The Types of Canker Sores

Most people have either had or heard of canker sores. The annoying little sores of the mouth have caused discomfort and pain for many people both young and old. Research shows that people in their teens and twenties seem to have a higher incidence of this condition. That isn't to say that they can't strike anywhere and anyone they want. When you think about canker sores, most often people think of the small, red irritations that are most common. The truth is there are three types of sores to look out for.

• Minor canker sores
• Deep ulcer sores
• Herpetiforms

The minor sores are the ones that most people are familiar with. They can form just about anywhere in the mouth and can make eating unpleasant. Especially if the food has any type of acid, like tomatoes or pizza, the stinging sensation can be pretty intense. These sores are usually about 10 mm in circumference and are oval or round in shape. The sufferer can expect the little irritations to hang out from anywhere between 3 to 14 days. Most of the times, these canker sores heal on their own and very little treatment is ever given. You can use over the counter pain relievers and home remedies to make the experience less uncomfortable.

The next level of canker sores is the deep ulcer sores. These are larger than the minor version and have a longer healing time. Many people who have this type of sore can suffer for 3 to 6 weeks. Another major difference between this type and the minor canker sore is that when these heal they often leave extensive scarring. One the up side, it's inside your mouth so no one will ever see it. Like the minor sores, medical intervention isn't usually necessary. Many of the same treatments will help control the discomfort.

The final kind of canker sore is herpetiforms. Canker sores aren't a sign or caused by herpes, but this kind of sore resembles a herpes infection. Instead of the red, raised appearance of the other two, this one consists of small lesions closely grouped together. Of all of the variations, this one is the most painful and may warrant a visit to a dentist or doctor for help.

The occurrence of canker sores is an unpleasant development, however with proper dental care and using a product like OraMD®, an all purpose dental product, you can survive the experience. When treating your canker sore, mouth and the gums should be kept clean. The healing time will be much less.