Canker sores are painful white sores in the mouth. They usually begin with a tingling feeling, followed by a red spot or bump that turns white. Canker sores appear most often on the tongue, inside the cheeks, and inside the lips. They can be very painful and can make talking, eating, and drinking difficult.
A canker sore may form after an injury or stretching of tissues in the mouth, which can happen, for example, during a dental procedure or teeth cleaning. If you accidentally bite your tongue or the inside of your cheek, you may end up with a canker sore. Other possible causes are infection, certain foods, and stress. Canker sores are not contagious.
The pain from your canker sore should decrease in about a week, and it should heal in a few weeks. In most cases, a canker sore will go away by itself. Home treatment can ease pain and discomfort. If you have a large or deep canker sore that does not seem to be getting better after a few weeks, your doctor may prescribe medicine. Canker sores often come back again.
Canker sores (aphthous stomatitis) are painful white ulcers in the mouth that appear most often on the tongue, inside the cheeks, and inside the lips. Unlike cold sores, canker sores are not contagious.
The cause of canker sores is not well-understood but may include injury or irritation inside the mouth, infection, and stress. Minor canker sores heal in 1 to 3 weeks.
Most people do not need to see a doctor for canker sores. The sores will get better on their own. To relieve pain, you might try over-the-counter medicine or change your diet to bland, soft foods.
The main symptom of a canker sore is getting a shallow ulcer on your tongue or on the inside of your lip or cheek. The sore may be large or small, and it will have a red border and a white or yellow center. You might have more than one canker sore at a time.
Canker sores usually begin with a burning or tingling feeling. They may be swollen and painful. Having a canker sore can make it hard to talk or eat.
Canker sores may hurt for about a week. Minor canker sores heal in about 2 weeks, but major canker sores can take longer to heal. Some people get another canker sore after the first sore has healed. Most canker sores heal without a scar.
You do not need to see a doctor for most canker sores. They will get better on their own. There are many things you can try at home to relieve the pain caused by your canker sores:
If your canker sores do not feel better after you try these steps at home for a few weeks, you may need to see your doctor or dentist. They may recommend medicines that will help relieve pain caused by your canker sores. Usually these medicines are swished or gargled in your mouth, or they are painted on the sore. Your doctor may prescribe steroid cream or paste to rub on your canker sore and/or a prescription mouthwash to use.
Talk to your doctor if you have a fever, have trouble swallowing, or if your canker sores keep coming back. You may have another problem that is causing your symptoms.
Most of the time the cause of canker sores is unknown. Unless you know what causes your canker sores, you cannot prevent them from happening. If you do know what causes your canker sores, you can help prevent them by avoiding what you know causes them. For example, if you have gotten canker sores in the past from hurting the inside of your mouth, you might help prevent them by chewing your food slowly and carefully, trying not to talk and chew at the same time, and using a soft-bristled toothbrush when you brush your teeth.
If you have gotten canker sores in the past by eating foods that have a lot of acid (such as citrus fruits or tomatoes) and sharp or harsh foods (such as bread crusts, corn chips, or potato chips), it might help to avoid these. Other ways that might help to prevent canker sores include limiting your use of alcohol and tobacco and controlling the stress in your life.
In general, it is important to get enough vitamins and minerals in your diet, like folic acid, vitamin B12, zinc, and iron.
If you see your doctor or dentist about the pain caused by your canker sores, the doctor or dentist will do a physical exam by looking in your mouth to diagnose the canker sores.
A canker sore is a painful white ulcer in the mouth. They appear most often on the tongue, inside of the cheeks, and inside of the lips. Unlike cold sores, canker sores are not contagious. But in some people they keep coming back. Canker sores cause pain that may make it difficult to eat or drink.
The cause of canker sores is unknown, but they tend to run in families. Canker sores are not contagious.
Canker sores may also develop when you:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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