Canker sore: When you get ulcers near the mouth

What are canker sores?

Canker sores are small ulcers which develop in the mouth. They are also known as aphthous ulcers. These ulcers are usually shallow in nature. These sores may make it difficult for one talk or swallow food and can be painful.

Such sores are normally white or yellow in colour and have a red border. These are nonetheless not cancerous. Anyone can develop canker sores.

Usually, in a week or two, these wounds heal on their own. In the case of large sores that are painful and do not heal easily, even after a week, they must be brought to the notice of your dentist or doctor.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

Causes

1. These sores can develop due to a variety of reasons. Their exact cause is still a mystery.
2. These can be triggered by:
3. Any injury, even from fervent brushing or an unintentional cheek bite
4. Sensitivities to certain foods
5. Lack of vitamin B-12, iron, zinc or folic acid in diet
6. Food allergy
7. Mouth rinses and toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulphate
8. Hormonal changed during periods
9. Emotional stress
10. Certain diseases and conditions can lead to the occurrence of canker sores like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, disorders of the immune system and HIV/AIDS.
11. Herpes virus infections are not linked with canker sores.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

1. Often these are seen on the inner cheeks, lips, the base of gums, soft palate, and the tongue.
2. Common symptoms include:
3. Painful red spots or open ulcers
4. White or yellow centre
5. Occasionally they can be accompanied by fever and general uneasiness.
6. Canker sores can be of minor, major and herpetiform types.
7. Minor sores: These sores are usually small and heal in 1-2 weeks.
8. Major sores: Such sores are much larger, deep in nature and can be very painful. They may require six weeks to heal and leave a scar.
9. Herpetiform sores: These sores are not due to herpes virus. They usually occur as tiny spots and in clusters.

DIAGNOSIS

Your dentist or physician will diagnose canker sores by visually examining them. Any other diagnostic test isn’t necessary unless the sores are of severe nature and other health issues need to be checked.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Treatment

Minor sores can heal on their own in 1 to 2 weeks. However, larger or very painful canker sores require medical attention.

The treatment includes:

1. The physician may recommend mouth rinses that reduce the inflammation or pain or both. A wide array of gels, liquids or creams can be helpful in relieving the pain and speed up the healing, on topical application.
2. Severe forms might require oral medication, steroidal medication or medications aimed at treating ulcers of the intestine.
3. Physical or chemical cauterisation to destroy or burn the tissue can be performed by the physician.
4. Folic acid (folate), vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 or zinc supplements may be prescribed.
5. The physician could treat the underlying cause or other health issues responsible for such sores.

Prevention

1. One can reduce the frequency of canker sores by:
2. Eating a healthy diet: Avoid foods that are salty, acidic and possibly irritate the mouth. Include a lot of whole grain, fruits and vegetables in your diet.
3. Maintain oral hygiene: Aim at keeping the mouth clean by regular brushing and flossing. Avoid mouth rinses and toothpaste which contain sodium lauryl sulphate.
4. Bring down stress: For canker sores related to stress, practice meditation and other techniques to reduce your stress levels.

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Complications

Canker sores are noncancerous and will not cause cancerous sores. In case, one has sores that do not heal on their own and last for more than two weeks, to rule out cancer, consult your physician.

Next steps

To avert bacterial infections, brushing and flossing teeth habitually is a must. Regular dental check-ups are also must.

Red Flags

1. Visit your dentist or doctor in case you experience
2. Recurrent sores
3. Uncommon large canker sores
4. Pain of severe nature
5. Extreme difficulty while eating or drinking
6. High fever with canker sores