Canker sores in the mouth are shallow and extremely unpleasant and painful ulcers in the interior of the oral cavity. As a result, it is tough to eat and speak. Oral aphthae are more common in the female population, and family history can increase the incidence of aphthae. The appearance of canker sores in the mouth usually lasts a few days to weeks.
ATHTA IN THE MOUTH: Aphthae, in general, | Symptoms | Consult a doctor | Causes of canker sores | Treatment | Conventional Medicine | Alternative Modes | Home Remedies | Prevention | Questions and Answers | Sources/references
Canker sores in the mouth or aphthous ulcers are unpleasant mouth infections. They most often occur in adolescents, whose immune system is not yet sufficiently developed, and in women just before the onset of menstruation. Canker sores occur twice as often in women as in men.
If your parents already had canker sores, you have a 90% chance that you will too. Canker sores often appear when you are stressed or exhausted.
Video content: what are canker sores in the mouth? Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Ulcers caused by trauma are very similar to canker sores. They are usually caused by too rough dentures, when damaged by a toothbrush, or when we eat too hot food.
Symptoms
- Small, painful, cup-shaped ulcers that appear singly or in clusters on the inside of the mouth and last five to ten days. The sores are grayish-white or pale yellow and have a red border. They can appear on the inside of the cheeks and lips, on the tongue, at the beginning of the gums, or on the soft palate.
Video content: Symptoms, causes, and treatment
- A tingling or burning sensation in the mouth usually occurs 6 to 24 hours before canker sores become visible.
Consult with a doctor if:
- Canker sores are excruciating. Your doctor may prescribe medication to relieve the pain.
- Canker sores last longer than 14 days. This may indicate a more severe condition that requires treatment.
- You always have many canker sores in your mouth, which may represent some other underlying problem, such as a reaction to medications or, admittedly, oral cancer or leukemia in rare cases.
CAUSES
No one knows what causes most canker sores or why they occur more often in women. However, their occurrence is often associated with stress. Some doctors believe a lack of iron, folic acid, vitamin Bu, or a combination can cause canker sores.
Video content: determining the causes and treatment of canker sores in the mouth
Canker sores can also be caused by a defect in the immune system, such as a food allergy. However, canker sores are not supposed to be contagious.
HEALING
Canker sores usually go away on their own. In most cases, you don't need to worry about them. Over-the-counter medications will help you heal faster. Some forms of alternative treatment reduce stress and have a soothing effect on the inflamed area. See a doctor if the canker sore is painful or won't heal.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
Many doctors recommend over-the-counter ointments to relieve the discomfort caused by canker sores. Instead, look for remedies that contain glycerin, which protects against canker sores, and peroxide, which works against bacteria. If over-the-counter or home remedies don't help, your doctor may prescribe a medication that contains diphenhydramine, which dries up canker sores, and lidocaine, which relieves pain.
Video content: The painful truth about canker sores in the mouth
If you have an infection, your doctor will treat it with an antibiotic such as tetracycline. If canker sores are caused by another medical condition, such as food sensitivity, the underlying disease must first be diagnosed and treated.
ALTERNATIVE MODES
Alternative forms of treatment are intended to treat canker sores and prevent their recurrence.
ACUPRESSURE
To release stress, press Gallbladder 21, the upper point of the shoulder muscle, sort of midway between the outer top of the shoulder and the spine. If you do this as soon as you feel the tingling sensation in your mouth, before the canker sores even appear, you can ease the course of the condition.
AROMATHERAPY
Aromatherapists recommend applying antiseptic oils myrrh (Commiphora molmol), tea tree (Melaleuca spp), and geranium (Pelargonium odoratissimum) to canker sores. Alternatively, you can rinse your mouth four times a day with half a cup of water mixed with one drop of geranium oil and one drop of lavender oil (Lavandula officinalis).
CHINESE HERBS
A Chinese medicine practitioner may prescribe an herbal mixture to strengthen the whole body, heal canker sores, and prevent a recurrence.
HERBS
To heal canker sores and prevent a recurrence, drink dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) tea or take capsules of 500 to 1000 mg of ground dandelion roots three times a day — for up to six weeks. You can also prepare compresses from marigold (Calendula officinalis), Hydrastis (Hydrastis canadensis), or myrrh (Commiphora molmol) teas.
MEDICINE OF SPIRIT AND BODY
Canker sores are often caused by stress. Learn meditation, listen to audio tapes of guided performances, and imagine yourself healthy and relaxed. The most important thing is to choose a relaxation technique you will enjoy and enjoy using.
NUTRITION
If you have frequent problems with canker sores, avoid coffee, spices, citrus fruits, and other foods that can irritate the oral mucosa.
Video content: food when you suffer from canker sores
If a vitamin or mineral deficiency causes canker sores, supplements of vitamin C and B complex vitamins and folic acid, iron, and zinc may help. Avoid foods that trigger allergic reactions if you have recurrent canker sores due to food sensitivity.
Food when you suffer from canker sores
Food during an aphthous attack should mainly be soft, preferably cold, and above all, of a consistency such as gelatin, cottage cheese, smoothies, or yogurt, or mainly creamy food.
Some diets have a calming effect, especially those based on extracts of rhubarb, especially its roots.
Avoid excessively salty food, as well as excessively spicy and acidic food. Also, avoid foods that cause allergy symptoms, such as an itchy mouth, swollen tongue, or hives.
DOMESTIC MEDICINES
- Rinse your mouth four times a day with a mixture of 60 g of hydrogen peroxide, 60 g of water, and one teaspoon each of salt and baking soda. The liquid should not be swallowed.
- Rinse your mouth with milk of magnesia to protect canker sores.
Video content: 20 simple home remedies
- Try mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine because it relieves the pain.
- Cover the sore with a wet tea bag; tannin accelerates the drying of canker sores.
- Use over-the-counter ointments that contain glycerin or peroxide.
- Try acupressure exercises to relax from stress.
PREVENTION
- Brush your teeth with disinfecting baking soda.
- Eat four soup spoons of yogurt made from live culture daily. It contains bacteria that maintain health.
- Avoid spicy, salty, or acidic foods.
- Take vitamin and mineral supplements, especially vitamin C and B complex vitamins, folic acid, iron, and zinc.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What causes canker sores in the mouth?
The causes of canker sores are mainly everyday stress, acidic food, and minor injuries to the inside of the mouth. Treatment includes using over-the-counter or prescription oral disinfectant gels and rinses. Even without treatment, canker sores usually disappear within two weeks[1].
How do you get rid of mouth ulcers faster?
When you suffer from canker sores, use salt water and rinse your mouth. Avoid abrasives, especially acidic or spicy foods, which can cause irritation and pain[2].
Does stress cause canker sores?
Although canker sores are also related to allergies and hormonal changes, many people prone to developing canker sores find that their flare-ups are related to stress. The combination of especially emotional stress and fatigue is one of the leading causes of aphthae in the oral cavity[3].
Do canker sores mean you have a virus inside you?
Contrary to popular belief, however, canker sores do not result from bacterial or viral infections and are, therefore, not contagious. Unlike cold sores, which are caused by the herpes virus, canker sores are just small ulcers in the protective lining of the mouth[4].
Sources and references
Source: Family Health Guide. Conventional and alternative treatment, Dr. Jaro Lajovic, Publishing House Mladinska knjiga
1. Canker Sores - https://my.clevelandclinic.org
2. Canker Sores - https://www.mayoclinic.org
3. Canker Sores and Stress - https://www.pioneerdental.net 4. The Truth behind Canker Sores - https://jamesfamilydentistry.com
