If you have ever had a canker sore, you know how painful and irritating it can be. It seems every time you bite down, your teeth seem to catch on it, and eating is no longer pleasant.
Canker sores are small ulcer craters in the lining of the mouth that are frequently painful and sensitive. They are very common.
About 20% of the population (one out of five people) have them at any one time. Canker sores are also medically known as aphthous ulcers or aphthous stomatitis.
Women are slightly more likely than men to have recurrent canker sores. It can occur at any age, but it is more commonly seen in teenagers.
Genetic studies show that susceptibility to recurrent outbreaks of the sores is inherited in some patients. This partially explains why family members often share the condition.
Canker sores are generally classified into three groups based on size. Minor sores have a diameter of 1 millimeter (mm) to 10 mm.
They are the most common (80% of all canker sores) and usually last about 7-10 days. Major sores (10% of all canker sores) have a diameter of greater than 10 mm and they may take anywhere between 10-30 days to heal.
They may leave a scar after they heal. Herpetiform ulcers (10% of all canker sores) are formed by a cluster of multiple small individual sores (less than 3 mm).
They also usually heal within 7-10 days. All of these varieties are usually found on the movable parts of the mouth, such as the tongue or the inside lining of the lips and cheeks, and at the base of the gums.
The ulcers begin as small oval or round reddish swellings that usually burst within a day. The ruptured sores are covered by a thin white or yellow membrane and edged by a red halo.
Generally, the sores heal within two weeks without scarring. Fever is rare, and the sores are rarely associated with other diseases.
Usually, a person has only one or a few of them at a time. Most people experience their first bout with them between the ages of 10 and 20.
Children as young as 2 years old, however, can develop the condition. The frequency of recurrences varies considerably.
Some people have only one or two episodes a year, while others may have a continuous series of canker sores. The cause of them is not well understood.
More than one cause is likely, even for individual patients. They do not appear to be caused by viruses or bacteria, although an allergy to a type of bacterium commonly found in the mouth may trigger them in some people.
The sores may be an allergic reaction to certain foods. In addition, there is research suggesting that they may be caused by a faulty immune system that uses the body's defenses against disease to attack and destroy the normal cells of the mouth or tongue.
British studies show that in about 20 percent of patients, these lesions are due partly to nutritional deficiencies, especially lack of vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron. Similar studies performed in the United States, however, have not confirmed this finding.
In a small percentage of patients, they occur along with gastrointestinal problems, such as an inability to digest certain cereals. In these patients, they appear to be part of a generalized disorder of the digestive tract.
Vitamin C deficiency has also been associated with them. Emotional stress and local trauma or injury to the mouth, such as sharp metal braces, brushing with hard toothbrushes, and hot foods can lead to canker sores.
Smoking and dentures can also contribute to the problem. Some studies have shown a connection with toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate in some individuals, although, other studies have not found any connection.
Avoid abrasive foods such as potato chips that can stick in the cheek or gum and aggravate the sores. Take care when brushing your teeth not to stab the gums or cheek with a toothbrush bristle.
Avoid acidic and spicy foods. They are not contagious, so patients do not have to worry about spreading them to other people.
A toothpaste free of sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients that are irritating to the tissues inside the mouth can be helpful in some patients, as can a toothpaste that inhibits the growth of irritating plaque. Therefore, something as simple as changing toothpastes may help with recurrent canker sores.
If you have this problem, take steps to solve the problem right away. Talk to your dentist or doctor about what you can do to prevent this issue from occurring in the future.
Author Resource:-
Ronald Pedactor is a former dental assistant and has authored hundreds of articles relating to oral health. He worked for a TMJ dentist in South Carolina before becoming a guest dental lecturer for the past 15 years.
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