If you have ever bitten the inside of your cheek and then noticed a small, painful sore show up a day or two later, you have likely experienced a canker sore. These small mouth ulcers are common and usually harmless, but they can make eating, talking, and even brushing your teeth uncomfortable until they heal.
At Forest Smiles in Forest, Virginia, Dr. Shane Claiborne, Dr. Emma Schmidt, and Dr. Maysa Nasir help patients throughout Lynchburg, Bedford, and Amherst County tell the difference between a canker sore that will heal on its own and one that needs a closer look.
What Causes Canker Sores?
According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors do not fully understand what causes canker sores, but several common triggers have been identified. Minor injuries inside the mouth, such as biting your cheek, brushing too aggressively, or irritation from braces, are frequent culprits. Stress and hormonal changes, including those tied to the menstrual cycle, can also play a role.
Certain nutritional deficiencies, including low levels of vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron, have been linked to canker sores as well, along with food sensitivities and underlying gastrointestinal conditions. For many people, canker sores show up repeatedly without any single clear trigger.
Canker Sore or Cold Sore: What’s the Difference?
These two are often confused, but they are not the same thing. A canker sore appears as a white or yellowish ulcer with a red border, typically inside the mouth, on the tongue, or on the inner cheeks and lips.
Cold sores, on the other hand, are caused by the herpes simplex virus and usually show up on the outside of the mouth, often on or around the lips, sometimes preceded by tingling or burning before a blister forms.
Canker sores are not contagious, while cold sores are. Knowing which one you are dealing with can help you choose the right treatment and know what to expect.
How to Treat a Canker Sore at Home
Most canker sores heal on their own within one to two weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic. In the meantime, over-the-counter topical treatments and mouth rinses can help ease pain and speed healing when applied directly to the sore as soon as it appears.
Rinsing with warm salt water a few times a day can also provide some relief. Avoiding acidic, spicy, or rough-textured foods while the sore heals will help prevent further irritation, and switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush during a flare-up can reduce additional discomfort.
When Should You See a Dentist or Doctor?
Most canker sores do not require a professional visit, but certain signs are worth paying attention to. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should seek care if a sore lasts longer than two weeks, keeps coming back frequently, grows unusually large, or is accompanied by a high fever or difficulty swallowing.
Sores that are unusually painful or that seem to spread beyond the typical size and location are also worth mentioning at your next appointment. In rare cases, a persistent mouth sore can be a sign of something more serious, which is one more reason regular checkups matter even when nothing seems urgent.
Can You Prevent Canker Sores?
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent canker sores, a few habits can lower how often they show up. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and being gentle while brushing can reduce minor injuries to the inside of your mouth. Avoiding foods that tend to trigger sores for you, which commonly include acidic fruits, spicy dishes, and rough or crunchy foods, can also help.
If braces or a dental appliance keep causing irritation in the same spot, ask about wax or a small adjustment to smooth out the edge causing the problem. Managing stress and eating a balanced diet with enough vitamin B-12, zinc, and iron can also make a difference for people who get frequent sores.
How Forest Smiles Can Help
If you deal with frequent or unusually painful canker sores, Dr. Claiborne, Dr. Schmidt, and Dr. Nasir can take a closer look to rule out other causes, including irritation from dental appliances, braces, or a sharp edge on a filling or tooth.
If a nutritional deficiency or an underlying condition seems to be contributing to frequent sores, we can help you figure out the next right step, whether that means adjusting your home care routine or referring you to your physician. Routine checkups also give us the chance to catch anything unusual in your mouth early, rather than after it has been bothering you for weeks.
An occasional canker sore is normal and usually nothing to worry about. But a sore that lingers, keeps returning, or comes with other symptoms deserves a second look.
If you have questions about a persistent mouth sore, or if it has simply been a while since your last checkup, Dr. Claiborne, Dr. Schmidt, and Dr. Nasir at Forest Smiles are ready to help. Call 434-944-9763 or request an appointment online to schedule your visit.