Why Do I Keep Getting Canker Sores in My Mouth?

Canker sores are small open ulcers that usually appear on the inside of your mouth. Causes include stress, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, foods and more.

Canker sores(aphthous ulcers) are small open ulcers that show up in your mouth, typically inside the lip or cheek. They’re white or yellow in color and are often surrounded by red, inflamed tissue.

These painful sores are among the most common oral conditions, and they affect almost half of all people. There are actually three main types ofcanker sore:

• Minor aphthous stomatitis, which is the most common type, are small ulcers that heal within a week.
• Major aphthous stomatitis, which is a more severe type, are larger and more painful. They heal within two weeks and often leavescars.
• Herpetiform aphthous stomatitis, which occurs in less than 5% of people who havecanker sores, is a cluster of tiny sores.

In many cases, canker sores heal on their own and don’t require any treatment. In some instances, however, they can point toward an underlying issue that may require medical treatment.

One of the most obvious signs of acanker soreis a small, painful yellow or white ulcer inside of your lip or cheek. For some, the sore appears on the gums. These sometimes get confused withcold sores. There are a few things that can help you to tell the difference.

One of the biggest differences betweencold soresand canker sores is thatcold soresappear on the outside of the mouth, usually around the lips. In some instances, they may show up on the roof of your mouth or tongue. Canker sores always appear inside the lips or cheeks. Another major difference between the two is that canker sores aren’tcontagious, whilecoldsores are.

Other signs and symptoms of canker sores include:

Tingling or burning inside your mouth

You may notice a tingling or burning feeling inside of your mouth before the canker sore appears.

Fever

While it’s not always the case, some people develop afeverwhen they get a canker sore. A highfevercan point toward a more serious issue.

Fatigue

Some people with canker sores may feel tired.

Swollen lymph nodes

While not as common as some of the other symptoms,swollen lymph nodesmay come along with a canker sore. The swelling may mean that there’s another issue going on, and you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Several different things can lead to a canker sore. Some of the most common include:

Stress

The connection betweenstressand canker sores isn’t well-understood, but studies do suggest that increased levels ofstresscan cause the ulcers to develop .

Hormonal changes

Fluctuations in hormones may cause canker sores. Women who are prone to them may notice that the ulcers appear a few days before their period and go away after it’s done.

Nutritional deficiencies

You might develop canker sores if your body is lacking certain nutrients. Some studies show that low levels of Bvitaminscan increase the risk of these painful ulcers. Other studies show that low iron levels may contribute to canker sores.

Certain types of foods

Acidic foods, such as lemons, limes, oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, and more, can sometimes cause a canker sore to develop. You may also develop canker sores if you are sensitive to certain types of foods, such aschocolate, coffee, eggs, or anything spicy.

Certain ingredients in toothpaste

Sodium lauryl sulfate, a common ingredient intoothpasteand mouthwash, can cause canker sores. Studies show people who use oral care products with this ingredient are more likely to have them.

Mouth injuries

Injuries to the soft tissues inside of your mouth — such as brushing too hard, biting your cheek, rubbing frombraces, or ill-fittingdentures— can sometimes cause a canker sore to form.

Autoimmune diseases

Canker sores may develop as a side effect of an autoimmune disease. The ulcers are linked to many conditions, such as:

• Celiac disease
• Lupus
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Behcet’s syndrome
• HIV/AIDS

You don’t need to undergo any tests to diagnose a canker sore. Your doctor or dentist can identify them by looking at them. If your doctor believes that the ulcers are occurring as a result of an underlying condition, however, you may undergo other tests to determine what that issue is.

In many cases, canker sores go away on their own without treatment. Large or painful canker sores that last longer than two weeks, however, may need medical care. Some common treatment options for these ulcers include:

• Over-the-counteror prescription topical medications, such as benzocaine or fluocinonide
• Prescription mouthwashes
• Oral medications
• Nutritionalsupplements
• Cauterization of the sore

If your canker sores are the result of an underlying health condition, your doctor will provide recommendations to treat that issue.

Although cold sores and canker sores have similarities, they are entirely different conditions.

Canker sores are not contagious, but cold sores are. Canker sores show up inside the mouth, while cold sores are often seen on the lips.

Cold sores

• Cold sores are infectious.
• It is also known as a feverblisteror recurrentherpes labialis.
• Cold sores are caused by a virus called HSV-1.
• They are contagious and extremely painful for the first few days. First-time outbreaks may usually involve other symptoms, such asheadache,swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and asore throat.
• These sores are typically seen as a cluster of smallblistersthat quickly rupture to form small ulcers. The ulcerations may later extend to the skin around the mouth and become covered with a crust or scab.
• 通常,唇疱疹出现在嘴外, under the nose, around the lips or under the chin.
• Lesions are commonly preceded byitching, burning and/or tingling sensations.
• 唇疱疹通常由发烧引起的,情感al or physical stress, hormonal changes and/or decreased functioning of the immune system. They can be passed on to another person through kissing and sharing things that go in or near your mouth (like spoons or lipstick).
• They generally heal within 7 to 10 days with or without treatment.
• Applying petroleum jelly or aloe vera extracts or ice on the sores may numb thepainand speed up the healing process. In recurrent cases, doctors may prescribe antiviraldrugs,如霜Valacyclovir.
• To prevent a recurrence, individuals may need to maintain a hygienic lifestyle. Eating foods enriched withvitamin Eand C may help in boosting the immune system.

Canker sores

• These sores are not usually infectious and are rarely contagious.
• Canker sores are small round ulcers that appear inside the mouth usually on the inside of the cheek or near the gums. Canker sores are an autoimmune response of the body that damages the skin inside the mouth after a local injury.
• They might be triggered by poordiet, local injury,food allergies, spicy food and vitamin deficiencies. Rarely, a virus may cause canker sores.
• They often have a gray punched-out center and a white or yellow edge surrounded by redness. The sores bleed easily, usually when brushing theteeth.
• They usually last for several days. Occasionally, they may last for 1 to 2 weeks before disappearing.
• Canker sores are usually healed within 14 days. They may be treated with over-the-counter medications, such asTylenolandIbuprofen. Anesthetic ointment or gel may be applied for a short period to numb thepain. Dabbing a bit of cortisone or milk of magnesia on the affected area to coat the ulcer may reduce the pain.
• 用温盐水漱口或拍的一个解决方案ing soda and water can shorten the healing time and reduce pain as well. A high-quality antimicrobial oral rinse may also help in the healing process.
• 避免高酸性的or spicy foods and eating adietrich invitaminsand nutrients may prevent recurrence. A toothpaste devoid of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is known to prevent the recurrence of canker sores.

To summarize, canker and cold sores have characteristics that distinguish them from one another. Both sores are nuisances more than anything and they are not a major threat to health, but they are quite bothersome. Finding out whether you have a canker sore or acold soreis the first step towards finding an effective treatment. Some people also deal with recurrent cold sores and canker sores. For a recurrent cold sore, the doctor may give suppression therapy with a daily antiviral to reduce the frequency of outbreaks. You should also see a doctor for repeated canker sores. This can be a sign of an autoimmune disease or a vitamin deficiency. Both canker sores and cold sores are two different conditions that signalweaknessin the immune system. Fortunately, the immune system can be boosted with a healthy diet and a hygienic lifestyle.