Canker sores
Canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers, these are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues in mouth or at the base of gums. Unlike cold sores, canker sores don't occur on the surface of lips and they aren't contagious. They can be painful, however, and can make eating and talking difficult. Most canker sores go away on their own in 1-2 weeks.
Symptoms
Most of the canker sores are found in oval or round shape with a yellow or white center with a red border. They form inside the mouth on or under tongue, inside the cheeks or lips, at the base of gums, or on soft palate.
Types of canker sores:
Minor canker sores: Minor canker sores are the most common and:
- Are usually small
- Heal without scarring in 1-2 weeks
- Are oval shaped with a red edge
Major canker sores: These are less common and:
- Are usually round with defined borders
- Extremely painful
- Are deeper and larger than the minor canker sores
- It take more than six weeks to heal and to leave extensive scarring
Herpetiform canker sores: Herpetiform canker sores usually develop later in the life and are uncommon. These types of canker sores are:
- Often occur in clusters of 10 to 100 sores
- Pinpoint size
- Have irregular edges
- Heal without scarring in one to two weeks
Causes:
- A minor injury to mouth from dental work, overzealous brushing, sports mishaps or an accidental cheek bite
- Toothpastes and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate
- Celiac disease
- Food sensitivities, especially to coffee, chocolates, nuts, strawberries, eggs, spicy or acidic foods and cheese.
- A diet lacking in vitamin B-12, zinc, folate (folic acid) or iron
- An allergic response to certain bacteria in mouth
- Helicobacter pylori, the same bacteria that cause peptic ulcers
- Hormonal shifts during menstruation
- Emotional stress
- Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- Behcet's disease
- A faulty immune system that attacks healthy cells in mouth instead of pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria
- HIV/AIDS, which suppresses the immune system
Treatments: A number of treatment options exist.
Mouth rinses: If the people have several canker sores, doctor may prescribe a mouth rinse containing the steroid Dexamethasone or lidocaine to reduce the inflammation and pain.
Oral medications: These are used when the canker sores are severe or do not respond to topical treatments. These may include:
- Oral steroid medications when severe canker sores don't respond to other treatments.
Topical products: prescription products (pastes, creams, gels or liquids) and Over-the-counter drugs may helps to relieve pain and speed healing when applies to an individual sores as earlier as they appear. Examples of such products are:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Fluocinonide
Nutritional supplements: Such as folate (folic acid), vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 or zinc.
Lifestyle and home remedies: To help relieve pain and speed healing, consider these tips:
- Rinse your mouth: Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 cup warm water and dissolve.
- Dab a small amount of milk of magnesia on canker sore a few times a day.
- Avoid abrasive, acidic or spicy foods that can cause further irritation and pain.
- Gently Brush the teeth, by using a smooth or soft brush and foaming-agent free toothpaste (Sensodyne or Biotene)
- Apply ice to canker sores by allowing ice chips to slowly dissolve over the sores.
Prevention:
- Watch what you eat: Try to avoid foods that seem to irritate mouth. These may include certain spices and salty foods, nuts, pretzels, chips, and acidic fruits, such as oranges, pineapple and grapefruit. Avoid any foods to which you're sensitive or allergic.
- Choose healthy foods: To prevent nutritional deficiencies choose healthy foods such as, vegetables, plenty of fruits and whole grains.
- Follow good oral hygiene habits: Regular brushing after meals and flossing once a day can keep mouth clean and free of foods that might trigger a sore. Use a soft brush to help prevent irritation to delicate mouth tissues, and avoid toothpastes and mouth rinses that contain sodium lauryl sulfate.
- Protect mouth: If the people have braces or other dental appliances, asks dentist about orthodontic waxes to cover sharp edges.
- Reduce stress: If canker sores seem to be related to stress, follow stress-reduction techniques, such as guided imagery and meditation.
