“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
A canker sore, also known as an aphthous ulcer, is a small, painful sore that develops on the inside of the mouth, including the tongue, gums, and cheeks. Canker sores are usually round or oval in shape and can be white or yellow in color with a red border. The exact cause of canker sores is not well understood, but they are thought to be related to a variety of factors, including injury to the mouth, stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, and vitamin deficiencies. Canker sores are not contagious and usually heal on their own within a week or two. Treatment may include over-the-counter pain relief medications, topical anesthetics or corticosteroids to reduce pain and inflammation, and avoiding certain foods that may irritate the sores. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe a mouth rinse or ointment to promote healing.
The precise cause of canker sores remains unclear, though researchers suspect that a combination of factors contributes to outbreaks, even in the same person.
Possible triggers for canker sores include:
Canker sores may also occur because of certain conditions and diseases, such as:
Unlike cold sores, canker sores are not associated with herpes virus infections.
Treatment usually isn't necessary for minor canker sores, which tend to clear on their own in a week or two. But large, persistent or unusually painful sores often need medical care. A number of treatment options exist.
If you have several canker sores, your doctor may prescribe a mouth rinse containing the steroid dexamethasone (dek-suh-METH-uh-sown) to reduce pain and inflammation or lidocaine to reduce pain.
Over-the-counter and prescription products (pastes, creams, gels or liquids) may help relieve pain and speed healing if applied to individual sores as soon as they appear. Some products have active ingredients, such as:
There are many other topical products for canker sores, including those without active ingredients. Ask your doctor or dentist for advice on which may work best for you.
Oral medications may be used when canker sores are severe or do not respond to topical treatments. These may include:
During cautery, an instrument or chemical substance is used to burn, sear or destroy tissue.
Your doctor may prescribe a nutritional supplement if you consume low amounts of important nutrients, such as folate (folic acid), vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 or zinc.
If your canker sores relate to a more serious health problem, your doctor will treat the underlying condition.