Canker sores are painful, small, round/ oval-shaped ulcers inside the mouth. Canker sores are also called aphthous ulcers. They can be found inside the cheek, under the tongue, base of the gums, soft palate or in the back of the throat and often make eating, and sometimes talking, uncomfortable. Mouth sores are generally non-contagious. It occurs more frequently in women than men. Canker sores are different from cold sores which are caused by herpes simplex virus and appear outside the mouth. Cold sores are highly contagious.
Canker sores can either be simple or complex. Simple canker sores occur a few times a year and generally last for one week. Simple canker sores frequently occur in people between 10 to 20 years of age. On the other hand, complex canker sores occur less common and are usually recurring in people who have experienced it in the past.
Causes of Canker Sores
In some cases of canker sores, there is no known exact cause. But there are several factors that are thought to cause canker sores:
- Stress or tissue injury
- Hormonal changes during menstruation
- Lack of particular vitamins and minerals in the diet such as B12, zinc, folate or iron
- Food allergies
- Citrus of acidic fruits and vegetables
- Constant friction between a sharp tooth surface and dental appliance
- Weakness in the immune system caused by viral infections (although still different from cold sores)
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Sodium lauryl sulfate containing toothpastes and mouth washes
- Helicobacter pylori (peptic ulcer-causing bacteria)
Symptoms of Canker Sores
It is evident when one has a canker sore in their mouth as it is commonly painful. They may exist on their own or in a group. The other associated symptoms with canker sores include:
- Pale or yellow ulcer with a red outer ring ulcer inside the mouth
- Pain
- Burning or tingling sensation before ulcer manifests
- In severe cases:
- Irregularly shaped sores and relatively large in size
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Sluggishness
- Six weeks to heal
First Aid Treatment for Canker Sores
Canker sores usually disappear within 10 to 14 days, even without treatment. However, following certain methods may reduce symptoms and bring faster healing.
- To lessen pain, several methods may be done:
- Gargle with salt water or cool water.
- Smear a thin paste of water and baking soda to the sore.
- Apply a mixture of equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide using a cotton swab.
- Avoid food and drinks that may exacerbate the sore and pain such as, hot food and beverages, spicy and salty foods, and citrus to avoid irritating the sores.
- If there is a mouth burn, eat popsicles.
- For pain, take pain relievers such as acetaminophen.
Enrolling in First Aid Courses would help ease symptoms and treat various everyday occurring diseases. To learn more about canker sores and how to effectively treat them, register in First Aid Courses offered by St Mark James.