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Canker sores are small, painful ulcers that can appear on the tongue, lips, gums or insides of the cheek. A canker sore begins as a red spot, which then becomes covered with a mixture of fluids and white blood cells. The development of the sore may be preceded by a burning or tingling sensation. The open area in the center of the canker sore can be very painful, especially when it comes in contact with salty, spicy or acidic foods.
Canker Sores Versus Cold Sores
Canker sores do not form blisters as cold sores do. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are highly contagious, whereas canker sores are not contagious at all. Canker sores can appear suddenly, and just as suddenly disappear. Usually, though, they persist for a few days.
What Causes Canker Sores?
Canker sores can be caused by many different things. Many originate in minor injuries to the mouth, such as a bite to your inner cheek. Others are caused by allergies to foods, such as pineapple, or chemicals, such as the sodium lauryl sulfate in mouth rinse. They are also occasionally associated with deficiencies of iron, zinc, folic acid or vitamin B-12, and with certain autoimmune diseases of the GI system, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease. Women are more likely to get canker sores than men, and stress also seems to make it more likely that you'll get a canker sore.
Home Remedies
Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water or with a mix of baking soda and warm water can promote healing. Use about a teaspoon per glass of warm water, and be sure to spit out the mixture after you rinse. It's also wise to avoid anything that might have caused the sore in the first place, such as a particular food or oral-hygiene product.
Medical Treatment
Most canker sores are a minor annoyance that go away within a few days. If, however, you get frequent or long-lasting canker sores, your health-care provider will prescribe a treatment that varies depending on the cause. For example, your doctor might prescribe a mouth rinse with a steroid in it to fight inflammation, or a rinse with an antibiotic to fight bacteria that may have set it. If your canker sores seem to be related to a very acid environment in your mouth, your doctor might try a medication such as cimetidine. If you seem to be deficient in certain vitamins or minerals, your doctor might prescribe these.
