Have you ever developed a painful white sore with red borders inside your mouth? This is called an aphthous ulcer, better known as a canker sore. Why some people get these lesions is still somewhat of a mystery, but their occurrence is generally related to stress, a slight injury to the soft tissues in the mouth, dentures that don't fit properly, braces, as well as the consumption of highly acidic foods, such as oranges, strawberries and tomatoes, and nutritional deficiencies.
Symptoms of Canker Sores
Canker sores occur inside the mouth, from the inner parts of the lips to inside the cheeks, on the tongue, and even on the upper palate or roof of the mouth. It is a painful area that is tender to touch. Canker sores are not contagious. Common canker sores usually heal within one or two weeks. If the canker sore is more severe, you may need to visit 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. This more advanced type of mouth ulcer is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. A cold sore may require a prescription antiviral medication from a physician.
Old-Fashioned Remedies
One of the most common solutions to ease mouth ulcer pain is to ice the ulcer. Wrap an ice cube in 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 as it tempers the burning pain.
Another remedy is to place a wet tea bag over the ulcerated area. Black tea contains tannin, which has powerful pain-relieving properties.
Over-the-Counter Solutions
Luckily, mouth ulcer treatments are available to promote the healing process and dull the pain. Please consult your dentist for the right treatment.
Boost Your Body's Immunity with Healthy Nutrients
Eating healthy, natural foods provides the body with healing vitamins and minerals. Make sure your diet contains lots of fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats and whole grains to obtain these nutrients. Taking a multivitamin supplement will boost your immunity. Lastly, make a ritual of eating yoghurt. The probiotics in yoghurt help to keep the digestive system healthy and even play a role in preventing canker sores.
Unfortunately, you will most likely have to ride out this irksome condition, but these remedies may help alleviate the discomfort experienced during the healing process.
