Canker sores are small-sized, surface ulcers that develop in the mouth and often make it hard to eat and talk.
Types of canker sores
- Simple – these might occur 3-4 times throughout the year and last for up to a week. The sores usually occur among individuals ages 10-20 years old.
- Complex – these are uncommon and manifest more often among individuals who previously had them.
Possible causes of canker sores
The precise cause of most canker sores are still unknown. Tissue damage or stress is believed to be the cause of the simple type. There are also certain foods including citrus and acidic fruits and vegetables that can instigate a canker sore or make the issue worse.
In some cases of the complex type, they are triggered by an underlying health condition such as an impaired immune system, digestive diseases such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease and nutritional issues such as zinc, vitamin B-12, folic acid or iron deficiency.
Indications
An individual might have a canker sore if the following are present:
- A painful sore or sores within the mouth, usually on the soft palate, tongue or inside the cheeks.
- Burning sensation or tingling before the sores develop.
- Sores in the mouth that are white, round or gray with a reddened border.
In severe cases, the following are also present:
- Sluggishness
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
Management
The pain from canker sores settle with a few days and they typically heal without requiring treatment in about 1-2 weeks.
The canker sores that are managed using dental lasers can provide almost full relief of the symptoms right away.
Prevention
Even though there is no remedy for the sores and have the tendency to recur, they can be minimized with the following:
- Avoid foods that can irritate the mouth including acidic vegetables, citrus fruits and spicy foods.
- Avoid gum chewing since it triggers irritation.
- Use a brush with soft bristles after eating and floss daily to keep the mouth free from foods that can activate a sore.
The individual should consult a dentist for canker sores that have the following:
- Sores that are remarkably large in size
- Sores that are spreading
- Sores that last for 3 weeks or longer
- Intolerable pain despite avoiding the trigger foods and using over-the-counter pain medications
- Difficulty drinking enough fluids
- High fever upon the development of the sores