Ouch! If you are like most people, you get canker sores from time to time. But you probably wonder why you get them – especially if you’re one of the unlucky people who gets painful canker sores or who accidentally bites them while chewing. Canker sores can be a big source of pain, worry and misinformation. If you’ve ever wondered what canker sores really are (and what they really aren’t), how to prevent them, and how to make them heal faster, this blog is for you!
What Are Canker Sores?
Canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers, are the most common form of oral ulcer, affecting, well, nearly everyone. They often appear in the mouth randomly, most frequently on the sides of the mouth and base of the gumline. A canker sore usually is a small round or oval spot that is either white or yellow. The good news is, these painful little buggers go away on their own in about two weeks. The bad news is that those two weeks can often feel like a lifetime.
What Causes Canker Sores?
Canker sores can be caused by many different things, including acidic foods, spicy foods, stress, vitamin deficiency and poor diet. They can also be caused by abrasion from braces or other orthodontic devices. Once you have one, they typically heal on their own in just a few short weeks, but if you find yourself accidentally biting your canker sore or it’s too painful to eat certain foods, rinsing with warm water can be very soothing. It can also help clean out the canker sore so it is less likely to develop an infection.
If you have a canker sore that is very large, painful or that does not go away for more than two weeks, please call Dr. Abelar’s office at (858) 866-9692 and schedule an appointment to have it checked out.
