minor cut, superficial burn, or many mouth ulcers. Other may require home treatments or medical treatments:
Dry mouth and dehydration can usually be addressed by drinking fluids. If there’s a problem with the salivary glands, however, see a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Electrolyte imbalances can be solved by dietary changes or supplements.
Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are usually limited in duration. Still, if they’re too uncomfortable, the discomfort or pain can be relieved with mouthwashes, salt water rinses, lozenges, or topical gels that contain a topical anesthetic. If the sore does not improve in a few days, see a healthcare professional. A clinician may treat problem canker sores with antibiotics, topical steroids (mouthwashes), or injectable steroids.
Cold sores are also limited in duration and can be managed with home remedies, OTC pain relievers, and topical anesthetics. If the pain or symptoms are bad, a doctor can prescribe topical or oral antiviral medications to speed up recovery.
Minor allergic reactions can be alleviated with OTC antihistamines.
A dentist treats gingivitis and usually involves adopting good oral hygiene, teeth cleaning, antiseptic mouthwashes, and possibly a short course of antibiotics.
Sinus infections are treated by healthcare professionals who will prescribe medications like antibiotics and corticosteroids. Over-the-counter pain relievers should be enough to relieve the pain.
Oral thrush is treated with antifungal medications and antiseptic mouth rinses.
More severe health conditions like serious mouth injury, serious burns, autoimmune disorders, and cancer will require more involved and lengthy treatment. Tumors and bony growths will require surgical removal.
Pain on the roof of the mouth is not a long-term problem, but it is a bothersome one. It can make it hard to eat, drink, or concentrate. Most of the usual causes are minor health conditions that resolve quickly, but there are a few helpful home remedies that could ease the pain during that process:
If the pain is due to a cut, use salt water rinses in your mouth after each meal and regularly throughout the day, eat soft and cool foods, avoid spicy, acidic, or hot foods, and use essential oils with menthol, eucalyptol, thymol, or wintergreen to help relieve pain and reduce inflammation
If the pain is due to a burn, immediately drink ice-cold water to both numb the pain and reduce swelling—after that, use home remedies you would use for a cut in your mouth
Pain due to a canker sore or other mouth ulcer can be relieved by gargling with salt water or apple cider vinegar, honey, eating soft foods, and avoiding certain foods like spicy foods
Mouth pain due to food allergies can be managed by avoiding suspect foods
Oral thrush should be treated with prescription medications, but home remedies can help, including gargling with salt water or baking soda solution, eating probiotic yogurt, or applying essential oils like clove oil or oregano oil to the lesions
Mouth and head pain due to sinus infections can be partly relieved with warm compresses on the nose and face or saline irrigation of the nasal passages
Pain on the roof of your mouth is unusual, but it’s usually not a reason to panic. Most causes are not health-threatening, and the pain and other symptoms will fade in a few days. However, if you’re worried, then talk to a healthcare professional. There are reasons to be worried, especially if the mouth pain doesn’t get better within two weeks. Healthcare professionals are experienced in the various health conditions that can cause mouth problems. Even if the cause isn’t serious, the advice and recommendations they give may make life much easier while the problem gets better.
Aphthous stomatitis, StatPearls
Burning mouth syndrome, StatPearls
Common oral lesions part I. Superficial mucosal lesions, American Family Physician
Common oral lesions part II. Masses and neoplasia, American Family Physician
Allergy treatments and medications, SingleCare
Canker sore treatments and medications, SingleCare
Cold sore remedies and medicines: how to get rid of cold sores, SingleCare
Gingivitis treatments and medications, SingleCare
HPV treatments and medications, SingleCare
Aphthous stomatitis (canker sores): a consequence of high oral submucosal viscosity, Medical Hypotheses
Crohn’s disease treatments and medications, SingleCare
Herpes treatments and medications, SingleCare
Oral thrush treatments and medications, SingleCare
Sinus infection treatments and medications, SingleCare
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