What are canker sores?
Canker sores (or aphthous ulcers) are small open sores usually found inside your lips or cheeks. They are the most common form of mouth ulcer and are recognisable by their white or yellow colour and the inflamed tissue surrounding them. A canker sore may also be accompanied by swollen lymph nodes or a fever, but this is rare.
Canker sores can be painful and uncomfortable, so it is natural to want to know how to spot them and treat them in the best way possible. Keep reading to find out the most common signs, symptoms, and types of canker sore and how you can go about treating them.
What are the causes of canker sores?
Unfortunately, the exact cause of canker sores is not known, but several triggers and risk factors make a person more likely to get them, including a family history of canker sores. Some of the most common causes include:
Stress.
Hormonal changes.
Nutritional deficiencies such as a lack of Vitamin B-12, Iron, Folate, or Zinc.
Physical trauma, such as irritating dental work, dental appliances and biting your mouth or tongue.
Food hypersensitivity and allergies.
Certain medical conditions including immunodeficiency disorders, celiac disease, and IBD.
If you are suffering from a canker sore it can likely be attributed to one of the above causes. If you are unsure, it is best to contact your doctor, who may perform additional investigations.
Symptoms of canker sores
Canker sores have several recognisable and common symptoms. The symptoms of your canker sore will depend on whether it is a minor or major sore.
Minor canker sores are small oval-shaped bumps inside the mouth. When suffering from a minor sore, you may feel a burning sensation on, and around, the spot of the sore. Pain whilst eating, drinking, or even speaking is also a common symptom of this canker sore.
Major canker sores, as their name suggests, are the more serious and uncomfortable variant of canker sores. They appear as larger, rounded bumps inside the mouth, and are accompanied by tingling, burning, inflammation, and occasionally severe pain. Major canker sores can also cause difficulty when eating, drinking, or speaking.
You can usually expect a minor canker sore to heal within 2 weeks, but major sores can last up to a month before healing.
Canker sores vs. Cold sores
The difference between cold sores and canker sores may seem small but is easy to spot and remember. Despite their name, cold sores begin as blisters, then, once they have popped, become inflamed red sores.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and appear exclusively outside of, and around the edges of the mouth. Canker sores only appear inside the mouth and can occur for several reasons.
If you are wondering whether you have a canker or cold sore, the easiest way of determining is to see if the sore sits around your mouth, or inside of it.
Treatment for canker sores
There are several ways you can treat the pain and discomfort of a canker sore. Most sores will heal without treatment, but there are a few ways you can manage the pain and speed up the process of healing.
In terms of at home remedies for canker sore treatment, brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day prevents bacteria buildup and therefore keeps the sore clean and infection-free, helping speed up the healing process. Saltwater rinses or antiseptic mouth rinses also prevent these types of bacteria buildup and are a quick and easy way to keep the canker sore clean.
On some occasions, your dentist may prescribe over-the-counter medicine for your canker sores. If the sore is particularly painful, a dentist may suggest a topical anaesthetic such as benzocaine, if you are suffering from recurring canker sores, antibiotics such as doxycycline are another option a medical professional may suggest.
In most cases at home treatments for canker sores will be sufficient. However, if you are in a great deal of pain or discomfort, reach out to a medical professional for advice and see what forms of treatment they recommend.
Prevention
Because of the range of causes of canker sores, there is no one-set method that is guaranteed to work. However, there are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of canker sores. One of the best tips for canker sore prevention is avoiding foods that have triggered previous sores, generally spicy, acidic, or salty foods.
Practicing good oral hygiene is always important, and that is no different here. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing help reduce your risk of canker sores and improve your general oral health.
If you are worried that vitamin deficiencies are causing your canker sores then speak to a doctor to try and determine whether you have any deficiencies. Managing these deficiencies can help prevent canker sores from recurring and improve your general health as well.
Managing stress is also important, especially if you believe it is a trigger for canker sores. Practice stress reduction methods such as meditation or breathing exercises and reach out to a professional if you are finding it difficult to manage your stress.
FAQs
1. How to get rid of a canker sore overnight?
At home remedies such as saltwater rinses and brushing your teeth help accelerate the healing process for a canker sore but are unlikely to cure the sore overnight. Most canker sores will heal within 2 weeks.
2. Does ice get rid of canker sores?
Ice can help relieve the pain of a canker sore but will not get rid of it. Try saltwater rinses or ask your dentist about over-the-counter medication if you are suffering from a painful canker sore you want to remove.
3. Does salt help get rid of canker sores?
On its own, salt will not heal a canker sore, but gargling a saltwater rinse can reduce bacteria within your mouth, keeping the sore clean and accelerating the healing process.
4. How to stop canker sores from coming back?
There is no set way to stop canker sores from coming back, but avoiding spicy, acidic, and salty food; maintaining good oral hygiene; managing stress; and managing vitamin deficiencies are all ways to minimise your risk of cankers.
5. How to prevent canker sores from braces?
Braces can be a trigger for canker sores. There is no set way to avoid canker sores when you have braces, but maintaining good oral hygiene will reduce your risk of cankers.