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The Panama Dental Center Explains Canker Sores |
Canker sores are somewhat of a mystery and no one really knows what causes them. But the Panama Dental Center can supply a great deal of information about them and can help you manage them if you ever get one. These small sores, called aphthous ulcers, occur inside the mouth on parts that move like the tongue, lips, or on the side of the cheek.
These little not to worry ulcers seem to have a genetic connection meaning they appear in family groups. If your parents get canker sores, so will you and so will your children, and studies show that they can often be triggered by excessive stress in your life.
Hollywood often uses them as a theme - like when the bride gets a big canker sore on the day of her wedding, or one pops up on prom night. They first appear around the age of ten and may you visit for the rest of your life if you have any history of them at all. Women seem to be more susceptible than men undoubtedly due to the difference in
body hormones.
Fortunately canker sores, unlike cold sore or fever blisters, can't be transmitted from person to person. Canker sores can appear by themselves or in clusters and they only appear inside the mouth. Some research suggests that using products containing sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a foaming agent found in most toothpastes and mouthwashes, can be associated with canker sores. Dietary deficiencies, such as not getting enough iron or vitamin B12, may also contribute to some cases of canker sores.
You’ll know you have a canker sore, when you feel the pain in your mouth, that can be caused by a number of different foods like citrus or chilies and many people have reoccurring bouts of cankers throughout their lives. Your mouth might tingle or burn before a small red bump appears. In a day or two the bump will collapse leaving a small hole with an irritated edge. The sores are often painful and can, in some cases, become quite sizable although most of them are
rather small. Occasionally you may also develop a fever and feel sluggish and uncomfortable.
The dentists at the Panama Dental Center may prescribe a topical medicine or special mouthwash to help heal the sores. If the medicine needs to be applied directly to the sore, first blot the area dry with a tissue. Use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of the medication, and do not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to make sure that the medicine is not immediately washed away. For severe mouth sores, your dentist may suggest other medications.
Although they can certainly be a pain, in most cases, according to the Panama Dental Center, canker sores are pretty harmless. Most canker sores will heal on their own in a few days to a couple of weeks. While you're waiting for them to disappear, there are any number of over-the-counter medicines you can use to take the sting out of canker sores. Carbamide peroxide is a combination of peroxide and glycerin that cleans and coats the sore to protect it. Other over-the-counter remedies have benzocaine, menthol, and eucalyptol in them that acts as a soothing agent. These topical ointments will need to be applied repeatedly and may sting at first, but they can numb the sore and cut down on how long it lasts. If your canker sore persists for more then a few weeks your dentist at the Panama Dental Center may order a blood test to look for other underlying causes and suggest some other form of prescription. So if you suffering from a canker sore just give us a call at the Panama Dental Center and we’ll be glad to offer detailed advise or perform a examination.
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