Canker Sores

“And he goes through life, his mouth open, and his mind closed”- Oscar Wilde

Canker sores are shallow, painful sores in the soft parts of the mouth like the inside of the cheek and tongue. About one in five people get recurrent canker sores, scientifically known as "recurrent minor aphthous ulcers". They are usually red but may have a white coating over them. They are different from cold sores which form on the lips or outside the mouth. Although the true cause of canker sores is unknown, they are NOT caused by the herpes simplex virus and (unlike cold sores) are not contagious.

Canker sores are thought to form when, for unexplained reasons, a person's immune system activates an attack against a chemical or infection inside the mouth. The carnage created by the attack results in the formation of mouth ulcers.

Possible Causes (source: Animated-Teeth.com)

• Trauma to oral tissues like a small cut from a sharp edged tooth or piece of food.
• Nutritional deficiencies of B1, B2, B6, B12, C, zinc, folic acid, iron, selenium, calcium
• Diet: Allergies and sensitivities
  · Cereal grains: buckwheat, wheat, oats, rye, barley, the gluten protein found in grains
  · Fruits and vegetables: lemon, orange, pineapple, apple, figs, tomato, strawberry
  · Dairy: milk, cheeses
  · Other foods: nuts, chocolate, shellfish, soy, vinegar, French mustard
  · Food Additives: cinnamonaldehyde (a flavoring agent), benzoic acid (a preservative)
  · Other substances: toothpaste, mint, gum, medication
• Infectious agents (both bacterial and viral)
• Emotional & Psychic stress
• Hormonal changes

There is a long list of treatments and tips recommended by individuals (not doctors) at www.wikihow.com/Treat-Canker-Sores-or-Mouth-Ulcers and http://www.animated-teeth.com/canker_sores/t3_canker_sore_remedies.htm Suggestions include medications like Oracort (prescription), Oragel, Cloraseptic, and Anbesol, and home remedies like acidophilus, salt, baking soda, brown sugar, hydrogen peroxide, spirit of camphor, Vegemite, Alumn paste, and Listerine. Make sure you have a canker sore and not a cold sore (herpes) before trying the home remedies. Otherwise, the above treatments will be very painful, and may make your cold sore worse.

Cold sores result from the herpes virus and have the following symptoms:
· The first signs are fever, irritability, headache, and pain upon swallowing.
· A day or so after the infection the mouth becomes painful and the gums become intensely inflamed.
· Usually by day three a number of tiny blisters form throughout the mouth. These blisters soon rupture resulting in gray colored ulcers.
· The cold sore ulcers can be very painful but usually heal within 10 to 14 days.

Bottom Line

Canker sores can usually be expected to heal within 4 to 14 days. Usually this healing is uneventful and with no residual scarring.

The causes for Canker sores may be genetically based and differ for each person. In my family, eating too many nuts (or nuts too frequently) is the leading cause of canker sores.

When should I call my family doctor about canker sores?
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/613.html
If your canker sores are large, last longer than 2 weeks or are so sore that you can't eat or drink, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. You should make an appointment with your doctor, too, if you also have a fever or feel sick when you have canker sores. Tell your doctor if you have canker sores more than 3 times a year.