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Broker Resources. Individuals and Families. Health and Wellness. Wellness Library. Canker Sores. Canker sore. Condition Basics What is a canker sore? What causes it? Canker sores may also develop when you: Are stressed or tired.
Have your menstrual cycle, if you are a woman. Hurt your mouth, such as biting your lip. Have braces on your teeth. Have food allergies. How can you care for yourself at home? Drink cold liquids, such as water or iced tea, or eat flavoured ice pops or frozen juices. Use a straw to keep the liquid from coming in contact with your canker sore. Eat soft, bland foods that are easy to chew and swallow, such as ice cream, custard, applesauce, cottage cheese, macaroni and cheese, soft-cooked eggs, yogurt, or cream soups.
Cut foods into small pieces, or grind, mash, blend, or puree foods to make them easier to chew and swallow. While your canker sore heals, avoid coffee, chocolate, spicy and salty foods, citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, and tomatoes. To soothe your canker sore and help it heal: Use an over-the-counter numbing medicine, such as Orabase or Anbesol. Dab a bit of Milk of Magnesia on the canker sore 3 or 4 times a day. Put ice on your sore to reduce the pain. Take anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain, as needed.
These include ibuprofen Advil, Motrin and naproxen Aleve. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush, and brush your teeth well but carefully. Do not smoke or use spit tobacco. Cold sores can be unsightly, but the good news is that they usually heal in about two to four weeks, although sores may recur.
These lesions can also be mistaken for canker sores because they produce white spots or patches inside the mouth. In fact, roughly 3 to Most canker sores go away in less than 14 days.
These spots, however, are more serious because some can be precancerous or cancerous. If you develop a tender white spot that also itches, you may have lichen planus instead of a canker sore.
The spots are sometimes accompanied by a lacelike white patch on the inside lining of the cheeks. Oral thrush , also called oral candidiasis, is a fungal infection that causes white patches on the inside of the mouth. This condition can be painful and is sometimes accompanied by a loss of taste, a burning sensation, bleeding gums, and difficulty swallowing. Oral thrush occurs when yeast reproduces rapidly inside the mouth, usually the result of a weak immune system.
What appears to be a canker sore could actually be oral cancer. Oral cancer can also cause small white ulcerations inside the mouth. These lesions can be painful and gradually become thicker.
Keep in mind that while canker sores usually develop on the soft palate inside the mouth, oral cancer can also form on the hard palate and tongue. A sore might be oral cancer if you have other symptoms as well — such as a fever , throat numbness, or hoarseness — or if you have a history of smoking and other tobacco use.
A biopsy of the lesion can diagnose or rule out cancer. We'll go over common symptoms, treatment options, and home remedies for relief. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Painful Sensation? Could Be a Canker Sore. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Pictures Treatment Home relief Causes Canker sores vs. Pictures of a canker sore. How a canker sore is treated. Home remedies for canker sores. Causes and risk factors.
Canker sores vs. How a canker sore is diagnosed. Complications of canker sores. Tips to prevent canker sores. Read this next. Tips for Preventing Oral Health Problems. How to Identify and Treat a Cut on the Gums.
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