Canker Sores: What Are They and What Can You Do About Them?
What are canker sores?
Canker sores are shallow, painful sores in the mouth. They are usually red or may sometimes have
a white coating over them. You might get them on the inside of your lips, the insides of your
cheeks, the base of your gums or under your tongue. Canker sores are different from fever blisters,
which usually are on the outside of your lips or the corners of your mouth.
Anyone can get canker sores, but women and people in their teens and 20s get them more often.
Canker sores may run in families, but they aren't contagious. Doctors don't know what causes
canker sores, but they may be triggered by stress, poor nutrition, food allergies and menstrual
periods.
How are canker sores treated?
Canker sores usually go away without any treatment. For pain relief, you can try taking ibuprofen
(brand name: Advil) or acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol). Other medicines, such as Anbesol,
Orajel, Orabase and Zilactin-B, might keep your canker sores from becoming irritated by eating,
drinking or brushing your teeth. These medicines are applied directly on the sore.
You can also mix equal amounts of Milk of Magnesia and Benadryl Allergy liquid. After it's mixed,
you can swish a teaspoonful in your mouth for about 1 minute and then spit it out. If you do this
every 4 to 6 hours, your canker sores may hurt less.
Some people think that sucking on zinc lozenges, taking vitamin C or vitamin B complex, using a
sage-and-chamomile mouthwash or taking a lysine supplement helps their canker sores heal
faster.
When should I call my family doctor about canker sores?
If your canker sores are large, last longer than 2 weeks or are so sore that you can't eat or drink,
you should make an appointment to see your doctor. You should make an appointment with your
doctor, too, if you also have a fever or feel sick when you have canker sores. Tell your doctor if
you have canker sores more than 3 times a year.
What can my doctor do to help my canker sores?
Several prescription medicines may help with canker sores. If your canker sore is large, painful or
won't heal, your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory (Aphthasol or ORACORT) or
collagenase inhibitor (Tetracycline or Peridex). Talk with your doctor to decide what treatment is
best for you.
My recommendation is to use the ORACORT. Its
What's the right way to use the medicine for my canker sores?
You may be asked to "swish and swallow" or "swish and spit" the medicine. This means that you
swish the medicine around in your mouth, especially around your canker sore, for a few minutes
before swallowing or spitting it out.
If your doctor has you use a medicine to put on the canker sore, you should dry the sore with a
tissue. Next, put a small amount of medicine on a cotton swab (like a Q-Tip). Then, put the
medicine on your canker sore using the cotton swab. Don't eat or drink for 30 minutes. If you do,
the medicine will be washed away. Be sure to use the medicine for as many days as your doctor
tells you to.
What can I do to prevent canker sores?
Unfortunately, doctors don't know of anything that prevents canker sores from forming. However,
using a toothpaste that does not contain SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) or other irritating ingredients,
avoiding chewing gum, hard, crunchy or spicy foods may help reduce mouth irritation. Brushing
your teeth after meals, using a soft toothbrush and flossing every day will also keep your mouth
free of food that might cause a canker sore. If you get canker sores often, or if they're very painful,
talk to your family doctor.