Otherwise known as a mouth sore, a canker sore often appear to be white, or yellow, with a bright red portion surrounding the sore. A canker sore is oftentimes painful, but it benign, and not a form of cancer.
Canker Sore Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The most common form of oral ulcer, canker sores are seen more among women. There is no particular age predilection, although they are noted to occur for the first time between 10 to 40 years of age. The usual locations of canker sores are the following: the inner portions of the lips, the inner linings of the cheek, soft palate, gums, and the tongue. There is a genetic predisposition in developing canker sores. This means that developing canker sores run the family. It is also associated with the decrease of the immune system. Physical trauma may also bring about canker sores, like vigorous brushing of the teeth, dental procedures, or accidentally biting on the inner cheek, tongue, or the inner surface of the lip.
Other factors that can produce canker sores are improper diet, that is, a diet that is low iron, Vitamin B12, and folic acid, changes in hormone levels, psychological stress, menstruation, and allergies to certain types of food. Canker sores are also often found when there is an ongoing viral infection. Sometimes, however, the exact cause could not be determined.
Canker Sore Symptoms
A tingling or burning sensation is one of the first symptoms of a canker sore. The rest of the symptoms appear soon after.
Here are some of the other symptoms that one may experience when having a canker sore:
-development of a small red mass that eventually ulcerate
-this said mass possesses a white or yellow center
-the size of the mass is typically under 1cm, though it can get bigger
-may develop one or multiple bumps, also known as crops
-prior to healing, the color of the canker sore may turn to gray
Some of the more unusual symptoms are as follows:
-occurrence of fever
-a sense of general body weakness and discomfort
-enlargement of the lymph nodes
Within 7 to 10 days, you will expect that pain will become less. Healing usually takes place within 1 to 3 weeks. Apparently, the larger ulcers – those that are bigger than 1 cm – heal longer, lasting for about 2 to 4 weeks. Canker sores are at times accompanied by nonspecific signs and symptoms like fever. These sores are quite notorious for being recurrent.
Canker Sore Signs and Tests
The diagnosis of a canker sore can be quite easily performed by your health provider, who will just have to take a good look at the sore. When the canker sores keep on recurring, it will be then prudent to do some tests to check for other causes like erythema multiforme, reactions to certain drugs, bullous lichen planus, and herpes zoster, among others.
Canker sores are not precursors of cancers. However, some cancers initially appear as a nonhealing ulcer, such as squamous cell carcinoma.
To rule out the presence of cancer in a non-healing mouth ulcer, one will have to consider doing a biopsy.
Canker Sore Treatments and Remedies
Treatment of canker sores actually depend on the degree of severity, as well the causes that brought about the sores. As such, it pays to know the factors that may be causing the eruption of your canker sore. That way, you can avert or at least minimize the occurrence of your sores in the future. Do keep in mind that there is yet no true cure for canker sores.
• A solution composed of saline or salt water and sodium bicarbonate – to make this solution, combine 1 teaspoon of salt with one cup of warm water. After having done so, use the solution as a gargle. Swish the saline solution in your mouth for about 30 seconds. You may also add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to the solution. In addition, you may opt to make a paste by adding just a few drops of water to the baking soda until a pasty consistency is produced. You can proceed to cover your canker sores with the baking soda paste, which helps a lot in decreasing the pain brought about by the sore. You can do these treatment regimens as often as you deem needed. By decreasing the alkaline levels and the volume of bacteria in the mouth, the saline solution and baking soda can help a lot in the relief of symptoms of canker sores.
• Hydrogen Peroxide Solution – Hydrogen peroxide can decrease the amount of bacteria in the mouth owing to its antiseptic properties. To make this solution, combine one part of hydrogen peroxide with one part of water. Grab a cotton pledget, wet the tip with the solution, and dab directly on the sore. Take care not to swallow the solution.
• Milk of Magnesia – Milk of Magnesia is often utilized as treatment for constipation. It also acts as an antacid. This is essentially a magnesium hydroxide suspension which can likewise be applied on a canker sore. This may be done every 6 to 8 hours. The application of milk of magnesia is best done after having used the hydrogen peroxide solution. With the use of milk of magnesia, healing is facilitated and pain is decreased.
• Liquid Antihistamine – Liquid antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, with the common brand name Benadryl, can also be used to treat canker sores. You can make an oral rinse by making a 1:1 mixture of milk of magnesia and diphenhydramine.Wash the oral cavity with this solution for about a minute, then spit out completely. Do not swallow.
• Over-The-Counter Oral Care and Mouth Rinse – These mouth rinses are mostly found in dental care areas of the grocery. They contain substances which serve as antiseptic, and as such can help in the healing of canker sores by decreasing the amount of bacteria present. There are also products that act to nunb inflamed areas, such as those that surround canker sores. Most products in the market designed to treat canker sores come in the form of liquid, paste, ointment or gel. They, too, can aid in the healing of the sores. When using these products always check the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them carefully.
For sores that are also called herpetiform canker sores, treatment may warrant a visit to the dentist. The following are some treatment methods for this major form of canker sore:
• Oral medications - For the more serious forms of canker sores, prescribed drugs may be required. These are sores that have worsened a bit and incurred a secondary infection. One medication that can be used is tetracycline solution. This solution may be made to linger in the mouth for 2 to minutes, after which it is swallowed. Tetracycline cannot be given to children because of the tendency of its tendency to make developing teeth yellow permanently. For clusters of painful canker sores, you may use Acyclovir (brand name Zovirax).
• Corticoid Steroids - Steroids such as prednisone and Dexamethasone can also be used to treat canker sores, also this is rarely done. One form of steroid that may be utilized is Dexamethasone suspension. You can rinse your mouth with this solution, make in stay for a few minutes and spit soon after.
While they tend to be really painful, canker sores easily heal without much intervention. If, however, the sore does not heal after more than two weeks, or when there is fever present, then it is time to visit your dentist.