Have you ever developed a white painful sore with red borders inside your mouth? These are called aphthous ulcers, better known as canker sores or a mouth ulcer. These lesions are somewhat of a mystery as to why some people get them, but usually the cause could be related to stress, a slight injury to the soft tissues in the mouth, dentures that don't fit properly. Braces can contribute to this, as well as eating highly acidic foods such as oranges, strawberries and tomatoes and nutritional deficiencies.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Canker Sores
Painful areas tender to touch. The canker sore is usually not contagious. Common canker sores need to run a course of healing that may take a week or two. If the canker sore is more severe, you may consider visiting your dentist for an oral examination.
Symptoms of Cold Sores
On the other hand, if a person develops a cluster of small blisters that turn into a larger sore in the lip area, this may be a cold sore caused by the Herpes simplex virus. Since this type of mouth ulcer is caused by a virus, it is highly contagious. A cold sore may require a prescription of antiviral medication from a physician.
Old-Fashioned Remedies
One of the most common solutions to ease mouth ulcer pain is to ice it. Wrap an ice cube into a paper towel and hold it over the sore. Never place the ice directly onto the skin. This method brings only temporary relief, but it feels good because it tempers the burning pain.
Another remedy is to place a wet tea bag over the ulcerated area. Black tea contains tannin, which possesses powerful pain-relieving qualities.
Over the Counter Solutions
Luckily, there are products available over the counter that helps in healing and reducing the pain of mouth ulcers. One of the common pain relieving methods for mouth ulcers is swishing your mouth with a mouthwash such as Colgate® Plax®. This alcohol-free formula not only cleanses the mouth, but also soothes the irritation, even in sensitive mouths.
Boost Your Body's Immunity with Healthy Nutrients
Eating good natural foods provides the body with healing vitamins and minerals. There may be a link between canker sores and a low intake of iron and several of the B vitamins, such as B-12. Make sure your diet contains lots of fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat and whole grains to obtain these nutrients. Taking a multi-vitamin may be a good insurance policy. Lastly, make a ritual of eating yoghurt. The probiotics are helpful in keeping the digestive system healthy and also help preventing canker sores. Unfortunately, you will most likely have to ride out this irksome process, but using these remedies may help to allay the discomfort while you wait.
