What is canker sores in mouth

What can I do about canker sores? Avoid canker sores with these tips: Brush and floss after meals to keep your mouth clean and free of excess foods. Use a soft toothbrush to prevent irritation to your mouth and gums. Use orthodontic waxes to cover up any sharp edges on braces or other dental devices. Practice stress-reduction techniques, such as meditation. Keep a food diary. You may find connections between when canker sores appear and what you eat. When to see a doctor about canker sores?

Tags: Expert Advice. Popular Categories. Popular Topics. Women's Health. Sodium lauryl sulfate SLS , an ingredient in many toothpastes and mouthwashes, has been linked to canker sores, and sometimes the sores can be a sign of an immune system problem.

Finally, not getting the right nutrition such as not getting enough iron or vitamin B12 also might contribute to some cases of canker sores. Canker sores are fairly common, but that doesn't mean they should be ignored. If you have sores that last longer than 2 weeks or you can't eat or drink because of the pain, call your doctor.

Also call if you get the sores more than two or three times a year. Usually, no tests are needed to diagnose canker sores. Your doctor can identify them based on your medical history and physical exam alone. In some cases, doctors may want to do blood tests to find out if another condition — like a vitamin deficiency, a problem with your immune system, or even a food allergy — could be contributing to the sores.

Most canker sores will heal on their own in a few days to a couple of weeks. While you're waiting for them to disappear, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for the pain. You'll also want to watch what you eat. Spicy foods and acidic foods such as lemons or tomatoes can be extremely painful on these open wounds.

Stay away from hard, scratchy, or crunchy foods like nuts, toast, pretzels, or potato chips for a while. They can poke or rub the sore. Be careful when you brush your teeth. Brush and rinse with toothpastes and mouthwashes that don't contain SLS. And avoid brushing the sore itself with a toothbrush, which will make it worse.

If you have canker sores that do not get better after a few weeks, if the sores keep coming back, or if they make you feel so sick that you don't want to eat, call your doctor or dentist. The precise cause of canker sores remains unclear, though researchers suspect that a combination of factors contributes to outbreaks, even in the same person. Anyone can develop canker sores. But they occur more often in teens and young adults, and they're more common in females.

Often people with recurrent canker sores have a family history of the disorder. This may be due to heredity or to a shared factor in the environment, such as certain foods or allergens.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Canker sore Open pop-up dialog box Close. Canker sore Canker sores occur singly or in clusters on the inside surfaces of your cheeks or lips, on or under your tongue, at the base of your gums, or on your soft palate.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Canker sores. Accessed Feb.

Canker sores. American Academy of Oral Medicine.