All About Canker Sores

While it may be a somewhat unpleasant topic, learning about canker sores can be very useful, especially if you or someone close to you suffers from them frequently. These little mouth sores are painful and certainly inconvenient. We will take a look at what they are, where they come from and what can be done to treat them and feel better faster. So consider this crash course in canker sores 101.

• About canker sores
• Symptoms
• Possible treatments

There are very few people who haven't had a canker sore at one time or another. Some have even dealt with a seemingly endless stream of the irritating little sores. As a brief overview, canker sores are generally small, red sores inside the mouth. There are certain occasions when they will manifest with a white coating. The nasty little things have been known to show up on the gums, inside the lips, and even under the tongue. The important thing to know about canker sores is that they aren't contagious. Some experts believe they run in families, but you won't pass them from drinking after someone or kissing. No one is sure what causes them, but doctors believe they may be related to poor nutrition, stress, or allergies.

As previously mentioned, canker sores are red, inflamed, painful sores that appear on the inside of the mouth. They aren't very large, usually only measuring a third of an inch. However they make up for their size by being incredibly painful and easily irritated. Most of the time, they will heal on their own anywhere from 3 to 14 days. The bad news is that canker sores often reoccur.

Since canker sores usually clear up on their own a doctor's advice isn't needed most of the time. Over the generations, there have been some treatments that have proven to be helpful in speeding up the healing process and relieving some of the discomfort. Taking an over the counter pain reliever for the pain is beneficial. You can also try a topical treatment similar to the products used for teething babies. Other people have found success with taking vitamin c and vitamin b complex supplements. Lysine is a popular supplement for the treatment of canker sores as well.

Arming yourself with knowledge about canker sores is one of the best ways to be prepared for handling them when they appear. Like all mouth issues, using an all natural product like OraMD® to clean your teeth and mouth would be an excellent idea as a preventative measure. Canker sores can be minimized and the disruption dealt with if you have the proper tools.