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Canker Sores

Canker sores are ulcers that grow within the soft tissues of the mouth in various places. They are present as soft, tender lesions in various parts of the mouth and are sensitive to touch. These ulcers can be quite painful and they can make eating and drinking foods very difficult for the person who has them. The anker sores can make the person quite uncomfortable, but the point of consolation here is that they are not contagious to others. This makes them different from the similar condition of cold sores. Canker sores are also known as aphthous ulcers .

Symptoms of Canker Sores

There are different types of canker sores but the similarity between them lies in their shape. They can be easily identified because they have a red rim and a center that is usually white or slightly yellowish. They are also formed in the soft tissues of the mouth. Most canker sores give a primary notice of their eruption by causing a burning sensation in the mouth where they are about to occur. This indication starts about a day prior to the actual eruption of the sores.

Canker sores can be big or small depending on how they are formed. Some of them can be up to half an inch in size. Even smaller sores pain quite a lot. The bigger ones will leave scars behind when they heal. There is another form of canker sores which is known as the herpetiform sores . These are produced in the form of little clusters of ulcers .

The most prominent symptom of the canker sores is the pain that is associated with it. However, in some people, there might be more prevalent symptoms, such as fever and apathy. Some people also experience that their lymph nodes are swollen.

Causes of Canker Sores

Since there are many different causes of canker sores, the proper diagnosis of this condition becomes difficult. Most of the sores are caused because of some kind of injury that occurs to the inside of the mouth. If the person has bitten the cheek by accident, there is a probability that this will cause a canker sore to develop. That is the reason why foods that require a lot of crunchy biting are considered to be the culprits of canker sores by some. These foods require an excessive amount of vigorous biting which can cause the person to bite the cheek also.

There is also some indication that sodium lauryl sulfate ; an ingredient in mouthwashes and toothpastes might be a cause of this condition. Other reasons include bacterial infections, breakouts of acne, deficiencies of vitamins, especially vitamins of the B complex and vitamin C and certain foods that a person is allergic to can also cause canker sores.

Treatment of Canker Sores

The treatment of canker sores is carried on along various lines. Several homemade remedies are available for the treatment of this condition. One of them is to mix hydrogen peroxide and water in equal amounts and then apply this solution on the teeth. Then, some Milk of Magnesia is applied on the sores. This makes the sores less painless.

Some over the counter medications such as ibuprofen help in alleviating the pain. At the same time, precautions must be taken to reduce the intake of spicy foods and alcohol and to consume an adequate amount of water. Most of the canker sores will disappear by themselves in a period of about two weeks.

A trip to your dentist may be necessary if you experience severe canker sores that do not respond to treatment.