Cankered

by Andrea Harris

When I was growing up, I used to get the worst canker sores. At least once or twice a month, I was fighting off that dreaded mouth pain that made eating and talking a terrible chore. Considering how much I love both of those things, it was quite a teenage trial!  Over the years, I’ve discovered a few canker kickers (my favorite is called Kanka, but hydrogen peroxide will do in a pinch) and, luckily, my canker causes (stress, chocolate, and, weirdly, too much fluoride).   But what exactly is a canker sore?  

According to Dentristy.about.com, canker sores, also known as Aphthous Ulcers, are small lesions that occur inside the mouth, and are not contagious.

Symptoms

One to two days before appearing, a burning or tingling sensation may be present in the area of the mouth where the lesion is developing. Rarely, a fever might present itself when developing a canker sore.

Canker sores appear inside the mouth as round or oval sores typically with a red border and yellow or white center. Canker sores typically develop:

• On the top surface of the tongue and the tip of the tongue
• Underneath the tongue, on the floor of the mouth
• The inside of the cheek and lip
• On the gum tissue

Canker sores do not develop on the external surfaces of the lips and are not to be confused with cold sores.

Types of Canker Sores

Canker sores may be classified as:

• Minor - Although painful, minor canker sores are often fully healed within two weeks after onset.  The size of a minor canker sore varies, but typically stays under 1/3 inch to 1/2 inch.
• Major - Canker sores that appear larger than 1/3 inch to 1/2 inch, last longer than two weeks and appear to have irregular margins -- oddly shaped -- may be classified as major.  Rarely, this type of canker sore may leave behind a scar.  Common in immunosuppressed patients. 
• Herpetiform Canker Sores - A cluster of several tiny lesions that appear to form one larger sore.  This type of canker sore may last from one week to one month.  

Treatments for canker sores also vary depending on the suspected cause.

It is recommended that you seek treatment from your dentist if you have recurrent canker sores and/or canker sores that do not heal after 14 days. I talked to Dr. Matthews’ about mine and with just a few minor changes in things like brands of toothpaste, I was able to seriously cut back my cankers.