Tired of Canker Sores? Tips on How to Get Rid of Them
Canker sores in the mouth are undoubtedly something that you would like to get rid of as soon as you can. They certainly can be painful at times, and getting some canker sore relief would be most welcome. Unfortunately, you have not yet found something that will help your canker sore in the mouth. The good news is that there is a canker sore treatment that can help.
Difference Between Canker Sores and Cold Sores
There is a difference between canker sores and cold sores. Canker sores (also called aphthous ulcers) are not contagious, but cold sores are very contagious. A canker sore will only form on the inside of the mouth, but cold sore forms on the outside. A canker sore has many causes, but a cold sore is caused by herpes.
Canker Sore Symptoms
A canker sore can be as small as one millimeter – which is the normal size – but they can get as large as one-inch in diameter. They have a red outline, and the interior is white or yellow. They are often painful, especially when eating or drinking. In most cases, a canker sore will heal in less than two weeks.
Common Causes of Mouth Ulcers
The actual cause of canker sores is still unknown. There are, however, a strong number of factors that seem to be connected to causing these sores. The following things are often present during a canker sore outbreak, and removing them as much as possible can help prevent them:
- Deficiency of vitamins – An insufficient quantity of certain vitamins and minerals often results in mouth ulcers. The vitamins and minerals that are missing include vitamin B-12, iron, zinc, and folic acid. Some people have found that adding these vitamins as supplements to their diet helped heal the sore faster.
- Food allergies – Reactions in your mouth to certain foods can cause canker sores – especially if you eat a lot of it. The foods that are most troublesome to some people include strawberries, coffee, nuts, eggs, cheese, and various spicy foods.
- A mouth injury – Whether your mouth or jaw injury was caused while playing sports, or you suffered a fall, or a blow to the jaw, an injury to your jaw could make you more prone to get canker sores. It can also be a dental injury possibly caused by a sharp tooth poking into the lining of your mouth.
Other causes include hormonal changes, stress, your dental appliance rubbing on your gums, and some medications. Heredity is also a factor.
Mouth Ulcer Treatment
When you need a quick treatment for canker sores in mouth, there are several things you can do. Remember that there is no cure yet, but some things have been found to help provide pain relief and bring about a faster healing.
Keep your teeth clean – Even though your mouth hurts, be sure to brush your teeth regularly and floss them. This will help keep the bacteria down that may cause an infection – which will make the sore worse.
Rinse your mouth with saltwater – This will also help to control the bacteria in your mouth. The salt will also help the sore to heal faster. It will hurt at first, but it will reduce the pain, too.
Use a mouth rinse with hydrogen peroxide – This mouth rinse will also help to relieve canker sore pain and heal it faster.
Eat healthy – Many Americans need more fruits and vegetables in their diet. Making sure that you are eating a healthy diet will help to reduce the likelihood of canker sores.
Reduce stress – If you tend to have a lot of stress, learn to relax more. Things like regular exercise, listening to music, taking a walk, taking a warm bath, reading a book, can help you relax more.
Have a dentist check your mouth if you wear dental appliances – Appliances such as braces, dentures, a night guard, and even aligners, can injure your gums or lining of your mouth and initiate the development of a canker sore.
When to Visit the Dentist
- When a mouth ulcer lasts longer than three weeks – this may be the start of a mouth cancer and should be examined by a dentist. When a sore is large, or if you have a fever with the mouth ulcer, you should see the dentist.
- When the ulcers keep returning – this most likely means that some cause is not being met, or that there is an underlying disease. The dentist may need to run some tests to determine the cause.
When you need to see a dentist for canker sore pain relief in the Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Dallas or Grapevine, TX areas, Dr. Kumar Vadivel DDS, FDS RCS, MS, a Board-certified periodontist can help you. He provides canker sore treatment and oral exams. For an appointment, or for more information, call today at (214) 731-0123
