### How to Identify and Treat Canker Sores
Canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers, are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues in your mouth or at the base of your gums. Unlike cold sores, canker sores don’t occur on the surface of your lips and they aren’t contagious. However, they can be painful, making eating and speaking uncomfortable. Here is how to identify and treat canker sores.
#### Identification of Canker Sores
Canker sores are usually round or oval with a white or yellow center and a red border. They typically occur inside the mouth, on the tongue, inside the cheeks or lips, at the base of the gums, or on the soft palate. You may feel a burning or tingling sensation before the sores actually appear.
##### Symptoms include:
– A painful sore or sores inside the mouth, on the tongue, soft palate, or inside the cheeks or lips
– A tingling or burning sensation prior to the appearance of the sore
– The sores are round, white, or gray in color, with a red edge or border
– Severe canker sores may be accompanied by physical sluggishness
#### Causes and Triggers
The exact cause of canker sores remains unclear, though researchers suspect that a combination of factors contributes to outbreaks, even in the same person.
Potential triggers include:
– Minor injury to the mouth from dental work, overzealous brushing, sports mishaps, or an accidental cheek bite
– Toothpastes and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate
– Food sensitivities, particularly to chocolate, coffee, strawberries, eggs, nuts, cheese, and spicy or acidic foods
– A diet lacking in vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron
– Allergic response to certain bacteria in the mouth
– Helicobacter pylori, the same bacteria that cause peptic ulcers
– Hormonal shifts during menstruation
– Emotional stress
#### Treatment
Most canker sores go away on their own within a week or two. However, the following treatments can alleviate pain and possibly speed up the healing process:
1. **Mouth Rinses:** If you have several canker sores, your doctor might prescribe a mouth rinse containing the steroid dexamethasone to reduce pain and inflammation or lidocaine to reduce pain.
2. **Topical Products:** Over-the-counter and prescription products (pastes, creams, gels, or liquids) may help relieve pain and speed healing if applied to individual sores as soon as they appear.
3. **Oral Medications:** These are not as common, but in severe cases, treatments such as the antibiotic doxycycline may be used to reduce inflammation or treat the underlying cause.
4. **Cautery of Sores:** During cauterization, an instrument or chemical substance is used to burn, sear, or destroy tissue.
5. **Nutritional Supplements:** If your diet is lacking in important nutrients, taking vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, folic acid, iron, zinc, or L-lysine may help prevent or reduce canker sores.
### Home Remedies
– Rinsing your mouth with saltwater or baking soda rinse.
– Applying milk of magnesia to the sore.
– Avoiding spicy foods which can aggravate sores.
#### Prevention
While you may not be able to prevent canker sores entirely, you can reduce their frequency by following these tips:
– Avoid foods that irritate your mouth.
– Practice good oral hygiene.
– Protect your mouth by not chewing gum.
– Reduce stress.
If canker sores are severe, persist for more than two weeks, or keep recurring, it’s important to seek medical advice to ensure proper treatment and rule out other causes.
### Questions and Answers about Canker Sores
1. **Q: What are canker sores?**
A: Canker sores are small, shallow lesions that develop in the soft tissues of the mouth.
2. **Q: Are canker sores contagious?**
A: No, unlike cold sores, canker sores are not contagious.
3. **Q: Where do canker sores usually appear?**
A: They can appear on the tongue, inside the cheeks or lips, at the base of the gums, or on the soft palate.
4. **Q: Can toothpaste cause canker sores?**
A: Some toothpastes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate may trigger canker sores in some people.
5. **Q: Do canker sores require medical treatment?**
A: Most canker sores do not require treatment as they usually heal on their own within a week or two.
6. **Q: Are there any over-the-counter treatments for canker sores?**
A: Yes, there are over-the-counter pastes, creams, gels, and liquids that can help alleviate pain and speed healing.
7. **Q: Can a deficient diet lead to canker sores?**
A: Yes, a diet lacking in vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron can contribute to the development of canker sores.
8. **Q: Is stress a factor in the development of canker sores?**
A: Yes, emotional stress can be a trigger for canker sores.
9. **Q: How can you prevent canker sores?**
A: You can reduce the frequency of canker sores by avoiding foods that irritate your mouth, practicing good oral hygiene, protecting your mouth, and reducing stress.
10. **Q: How do you know if a lesion in your mouth is a canker sore?**
A: Canker sores are typically round or oval with a white or yellow center and a red border, and they are painful.
11. **Q: Can children get canker sores?**
A: Yes, canker sores can occur in people of all ages, including children.
12. **Q: Does quitting smoking trigger canker sores?**
A: Some people might experience canker sores after quitting smoking as the mouth adjusts to the change in chemicals.
13. **Q: Should I avoid certain foods if I have a canker sore?**
A: Yes, spicy, acidic, or rough foods might irritate canker sores and should be avoided.
14. **Q: Can canker sores lead to more serious health problems?**
A: Canker sores themselves are not a serious health concern, but if they persist or are extremely painful, it could be a sign of an underlying condition that requires medical attention.
15. **Q: Can I kiss someone with a canker sore?**
A: Yes, you can kiss someone with a canker sore as they are not contagious.
16. **Q: Can mouthwash help with canker sores?**
A: Some mouthwashes, especially those containing steroids or lidocaine, can help reduce pain and inflammation.
17. **Q: What is the difference between a canker sore and a cold sore?**
A: Canker sores appear inside the mouth and are not contagious, while cold sores usually appear on the lips and are caused by the herpes virus, which is contagious.
18. **Q: How long does it take for a canker sore to heal?**
A: Most canker sores heal within one to two weeks.
19. **Q: What should I do if my canker sore isn’t healing?**
A: If your canker sore lasts more than two weeks or is unusually painful, seek medical advice.
20. **Q: Are cold sores and canker sores treated the same way?**
A: No, the treatments vary because the causes are different. Canker sore treatments focus on pain relief and promoting healing, while cold sore treatments include antiviral medications.
