Canker sores are painful blisters that form inside of the mouth. These blisters can form on the tongue, throat, inner cheeks and gums in varying sizes. The exact reason for the formation of canker sores is unknown, however, there are a few different things that are known to attribute to the formation of the sores. Simple sores are formed when the tissue inside of the mouth is irritated or the body has been under a great deal of stress. Certain acidic foods may also cause the sores, but are more likely to irritate them. These foods include many different fruits with a sour taste, such as lemons. More complex canker sores may occur when a person has an immune system disorder, nutritional imbalances and certain diseases.
The symptoms of a canker sore include a swollen, painful blister that is located anywhere inside the mouth. Unlike cold sores, canker sores only occur within the mouth and are often white, grey or pinkish red in appearance. Prior to the sore appearing within the mouth, a burning or tingling sensation may occur in the affected area. When the case of a sore is more severe, there may be more serious symptoms such as; fever, fatigue and swelling of the lymph nodes.
Simple canker sores will often heal on their own within a couple of days. As the sores begin to heal, the pain will also begin to lessen until it has subsided. If the sore starts to get smaller after it has reached its peak, this is a sign that the sore will most likely go away on its own. However, sometimes the sores do not go away. They will continue to get bigger and as they grow in size the pain will increase. In this type of case, the sore will need to be treated by a dentist.
When the sore is treated by a dentist, they may prescribe something called an antimicrobial mouthwash. This wash is used to kill the bacteria within the sore. However, this type of treatment isn’t always effective and another type of treatment may be used. A laser innovation by BIOLASE called EPIC may be used not only to treat the sore, but also to get rid of any pain in the area. EPIC soft tissue therapy can be used to remove the canker sore from the mouth.
