Have you ever had a painful sore in your mouth that seemed to appear out of no where and then a week or two later was gone?  You probably had something called a canker sore.  Canker sores are different from cold sores because they form on the inside of the mouth not the outside and are not contagious. 
 

They often have a white or yellow center and also have a red, painful area surrounding it.  There are three different kinds of canker sores: Minor, Major and Herpetiform.  The most common type are Minor canker sores, they go away within a week or two, are smaller and oval shaped.  Major canker sores tend to be larger in size, and may take over a month to heal, they also tend to have irregular edges.  Herpetiform canker sores are small but can occur in clusters, and have irregular edges like Major canker sores.  Herpetiform canker sores tend to occur later in life.

You should see a doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Unusually large canker sores
• Recurring ulcers, with new ones developing before old ones heal
• Persistent sores, lasting three weeks or more
• Sores that extend into the lips themselves (vermilion border)
• Pain that you can't control with self-care measures
• Extreme difficulty eating or drinking
• High fever along with canker sores

Causes include: Food allergies, Citrus or acidic fruits or vegetables, Celiac disease, tooth pastes and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate, emotional stress, hormonal changes during menstruation, inflammatory bowel disease and diets lacking in vitamin B-12, zinc, folate or iron, among others. Canker sores are not associated with the herpes virus like cold sores.

Canker sores are more common in women and those with a family history.

There are many possible treatments for canker sores some common ones include over the counter medicines (for example: Orabase, Orajel, Kank-A, SensoGard, Tanac, UlcerEase, Zilactin and Anbesol), covering lesions with a baking soda paste, applying ice, as well as medication from your doctor.

Prevention:

• Be aware of what you eat, if you start to associate certain foods or drinks that are the cause of your canker sores, avoid those foods if possible.

• Prevent unnecessary damage to the inside of your mouth whether caused by grinding your teeth, or biting your mouth.

• Brush and floss regularly, use a soft tooth brush and avoid oral care products with sodium lauryl sulfate listed in the ingredients.

Remember to be conscious of your body and don’t forget about proper dental hygiene.  Canker sores may be annoying but hopefully you now have some insight on how to make them a bit more manageable.

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