Canker sores appear inside the mouth and look like small round shallow ulcers. They usually have a white center and a round reddish halo surrounding the sore inside. Canker sores happen inside the mouth on soft movable tissues such as the cheek, tongue, and soft palate.

          There are two types of canker sores, simple canker sores and complex canker sores. Simple canker sores break out occasionally and go away in about a week. Complex canker sores break out continually and new ones develop as the old ones heal. Canker sores occur more often in women than men and usually have a family history of occurrence.

          Canker sores and cold sores are different. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus and are contagious. Dentists do not know what causes canker sores and canker sores are not contagious. Canker sores occur on soft tissues inside the mouth and cold sores usually occur on the lip and soft tissues that are supported by bone.

          Some foods, such as citrus fruits or tomatoes, can cause canker sores. Emotional and physical stress can also cause canker sores to break out..

          The treatment for canker sores is to make the patient comfortable. Your dentist can prescribe an anaesthetic rinse called viscous lidocaine that will hep reduce the pain. Your dentist may also prescribe a mouth wash to keep the canker sores clean and a corticosteriod cream which can reduce the inflammation around the canker sores. In some patients, applying a pinch of baking soda to a canker sore will eliminate the sore in a day or so.

          In patients that suffer with recurring canker sores, there is most probably an underlying medical problem that predisposes then to getting canker sores. This may be a food allergy, immune problem, vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies, or a gastrointestinal tract dysfunction.

          Canker sores can be preceded by tingling or burning in the area that the canker sores will break out. A severe case of canker sores can cause the patient to have a fever, tiredness, swollen lymph nodes, and a great deal of pain. If the canker sores persist, they can become infected from some other cause.

           If you experience canker sores the first thing that you should do is keep a detailed food diary and try and connect the canker sore outbreaks with certain foods that you ate. Also note in your diary the dates and times of any stressful situations that you experienced.

          Be careful brushing your teeth so as to avoid traumatizing any existing canker sores. Consider changing toothpastes to see if the canker sores decrease. You can take Tylenol, Alleve, or Advil to help with the pain and clean the canker sores by rinsing with hydrogen peroxide. Rinsing with Benadryl liquid can sometimes be helpful.

        If you are having canker sore problems and would like to consult with a dentist, please call and make an appointment at 404-874-7428.