Causes and Treatments for Canker Sores

Posted on: 20 July 2015

If you tend to get a lot of canker sores in your mouth, then you know just how unpleasant they can be. Some canker sores can be irritating and others can be downright painful. They can make it hard to eat, drink, and even talk. If you deal with canker sores often, then you'll want to learn about their common causes and how they can be treated. This article will educate you on both so you can decrease your likeliness of getting them, plus get rid of them quickly if they do appear.

Common causes of canker sores

Most times, canker sores are caused by the foods you eat. Generally, foods that are high in acidic properties and/or salt can be the cause of a breakout.

Stress may also cause canker sores. Recent studies have shown a higher prevalence of canker sores in students who are under academic pressure. The canker sores aren't as prevalent when the students are on a break from school or after they graduate school.  

Canker sores can also be caused by your tongue rubbing against a piece of broken tooth or braces. Also, dentures that don't fit properly can lead to the development of canker sores.

Treatments for canker sores

You can hold a small ice cube on the canker sore until it melts. This won't help to get rid of the canker sore, but it will help to numb the area and give you some rest from the pain for a while.

A good mouthwash can help you to get rid of canker sores. It may sting a bit more than normal when you are rinsing with the mouthwash, but it may help you to shorten the length of time you have to deal with the sores.

You can also shorten the amount of time you have a canker sore by making sure you don't irritate it. When you have one, you may find yourself wanting to touch it with your finger or rubbing it against the back of your teeth. The more you irritate it, the longer it may stick around.

Although most canker sores will go away within a couple weeks, some can last longer. If you have canker sores that don't seem to be going away, or you're getting more of them, you should make an appointment to see your dentist. They may be able to help you determine the cause and treat them with medication to help with the pain. For further questions, you can also contact a dentist from an establishment like Buffalo Dental Group.

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Providing Children With Dental Knowledge

When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.