Painful Canker Sores: What They are and How to Avoid Them.

Canker sores are those annoying little lesions that form on the soft tissue inside your mouth.  They can form on your lips, tongue, inside cheeks or other parts of the mouth and they can form in any age group. Women, just by nature, are more susceptible to them than men; specifically adolescents and young adults. For women, the likelihood of developing one goes up during their menstrual cycle. These lesions can become quite painful and sometimes, they take a few days or even weeks to go away. If you often experience canker sores, you’re probably wondering what you can do to prevent them. There are actually plenty of simple things that can reduce the risk of canker sores, and help you deal with any when they do appear. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s a canker sore and why do they form?

Also called aphthous ulcers, canker sores are often white/yellow in color and can vary in size. They can affect your ability to eat, chew gum or even talk. In the worst cases, they could cause a fever and lack of energy. If you’re prone to them, you’ll want to figure out the type of canker sores you suffer from – there are two different types.

• Simple canker sore. These types of canker sores are more common and usually affect those between the ages of 10 and 20.

• Complex canker sore. These are most common in people who’ve already suffered from canker sores. They’re usually larger and sometimes more painful than simple sores.

Since canker sores occur off-and-on, it’s usually hard to determine what’s causing them to form in your mouth. Many claim that stress and certain foods are the causes of most canker sores. Some studies also show that those lacking in certain vitamins or with bacterial imbalances are more prone to developing them.

Do OTC products help with canker sores?

If you’re suffering from a canker sore, you might be wondering about over-the-counter prevention methods.  OTC products – commonly produced under brand names like Zilactin and Orajel – are sometimes used to reduce the pain caused by these sores. There are also home remedies that have been recommend. Unfortunately, any of these products aren’t effective in preventing them. If you need a quick fix for your pain, OTC products or home remedies are great, but preventing canker sores is best done by making a few lifestyle changes.

Prevention is the best approach

There’s no surefire method of preventing canker sores, but studies have shown that certain lifestyle changes can help.  First, you’ll want to avoid spicy food, even if it’s your favorite. Spicy food can cause major irritation to the mouth, which sometimes results in canker sores. Certain oral hygiene products might also cause canker sores, especially those with sodium lauryl sulfate.  There are certain foods and drinks you may want to avoid. Acidic food or drinks like tomatoes, lemons, orange juice or soda pop have also been shown to cause canker sores in some people. Those who suffer can predict a sore around 7 days after eating a fresh tomato or drinking a coke, orange juice or a mimosa!

Taking proper care of your mouth is a great way to prevent canker sores. This means brushing and flossing every day, usually after meals.  Rinsing thoroughly with an antiseptic mouthwash is also smart.

What to do if canker sores persist

If you’ve made some changes and the canker sores persist, it’s probably time to see a dentist.This is especially true if the sores are noticeably large and have started to spread. Other things that might signal the need for a dentist visit include canker sores that have lasted several weeks and a fever is coupled with the sores. These could be signs that may need dental or medical attention. Thankfully, it’s very rare that cases become this severe.