How to get rid of canker sores
Canker sores are also known as aphthous ulcers. They are very common, and are painful sores found in the mouth, with the ulcer breaking through the mucus membrane.
Ulcers are grey, yellow or white in appearance. They are mostly around 3-4 millimetres in diameter, although large cankers can reach more than a centimetre in diameter.
The first sign of a canker is usually a tingling feeling in the mouth. At the site of the tingling feeling will be a red, raised lump. This will soon become an open ulcer, and can be extremely painful.
Cankers are not infectious. They are more common in women than in men, and most people with cankers find that their family members also suffer from them too.
Causes of cankers
Cankers can be caused by a whole range of underlying conditions – some fairly simple to solve, others more complex. Causes include:
Physical trauma to the mouth – This includes accidental biting, sometimes during the night and even injuries caused when you are brushing your teeth. You can also end up with a mouth ulcer from eating hard types of food, like potato chips, and accidentally biting into inedible food components like bay leaves and fish bones, which you may not have noticed before attempting to chew. These types of cankers are fairly easy to avoid by being more careful.
Braces – Some braces can cause damage to the skin inside the mouth. If you have developed cankers since being fitted with a brace, you should see your dentist and ask for advice about preventing the cankers.
Allergies and digestive problems – Cankers are a major symptom of Crohn’s disease, which is a serious condition affecting the digestive system, and they are also a sign of Behcet’s disease too. Ulcers are common in patients with allergies to cow’s milk, and can also be a symptom of other food intolerances and allergies.
Vitamin deficiency – Cankers have been linked with certain vitamin deficiencies, most notably zinc deficiency, but also iron, vitamin b12 and folic acid. Most of these deficiencies will be resolved by eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, but you could also take a multivitamin tablet if you are worried about your vitamin intake.
Chemotherapy – Chemo can be very gruelling, and one of the side effects can be cankers. Speak to your oncologist for more advice if you find that your chemotherapy is causing you to have ulcers.
Other factors – There are a wide range of other factors that are linked to cankers. These include stress and insomnia, the consumption of citrus fruits, and sudden weight loss. It can be very difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of cankers, because of the range of possible underlying causes.
How to reduce your chances of a canker developing in your mouth
If you have cankers, as well as following the steps below these to get rid of the specific canker, you should also consider incorporating some of the following measures into your daily routine. Doing so will mean a lower risk of any further cankers:
Brush your teeth carefully – Key to all good oral health is to brush your teeth twice a day, with toothpaste. Make sure you get your tongue and the insides of your cheeks as well as being meticulous about scrubbing your teeth themselves. Doing this greatly reduces the bacteria present in your mouth. There is no conclusive evidence that some kinds of toothpaste are more effective against cankers than others.
Use mouthwash – Non-alcoholic mouthwash will also reduce bacteria in your mouth and, if you have cankers, stings much less than the alcoholic kind. If you are not keen on commercial mouthwash, then gargling with salt water will also keep your mouth clean.
Floss – Use dental floss to remove any trapped remnants of food from between your teeth, and keep infections at bay.
Eat healthily – Make sure you eat a balanced diet, with plenty of green, leafy vegetables, which contain folic acid and iron. Vitamin B12 is also essential for oral health and is found in many vegetables, and vegetable extracts like Marmite and Vegemite are other good sources.
How to treat cankers
If you have a canker, then the following treatments should be able to provide you with some relief:
Painkillers: If your cankers are painful, then over the counter medicine should help you cope with the discomfort until the cankers disappear, or at least become less of an irritation.
Silver nitrate: Ask your pharmacist for silver nitrate, which is also known as bluestone. Applying this substance to the cankers will cauterize them. This substance can greatly reduce the healing time of cankers. However, silver nitrate can be difficult to find, and you should ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before trying this remedy.
Antiseptic mouth wash: Washes like TCP can help to clear up your cankers more quickly and reduce the risk of them becoming infected. However, follow the instructions on the bottle or packet very carefully, and check with your pharmacist about which antiseptics they stock are particularly recommended for cankers. Some antiseptics contain alcohol – they may stop infection, but they may also cause your cankers to sting and burn.
Alum: An additive used in food production and cooking and found in the spice aisle of supermarkets, alum can be applied to cankers to make them disappear more quickly. However, doing this will sting like nobody’s business, so be prepared for the pain. Also, alum is toxic in large quantities so use it very sparingly. If you’re on other medication or have other health issues, you should check with your doctor before trying this remedy or avoid it altogether.
Other remedies: Other suggestions for curing cankers include gargling with a mixture of sodium bicarbonate (or baking soda), daubing the cankers with tea tree oil, drinking aloe juice or applying milk of magnesia to the wound.
Most cankers will disappear within 7-10 days, and are a minor concern. However, if your cankers are particularly painful, if they do not disappear or keep recurring, then you should go to your doctor and ask for advice. They may be a sign of a more serious illness or allergy, and you might want to ask your doctor to investigate whether or not there is any underlying cause to your ulcers.
