A canker sore is a non-contagious small ulcer that appears in the mouth, under your tongue or around the inside of an individual's cheeks or lips. Canker sores usually start as a lesion that occur on the soft portion of your gum and mouth. Most canker sores have the appearance of being round or oval with a center that may appear white or yellow, but red on the outside. Canker sores generally create pain before they appear. They usually go away on their own after a week or two, however, it can make eating extremely painful. Most people are misguided and mistake canker sores for being a cold sore. The two are very different. Cold sores are contagious caused by the Herpes virus and exist because of a virus. They also develop on the outside of the mouth as opposed to canker sores which develop on the inside. To learn more about cold sores and remedies please view the following link:
There are several different types of canker sores (DRUGS.COM)
- MINOR CANKER SORES- Minor canker sores are usually less than 1/2 inch in size. They heal 10 to 14 days after you get them. After they heal they do not leave a scar.
- MAJOR CANKER SORES- Major canker sores are usually larger than 1/2 inch in size. They take more than 2 weeks to heal and can leave a scar.
- HERPETIFORM CANKER SORES- This is a cluster of 10 or 100 sores. Up to 100 smaller sores can heal in a week. They may leave scars. Larger sores are deep and may take up to 10 days to heal.
Although the causes of canker sores are unknown, many specialist believe that stress, certain types of food that contains a lot of citrus, or a sharp tooth may be a contributing factor to canker sores. The most severe forms may cause an individual to have a fever, be fatigured or have swollen lymph nodes. Lesser symptoms may include (WEBMD):
- Painful sores around the mouth, tongue or inside of your cheek.
- Tingling or burning sensation prior to the appearance of sores.
- Sores in your mouth that are white or grey with a red border.
There is no cure for canker sores, only treatment. In most cases they do not require the attention of a doctor. Canker sores generally go away on their own. However, if a person is not sure as to whether or not the abnormality is a canker sore, it is strongly encouraged that they seek medical attention. A doctor may treat the canker sore with steroid cream. Also, preventing canker sores is not realistic because most people are not aware of what is causing the canker sore. If an individual is able to take notice as to when the canker sores exist, (i.e. right after eating a citrus fruit of some kind) then they may be able to avoid what is causing the problem. Medical conditions such as HIV, cancer, or celiac disease may increase your risk for getting a canker sore. Also, hormonal changes may be a trigger as well.
CANKER SORES VS. HERPES
BEST OVER THE COUNTER REMEDIES
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- WHAT CAUSES CANKER SORES?
- 12 WAYS TO HEAL A CANKER SORE!
- DENTAL HEALTH & CANKER SORES!
- ARE CANKER SORES HERPES?
- MAYO CLINIC, CANKER SORES TYPES & SYMPTOMS!
- HOW TO TREAT CANKER SORES OR MOUTH ULCERS!
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- COLD SORES & HOME CARE REMEDIES!
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- HIVES AND WHAT TO DO!?
- CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO. ON SKIN DISORDERS!
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