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What Are Canker Sores?
We all get very stressed when we hear that one has developed severe disease. Our attitude and behavior everything changes as one is diagnosed with cancer or TB etc. However, one also needs to understand that oral disease also does exist and also requires an immense amount of prevention, treatments as well as medications.
Thus, it becomes of utmost importance for everyone to also learn about the various oral diseases. Also, one such oral disease is canker sores. Canker sore is also known as an aphthous ulcer. An ulcer appears in the mouth and causes severe pain. They are white or yellow and have red, inflamed tissue around it. They are of two types:
- Simple Canker Sores: This type occurs for three to four times in a year.
- Complex Canker Sores: This is observed more in individuals who already had them.
However, you do not have to worry much, as there are highly experienced, trained, skilled and passionate doctors in the city to solve all your dental emergencies. Such doctors and their team provide special personalized treatment to their patients with the help of all the latest and modern technology. The treatments and surgery are all undertaken according to the patient’s time, comfort, and needs. They strive to add value to the patient’s life and exceed their expectations.
What Are The Causes Of Canker Sores?
Several factors cause canker sores. Some of the factors causing canker sores are as follows:
- Stress
- Food allergy
- Menstrual cycle
- Viral Infection
- Mouth injury
- Vitamin deficiency
- Ill-fitting dentures or braces
- Impaired immune system
- Iron and mineral deficiency
- Hormonal fluctuation
What Are The Symptoms Of Canker Sores?
The signs and symptoms of canker sores are as follows:
- The painful Red area in the mouth
- Tingling sensation
- Small white or yellow ulcer in the mouth
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Burning sensation before the sores appear
- Physical sluggishness
What Are The Complications Of Canker Sores?
If your canker sores are not treated on time, then it may lead to following complications, which are as follows:
- Fatigue
- Pain while talking, eating or brushing
- Fever
- Sores spreading outside the mouth over the face area
- Cellulitis
- Bacterial infection
- Large sores or increase in the size of the sores
- A headache
- Diarrhea
- Rash
Therefore, if the pain keeps on increasing and the home remedies and preventive measures do not work it becomes important to consult a dentist.
What Are The Treatments Available For Canker Sores?
Canker sores do not require much of long-term treatments. By maintaining your oral health and oral hygiene, you can help yourself for the treatment of canker sores. One should brush and floss regularly twice a day. Besides, one should avoid eating spicy foods when one has canker sores. Eating yogurt or ice cream can reduce the pain.
Even if the above tricks or remedies do not work, one should make an appointment with the dentist. If you fall in any one of the below-mentioned circumstances then you must visit a dentist:
- Large sores
- Severe pain that is not reducing at all
- Difficulty while talking and eating
- Difficulty while drinking fluids
- Continuous high fever
- Sores that are spreading not only inside but also outside the mouth
- More and more sores coming up and lasting for more than three weeks or longer
- However, one consulted with a dentist he may prescribe the following:
- To reduce the pain, he may suggest rinsing with mouthwash or salt water.
- An antibiotic such as mouthwashes or pills with doxycycline.
- Antimicrobial mouth rinse.
- Mouthwash containing dexamethasone or lidocaine.
- A corticosteroid ointment.
- The dentist might also suggest dental lasers to provide relief to the individual from the pain.
How Can Canker Sores Be Prevented?
As mentioned earlier there is no specific long-term or short-term treatment to cure canker sores. However, one can prevent the recurrence of canker sores by following the below-mentioned remedies:
- Avoid eating spicy, citrus or acidic foods.
- Avoid food that causes allergy inside your mouth.
- Avoid irritation from chewing gum.
- Brush teeth with a soft brush.
- Floss daily.
- Reduce stress by practicing yoga or getting involved in some hobbies.
- If you have any vitamin or mineral deficiency, then increase it.
- Improve immunity system.
Therefore, do take care of your oral health, and as the famous and trusted Spokane Dentist, Dr. Brady Bates, suggests taking oral hygiene seriously by brushing and flossing regularly, will certainly keep you away from harm.