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Most people have suffered from painful sores in their mouth. These sores, which can be located on the gums, under the tongue and even inside the lips or cheeks are called canker sores. Although these sores usually go away even without treatment, it is still recommended that you have them checked by your City of London dentist.
Canker sores usually appear as oval or round with red borders. Before these sores appear, you might feel a burning or tingling sensation in the said area as well as fever, swollen lymph nodes and listlessness.
To date, there are basically three kinds of aphthous ulcers or canker sores:
• Minor – the most common type characterized by an oval-shaped lesion; typically lasts a couple of weeks
• Major – large, irregular-shaped lesions; lasts for several months and could result to scarring when healed
• Herpetiform – appear as clusters of tiny lesions, which usually merge forming one large ulcer
Possible causes for canker sores include the following:
• Weakened immune system
• Oral injury or trauma
• Allergy
• Nutrient deficiency
• Hormonal changes
• Stress
Whatever the reason is, your dentist will be able to help you manage these canker sores allowing you to recover from them safely and quickly. Treatment options available for these aphthous ulcers include:
• Oral rinses or mouthwashes
• Topical pastes
• Nutritional supplements
• Oral medications
Naturally, your City of London dentist will have to correctly diagnose canker sores before any treatment plan is recommended. It is vital that the cause is determined in order to reduce the frequency of recurrence of these sores in the future.