Canker sores — or aphthous ulcers — are small, shallow ulcers that occur in the lining of your mouth. A canker sore starts as a white or yellowish mouth sore with a red border. They’re usually very small (less than 1 millimeter) but may grow to 1/2 inch to 1 inch in diameter. You can get canker sores on your tongue, gums, roof of your mouth, inside of your lip or under your tongue. They can be painful and often make eating and talking uncomfortable. There are two types of canker sores: Simple canker sores: These may appear three or four times a year and last up to a week. Complex canker sores: These are less common and occur more often in the people who have previously had them.