Canker sores are ulcers that form on the soft tissues of your mouth, including your lips and gums. Although canker sores generally clear up without dental treatment in Newcastle, they can be pretty uncomfortable, especially if they become larger or deeper.
Read on to discover more about canker sores, potential causes and treatments, and when to visit West Bowmanville Family Dental for professional dental care and help.
What Causes Canker Sores?
Canker sores can be triggered by stress or if you continually bite the inside of your cheeks. Other causes include:
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
- Eating certain fruits and vegetables, particularly those that are acidic.
- Eating spicy foods.
- Taking certain medications.
- Medical issues that affect your immune system.
Most canker sores clear up within a week or two, heal well, and leave no scars. In the meantime, you may wish to try some of the following home remedies.
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Milk Of Magnesia
Dabbing a tiny amount of milk of magnesia onto the canker sore can help decrease pain and discomfort, as well as speed up the healing process.
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Homemade Mouth Rinse
You can make a mouth rinse at home using baking soda or salt, as these ingredients help reduce acidity levels in your mouth and enable faster healing.
Make a paste of baking soda by mixing it with a small amount of water. You can then apply it directly to the mouth ulcer.
Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and gargle with it for up to 30 seconds before spitting it out.
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Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide helps reduce bacteria and aids healing by acting as an antiseptic. Choose a 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide and dilute equally with water. Apply carefully to the canker sores, making sure not to swallow any.
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Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is known to have anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate the pain of stomach ulcers. Using it as a mouthwash several times a day can help soothe painful canker sores.
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Over-The-Counter Products
You can purchase various gels and creams over-the-counter that are designed to help relieve the pain and discomfort of canker sores. These tend to contain topical anesthetics, such as benzocaine, and antiseptics, like hydrogen peroxide. Your pharmacist may be able to recommend something suitable for your needs.
When to Visit Our Dental Office
If you can cope with the discomfort, using some of the above remedies may help heal your canker sores more quickly, and most should clear up within a week or two. However, if you find that your canker sores are not healing, contact our dental office in Clarington.
You should also contact us if your canker sores are making it difficult to eat and drink comfortably and are causing you severe pain. You also need medical help if a fever accompanies a canker sore.
Some canker sores can be unusually large or develop into larger groups and are very painful.
How We Can Help
When you visit our dentist in Courtice, we can gently assess your mouth and conduct a check to determine if the problem is due to an untreated dental issue. Sometimes, having a broken tooth or dental appliance can be enough to irritate your gums or the insides of your cheeks, causing sore spots.
Otherwise, we can almost certainly prescribe something that can help relieve the pain and discomfort, such as a medicated mouthwash, antibiotics or corticosteroids.
If you are struggling with regular outbreaks of canker sores, it can also be helpful to try to identify what triggers them. It may be possible to identify certain foods that are best avoided.
