Canker sores appear in the mouth and look like small round shallow ulcers. They usually have a white center and a round reddish halo. They occur on soft movable tissues such as the cheek, tongue and soft palate. There are two types, simple and complex. Simple ones break out occasionally and go away in about a week. Complex ones break out continually and new ones develop as the old ones heal. They occur more often in women and there's usually a family history.

          Dentists don't know what causes canker sores but it's known that they are not contagious. The lesions occur on soft tissues inside the mouth and usually on the lip and soft tissues that are supported by bone.They are definitely not cold sores. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus and are contagious.

          Canker sores can be caused by some foods, such as citrus fruits or tomatoes. Emotional and physical stress can cause a break out. The treatment is to make the patient comfortable. A prescription anaesthetic rinse called viscous lidocaine can help reduce the pain. A prescription mouth wash can keep the lesions clean and a corticosteriod cream can reduce inflammation. In some patients, applying a pinch of baking soda will eliminate the sore in a day.

          Recurring canker sores usually have an underlying medical problem. It may be a food allergy, immune problem, vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies or GI tract dysfunction. They can be preceded by tingling or burning in the area before the break out. A severe case causes fever, tiredness, swollen lymph nodes and severe pain. If the lesions persist, they can become infected from another cause. Keep a detailed food diary and try to connect the outbreaks with foods. Note in your diary the dates and times of stressful situations. Be careful to avoid traumatizing any lesions when brushing. Change toothpastes to see if the sores decrease. Take Tylenol, Alleve or Advil for the pain and clean the lesions by rinsing with hydrogen peroxide. Rinsing with Benadryl liquid can be helpful. If you would like to schedule a free dental consutlation with our senior Georgia Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, make an appointment at 404-874-7428.