Introduction
About one in five people regularly
gets bothersome canker sores, which can make eating, drinking,
and even brushing your teeth a real pain. But just because they're
a relatively common occurrence doesn't mean these small open sores
inside the mouth should be ignored.
What Are Canker Sores?
Also known as aphthous ulcers or aphthous stomatitis, canker sores
are small sores that can occur inside a person's mouth, cheeks,
lips, throat, or sometimes on the tongue. But don't confuse canker
sores with cold sores or fever blisters, which are sores that
are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are found outside the
mouth around the lips, on the cheeks or chin, or inside the nostrils.
Whereas cold sores are contagious, canker sores are not contagious
- so kissing cannot spread them.
Although canker sores aren't contagious, the tendency to have outbreaks of canker sores can run in a family. If you're prone to canker sores, your children have a 90% chance of getting them as well.
Although no one knows exactly what causes canker sores, many factors are thought to put a person at risk. Diet may be a factor. People who have nutritional deficiencies of folic acid, vitamin B12, and iron seem to develop canker sores more often, as do people who have food allergies. Canker sores may also indicate that a person has an immune system problem. Mouth injuries, such as biting the inside of your lip or even brushing too hard and damaging the delicate lining inside your mouth, also seem to bring on canker sores. Even emotional stress seems to be a factor. One study of college students showed that they had more canker sores during stressful periods, such as around exam time, than they did during less stressful times, such as summer break.
Although anyone can get them, young people in their teens and early twenties seem to get them most often, and women are twice as likely to develop them as men. Some girls and women find that they get canker sores at the start of their menstrual periods.
Signs and Symptoms
Canker sores usually appear as painful, red spots that can be
up to 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) across, although most of them are
much smaller. Sometimes the area will tingle or burn before a
spot actually appears. Once it does, the canker sore may swell
and burst in about a day. The open sore may then have a white
or yellowish coating over it as well as a red "halo"
around it. Most often, canker sores pop up alone, but they can
also occur in small clusters.
Although uncommon, people with canker sores can also have symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a lethargic or slightly ill feeling.
It takes about 2 weeks for canker sores to heal. During this time, the sores can be painful, although the first 3 to 4 days are usually the worst.
If your child develops canker sores that last longer than 2 weeks or if your child is unable to eat or drink because of the pain, contact your child's doctor. You should also call your child's doctor if the sores appear more than two or three times a year.
Diagnosis
If your child has recurrent canker sores, your child's doctor
may want to perform tests to look for possible nutritional deficiencies
(which can be corrected with dietary changes or using prescription
vitamin supplements), immune system deficiencies, and food or
other allergies.
Treatment
Often, canker sores can be easily treated with over-the-counter
or even home remedies. Carbamide peroxide is a combination of
peroxide and glycerin that cleans out the sore while coating it
to protect the wound.
Many over-the-counter remedies
have benzocaine, menthol, and eucalyptol in them. These may sting
at first and need to be applied repeatedly, but they can reduce
pain and shorten the duration of the sore.
You can also have your child rinse his or her mouth with a homemade
solution for about a minute, four times a day, as needed. It's
extremely important to remember, though, that these rinses should
not be swallowed, so they shouldn't be used in children too young
to understand not to swallow. Here are the rinse recipes:
* 2 ounces (59 milliliters)
of hydrogen peroxide and 2 ounces (59 milliliters) of water
* 4 ounces (118 milliliters) of water mixed with 1 teaspoon (5
milliliters) of salt and 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of baking
soda
Another option to help reduce discomfort and speed healing is dabbing a mixture of equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide directly on the sore, followed by a bit of milk of magnesia.
Some doctors suggest applying wet black tea bags to the sore. Black tea contains tannin, an astringent that can help relieve pain. You can also get tannin in over-the-counter medications. Ask the pharmacist for more information.
If your child's doctor prescribes a medicine that should be applied directly to the canker sore, first dry the area with a tissue. Use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of the medication. Finally, avoid eating or drinking for at least 30 minutes to make sure that the medicine isn't immediately washed away and has time to work.
In some cases of severe mouth sores, your child's doctor may prescribe treatments such as immunosuppressive drugs or mouth rinses or gels that contain steroids.
Caring for Your Child
Help make canker sores less painful and prevent them from recurring
by encouraging your child to:
* avoid eating abrasive foods,
such as potato chips and nuts, which can irritate gums and other
delicate mouth tissues
* use only soft bristle toothbrushes and be careful not to brush
so hard that they do damage
* avoid any foods he or she is allergic to
* avoid spicy, salty, and acidic foods (such as lemons and tomatoes),
which can aggravate tender mouth sores
Although they can certainly be a pain, canker sores aren't that big of a deal. Plenty of people have learned to deal with them - and your child can, too.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.
Excerpted from the KidsHealth Website created by the The Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media