While canker sores aren’t usually a serious problem, they can be bothersome and uncomfortable. Here are some facts that will hopefully enable you to better understand what they are all about and in turn, be useful in helping you treat or avoid them in the future.
Two types of canker sores
Canker sores are small open sores that appear in the mouth, otherwise known as aphthous ulcers. There are two types:
- Minor Canker Sore or Minor Aphthous Ulcer. These are the most common and while there is no definitive answer on what causes them, many dentists and researchers believe they can be caused by highly acidic foods, braces, ill-fitting oral appliances and injury to the inside of the mouth. Some even say that canker sores can be induced by stress.
- Major Aphthous Ulcer. While this type is far less common, these can be looked upon as being of greater significance in that they are often caused by some underlying health or nutritional problem like a gastrointestinal ailment or vitamin deficiency. This type of ulceration often leads to the formation of scar tissue.
Canker sores vs cold sores
While many people confuse canker sores with cold sores or believe them to be the same thing, it is important to note that they are in no way related. Cold sores are caused by a Herpes Simplex Virus and are highly contagious. They usually appear on the outside of the mouth, unlike cankers which develop only inside the mouth, on the tongue, soft palate (the back portion of the roof of your mouth) and inside cheeks and lips. Canker sores, furthermore, are not contagious.
Symptoms associated with canker sores
Unfortunately, the sheer discomfort of a canker sore might be accompanied by other symptoms including:
• fever
• fatigue
• swollen lymph notes
It should be noted that sometimes canker sores can even mimic a toothache.
Canker sore treatment
Most often, a canker sore will disappear on its own without treatment in about a week. If you have a very large and painful one, talk with your dentist. He or she may recommend a product you can purchase in the pharmacy that can help, or for more severe cases, prescribe a stronger mouth rinse or ointment. You should visit your dentist or doctor if you experience any of the following:
- high fever accompanying a canker sore
- sores that last for more than two weeks
- sores that are spreading
- pain from sores that is intolerable
- difficulty eating or drinking due to very painful sores
Canker sore prevention
While we are almost all guaranteed to experience some canker sores in our lifetimes, the following tips should help you avoid at least some occurrences:
- get ill-fitting dentures replaced or repaired as soon as possible
- get broken orthodontic parts or devices fixed if they are causing irritation to the inside of your mouth; orthodontic wax can
- also help prevent the abrasion caused by braces which is especially common for new braces wearers
- avoid highly acidic or spicy foods
- avoid gum chewing if you’ve noticed a connection between gum and the occurrence of canker sores
- brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush after meals and floss regularly to keep your mouth free of foods and beverages that can be canker sore triggers
- try changing to a toothpaste formulated to reduce canker sores
Keep in mind that complex canker sores can be sending you a message that something could me amiss in your body. If you get cankers a lot, talk to your physician about it. He or she might want to run some tests to investigate possible causes for the recurrences.
Steven Deskin is a Brantford Dentist in general practice.
