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Are you under a great amount of stress and notice a pain or sore inside your mouth? This may be a canker sore, which is one of the most common oral conditions, affecting people of all ages. Appearances can be seen on the tongue, insides of the cheeks, lips and base of the gums. While canker sores have the benefit of not often being visible, they are more likely to make eating, swallowing and speaking painful. Causes of Canker Sores Though not viral or infectious, they may be hereditary since 30 to 40 percent of those with recurrent sores have a family history of the condition. According to research reported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, canker sores may be caused by a faulty immune system. This may cause the body's defenses against disease to attack and destroy the normal cells of the mouth or tongue. While the exact cause is unknown, common triggers of canker sores may include: * Stress
* Immune deficiencies
* Illness or infection
* Gastrointestinal disease
* Tissue manipulation
* Tissue injury
* Eating abrasive foods and spicy foods
* Food or contact allergies Symptoms Most canker sores are round or oval with a white or yellow center and a red border. They form inside your mouth on or under your tongue, inside your cheeks or lips, and at the base of your gums. You might notice a tingling or burning sensation a day or two before the sores actually appear. There are several types of canker sores including: * Minor - These are the most common types of canker sores and are oval in shape and heal without scarring in one to two weeks.
* Major - these are less common sores and have irregular edges, taking up to six weeks to heal and leave extensive scarring.
* Herpetiform - These usually develop later in life having irregular edges and heal without scarring in one to two weeks. Some additional symptoms accompanying canker sores may include: * Fever
* Listlessness
* Swollen lymph nodes Treatment Canker sores do not have a cure, but they usually go away on their own in 7 to 10 days. To relieve the pain accompanied by a canker sore you can try taking ibuprofen or another pain medicine. There are a number of over-the-counter medicines available to relieve canker sore pain or to protect your canker sores from becoming irritated when you eat, drink or brush your teeth. Unfortunately, there are no definite ways that you can prevent canker sores from forming. However, you may be able to reduce mouth irritation by avoiding things like chewing gum, and hard, crunchy or spicy foods. Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush after meals and floss every day to help keep your mouth free of foo that might trigger a canker sore. If you suspect you may have a canker sore, you may wish to consult with your dentist for further diagnosis. Your dentist in St. Louis will be able to help prescribe a treatment to help ease the pain from the canker sore and potentially help avoid further developments.
Dr. Robert Thomure, St. Louis cosmetic dentist, is trained in full-mouth reconstruction. He continues to maintain up-to-date knowledge of cosmetic dentistry through continuing his professional education at the LSU Center for Adv. Dental Studies. Dr. Thomure, St. Louis dentist, provides Geneva 2000 denture services, Invisalign, whitening, TMJ services and a full array of other services.
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