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Canker sores are ulcers that can appear in the mucous membrane lining of the mouth. Treatment depends on your medical history, the extent of the sores, and the symptoms you’re experiencing.
Canker sores are ulcers that can appear in the mucous membrane lining of the mouth. Most often, they form inside the cheeks, but they can sometimes form on the roof of the mouth, tongue, or on the gums, too. There's typically a burning or tingling sensation when one of these sores — also known as an aphthous ulcer — is forming. A minor canker sore is red, slightly raised, and usually, just a few millimeters wide, while major ones are much larger and more painful.
Canker sores usually do heal on their own. It’s unknown why these non-contagious sores develop, so there’s no definitive treatment for them. But some preventative tips can help you avoid recurrent ones.
Causes of canker sores
Ultimately, it isn’t known why some people develop canker sores while others don't. Some believe that predisposition to develop canker sores is hereditary while others believe certain factors influence how often someone gets them. A few suspected causes of canker sores include:
- Trauma to the mouth lining: Whether it's biting your cheek, a cut from your braces, or brushing your teeth too hard, any of these can cause a mouth ulcer to form.
- Food sensitivity: Some ulcers are triggered by acidic foods found in citrus fruit, tomatoes, and even coffee.
- Vitamin deficiencies: Having low levels of B-12, folic acid, iron, or zinc may cause mouth ulcers.
- Kinds of toothpaste or mouthwash: Using toothpaste or mouthwash with sodium lauryl sulfate has been proven to irritate the mouth lining and gums.
- Hormonal changes: This can affect how blood flows to gum tissue, but also how the body responds to toxins. Women are more prone to develop oral health problems and canker sores due to hormonal fluctuations.
- Autoimmune disease: Conditions such as ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or Crohn’s Disease may cause the onset of canker sores.
Is it a cold sore or a canker sore?
Sometimes, it’s hard to determine whether you have a cold sore or a canker sore. Generally, canker sores do not appear on the outside of the lips or mouth. While both have the same triggers, canker sores aren’t contagious and there is no bacteria or virus associated with them unlike cold sores.
Also known as fever blisters, cold sores are fluid-filled sores that occur around the lips. Some people develop a fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, or fatigue when they have one. This is most likely due to the bacteria or virus that caused them. Unlike canker sores, cold sores are usually treated with prescription antivirals and rarely go away without treatment. If you think you have a cold sore, schedule an appointment to see your doctor.
Diagnosing a canker sore
Your doctor will first review your medical history to determine if you have any active medical conditions that may increase your risk of developing mouth ulcers. To confirm a canker sore diagnosis and to rule out other possible causes for ulcers, your doctor may order:
- Lesion cultures
- Blood tests
- Biopsy of the sore
While most canker sores are harmless, some mouth ulcers may be caused by drug allergies, herpes infection, erythema multiforme, or bullous lichen planus. This makes it important to be examined by your doctor when you experience canker sore symptoms.
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Canker sore treatment
Canker sore treatment depends on your medical history, the extent of the sores, and the symptoms you’re experiencing. Some canker sore treatments include:
- Antimicrobial mouthwash
- Corticosteroid throat lozenges
- Pain-relieving mouthwash, gel, or spray
- Saline rinse
If your canker sore symptoms don’t resolve after a week of your treatment, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Tips to prevent canker sores
While it’s impossible to completely eliminate canker sores, there are some things you can do to help prevent them from occurring often, like:
- Using a soft toothbrush to prevent irritation of the mouth’s lining.
- If you have braces, using orthodontic wax to cover any sharp edges that may lead to trauma.
- Finding effective stress-reduction techniques, such as yoga or meditation.
- Keeping a food diary, so you can draw connections between what you eat and whether it caused you to develop a canker sore.
When to see a doctor
When a canker sore is very large, lasts several weeks, moves to the lips, or you develop a fever, it’s time to see your doctor. Also, if you’re older and are developing one for the first time, it may indicate another health issue, which requires medical treatment.
