Everything You Need to Know About Canker Sores
That painful sore in your mouth is back again! A Canker Sore, also known by the name aphthous ulcer, can effect anyone. However, canker sores are most common in people between ages 10 and 20. What causes canker sores and how can you care for them?
Canker Sore vs Cold Sore
A canker sore is not the same thing as a cold sore. How will you know? It is a canker sore if it appears in the mouth, while cold sores are outside of the mouth. You have no need to worry about a canker sore being contagious, as you do with cold sores.
Causes
Do you experience these canker sores within your mouth often? Read the following list of causes from Delta Dental. You may realize why you keep getting aphthous ulcers!
- A dental/orthodontic appliance rubbing against the cheek
- Genetics
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Weakened immune system
- Chemotherapy
- Nutritional problems or deficiencies
- Menstruation
- Spicy foods
- Irritants in toothpaste
- Biting your cheek
How to Care for it
These oral sores makes tasks in daily life difficult, especially eating! Although canker sores generally last about 10 days, there are things you can avoid to ease the discomfort.
- Hot/spicy foods
- Rough or sharp edged foods such as chips
- Acidic foods and drinks like lemonade
You will unfortunately not be able to cure it, but you can make it less painful with:
- Pain medication like Tylenol or Advil
- Natural relievers like aloe vera juice
In conclusion, a canker sore is not contagious and occurs inside the mouth. It can be prevented by such actions as reducing stress, getting better sleep, and being more careful when chewing or biting to avoid trauma to your mouth! If you have a canker sore, try avoiding acidic or sharp foods and try using pain medications to minimize discomfort. If you still have a canker sore after 2 weeks, talk to your dentist.