Canker Sores, and How to Beat Them
There are few minor physical ailments more irritating than canker sores. If you have one or more, you know what we mean. Do you or a loved one have a difficult time with fighting off canker sores? Here are a few tips on how you can alleviate the pain and discomfort.
Description and Causes
A canker sore is a small ulcer in your mouth that, depending on its specific location, can make itself known every time you speak or eat. On occasion, a canker sore can also include fever or swollen lymph nodes.
Simple canker sores might be caused or further impacted by acidic foods. These include pineapple, lemons, oranges, tomatoes, etc. Did you know that if you have braces or dentures that do not properly fit can be at fault for canker sores?
Complex cankers can be triggered by a compromised autoimmune system, nutritional deficiencies or other health issues.
Treatment Options
You won’t necessarily like to hear this when you’re experiencing a canker sore attack, but “time” provides a pretty effective cure in the long term. On average it’s about a week or so before you are pain-free.
However, your dentist might be able to provide faster relief with dental lasers. It’s especially important to see your dentist if the ulcers are particularly large or painful, the sores spread or the condition lasts three weeks or longer. Those could be signs of more serious conditions that might need medical attention.
Proactively, avoid acidic foods that tend to trigger the condition, especially if you seem to be particularly susceptible to canker sores. And remember to floss regularly as a way of eliminating food particles that might give you trouble.
Try avoiding chewing gum, which can cause canker sores in some people. Also, use a soft-bristle toothbrush so that you do not further irritate a canker site.
As painful and annoying as they are likely to be, canker sores are usually not a serious condition, if the discomfort progresses or continues please contact the professionals at Dentistry On Carmel today.
