Do you suffer from canker sores?

It is not clear what prompts the occurrence canker sores, but they almost always heal on their own. These crater-like ulcers appear in the mouth and have been commonly found among adults and in children as young as 10-12 years of age. Experts reveal that they may run in families (blame the genes), but are definitely not contagious.

What are canker sores?

Canker sores are oral lesions, affecting about 20% of people. Generally a single, tiny bump, it appears on or under the tongue, lips, throat or on the back roof of the mouth, but sometimes they appear in groups. It obstructs eating, swallowing difficult and sometimes it even becomes difficult to speak.

It takes about 2-3 weeks for the ulcer to heal. The larger ones or multiple sores may take a little longer too. It is also known as the aphthous ulcers.

You have canker ulcers if there is

·        One or more painful red spot within the mouth

·        A tingling or burning sensation before the sores appear

·        Round, white, gray or yellow bump with red border

·        Fever, swollen lymph nodes

·        Physical sluggishness

·        Weight loss

·        General discomfort or uneasiness

They may be the result of

·        Stress or poor immune system

·        Nutritional deficiency of iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamin B12 or gastrointestinal tract upsets, such as celiac or crohn’s disease

·        Female harmones as they appear more frequently among women

·        Citrus or acidic foods such as lemons, pineapples, oranges, tomatoes, strawberries etc

·        Food sensitivities or allergies (including chocolates and coffee)

·        Tissue injury due to dental work or dentures and braces  or brushing teeth roughly

·        Biting tongue or cheek

Difference between cold & canker Sores

Cold sores can easily be confused with cankers for they occur near the same location and share many symptoms, but in reality they are different. Cold sores are groups of painful blisters filled with fluid.They are caused by a virus herpes simplex and are extremely contagious whereas cankers are not. Cold sores appear outside the mouth – under the nose, around the lips, or under the chin, while canker sores occur only within the mouth.

Treating agents

·        Some ointments, creams or anti-inflammatory steroid mouth rinses may help, but actually canker sores go away on their own

·        Avoid hot, spicy, citric foods

·        Rinse your mouth with salt water or mild and over-the-counter mouthwashes

·        Routine dental check-ups and cleansing may help

Caution

It is essential to visit the medical professional if the sore is accompanied with fever or lasts more than three weeks, if the sores appear frequently, are unusually larger, spreading or continue to ache despite painkillers. Secondly, alcohol based mouthwashes can further irritate the affected area.