Canker sores, also known as Aphthous (AF-thiss) ulcers, are small little sores that pop up inside the lips and cheek area of the mouth at the base of gums and around the tongue. These sores can interfere with basic eating and drinking, sometimes even brushing teeth, this causes pain to oneself.
These are different from the cold sores people usually get. Those are caused by a virus, usually found around the cheeks, chin lips area, and sometimes also inside nostrils. Cold sores are contagious, while canker sores are not contagious.
So how do we know if they’re Canker Sores or not?
These sores appear painful. They have a white or yellow tinted coating and a very red type of “halo” around their main body. They can usually size up to being as small as a quarter inch to 6 millimetres. They’re shallow. Sometimes, they can be deeper or larger in size. Most of these canker sores show up on the surface alone, as one. However sometimes they can also come up in smaller clusters of them. The affected area tends to burn or irritate the skin before these sores develop and appear on the skin.
It takes around 2 weeks to heal, during this time the canker sores can be vastly painful. Usually, only the first few days are the worse, but if they’re really huge then it can last longer, however they heal without scarring.
Why do people get Canker Sores?
Even though this question might intrigue most of us, no one really know how exactly one can get these sores. There are many things that can cause canker sores.
One of the main causes of it can be diet. People who tend to have a diet, which is low in iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 are prone to developing canker sores much more often than the people with other food allergies.
Other reasons for such sores could be mouth injuries, which could be caused by brushing too aggressively or biting inside the lip, etc. SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) is found in most of the mouthwashes and toothpastes people use today, and this ingredient has been linked with Canker sores. Canker sores can be a sign of a serious immune system problem.
Emotional stress can also cause these sores. Youth are far more prone to these sores than the young. And women too, experience more canker sores than men in general, especially during the time of menstruation. Thus, children come in the radar too.
These sores aren’t contagious, although it is said that they can be hereditary and may sometimes, run in the family.
Let’s take a look at how one can diagnose canker sores:
Even though canker sores are commonly found, they shouldn’t be ignored. One should take steps to treat them. If a child is enduring canker sores, if they last longer than two weeks, then they should call the doctor, as the child would be in immense pain, indulging with his eating and drinking habits. If the sores come up more than three times a year, it’s better to consult a doctor about it.
No tests are needed to diagnose these.
Doctors will look into the nutrient intake problems, as they could be in the reason of your child’s canker sores and then on prescribing a few vitamin supplements, they may also look out for immune system problems, food and other possible allergies.
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How can one treat them?
They heal on their own in a few days or a couple of weeks. However, if they’re really painful then do consult the doctor immediately.
Often its wiser to consult your dentist if the sores do not improve after a few weeks or if they keep coming back. They could prescribe a topical medicine or mouthwashes designed for canker sores, sometimes a few home remedies also help. Before applying any medicines directly on the sores, blot the area with a tissue and completely dry out first. Then, use a cotton ball to apply the medicine and make sure that they refrain from consuming foods or any liquids until at least half an hour of the medicine intake, so that it does not go off with the flow.
In what ways can you help your child?
- Avoid consumption of any foods that are allergic.
- Keep away from salty or spicy foods.
- Don’t feed them any hot foods, make sure they’re at room temperature.
- Give them cooling liquids like milk, cold water to help with the pain.
Lastly, just be with them. It would be of great comfort to your child.
Why Choose Vanilla Smiles Dental Clinic?
At Vanilla Smiles Dental Clinic, we understand the importance of establishing good oral hygiene and dental health habits from an early age. We always strive to make your child’s visit to the dental office as enjoyable and comfortable as possible and provide a positive experience. Our pediatric dentist in Pune Dr. Abhishek Soni is well-versed and experienced in treating children. An important part of pediatric dentistry is understanding the psychology of children and building trust through child-friendly communication in a calm environment.
