Canker Sores (apthous ulcers or mouth ulcers) OmniMedicalSearch.com

Conditions & Diseases: Skin Diseases

Canker Sores (apthous ulcers or mouth ulcers)

Definition: A canker sore is a small, shallow sore INSIDE the mouth. It is often red, or red and white in color. Canker sores are a form of mouth ulcers called apthous ulcers and should not be confused with cold sores which are fever blisters that usually occur OUTSIDE of the mouth. Although irritating and uncomfortable, canker sores are not harmful. They can last 10 to 14 days and heal on their own without leaving a scar.

Causes: The exact causes of canker sores is not known but it is quite common throughout the population. Canker sores may be triggered by hereditary factors and irritated or made worse by certain food like citrus or acidic fruits (pineapples, lemons), excessive sugar consumption or spicy foods. Canker sores may also be caused by ill-fitting dental appliances or anything that might cause injury to the inside of the mouth.

According to The Cleveland Clinic, "Some cases of complex canker sores are caused by an underlying health condition, such as an impaired immune system;

nutritional problems, such as a deficiency in vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron; and gastrointestinal tract disease, such as the inflammatory bowel diseases celiac disease and Crohn's disease." (1)

Canker sores can also be caused by hormonal changes (women report increased canker sore activity during their menstrual cycle), food allergies, biting the lip or mouth, and or emotional stress.(2)

Symptoms: Canker sores usually begin as burning or tingling sensation before developing into a full ulcer. Ranging in size from 1-2 mm to 1 cm, most canker sores have a bright red, round circular border with a white, or white-gray center. In severe cases, you may also experience fever, physically dull, and swollen lymp nodes.

Treatment: In most cases, canker sores go away by themselves and treatment is not necessary. However, in severe cases where mouth ulcers are larger than 1 centimeter or last longer than 3 weeks, a doctor may administer tetracycline and instruct the patient to hold it in their mouth for 2-5 minutes. [Tetracycline is only available as a treatment option for those who have lost all their baby teeth].

Besides tetracycline, severe cases may be treated by a doctor with corticosteroids, antibiotics and lidocaine.

Other over the counter and home remedy treatment options which act as pain relievers, antiseptics and oral wound cleaning agents include: (3)

Anbesol - oral anesthetic gel.
Orabase B - an anesthetic commonly used to treat canker sores
Amosan - an oral wound cleaning solution sold under the Oral-B brand name.
Hydrogen Peroxide - either administered directly on the ulcer with a Q-tip or as part of a homemade or store bought mouth wash.
Listerine - an antiseptic mouthwash for bad breath.
Salt Water - 1 tablespoon of salt added to 1/2 cup of warm water
Milk of Magnesia - applied directly to the ulcer with a Q-tip. When used in combination with hydrogen peroxide (used first to clean the mouth), this combination is thought to be very effective.

When using the above OTC and home remedies, it's important not to eat or drink for 30 minutes afterwards in order to allow time for the treatments to work.

While canker sores or mouth ulcers can't always be prevented, keeping the mouth clean through regular brushing (with a soft toothbrush) and use of antiseptic mouth wash can go a long way in the prevention, treatment of the severity of canker sores.

Article by Jason Morrow,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Sources:
(1) The Cleveland Clinic, Canker Sores and Dental Health,
(2) American Family Physician
(3) Wikipedia.org, Apthous Ulcers, October 2006