There are plenty of diseases that can affect your oral biology. One of them is canker sores, as they can be found in your mouth. It becomes hard to consume anything when that happens, and you need to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. A doctor from North Sydney dentistry, or one near you, can easily spot them, and luckily, they are pretty treatable. You will get some prescriptions on how to deal with them from the doctor. Here’s what you need to know about canker sores and how you can treat them.
Symptoms
You need to know what you are looking for when you suspect you have canker sores. The first thing you need to look out for is round or oval sores in your mouth. Some can hide under your tongue or inside your cheeks. Others can be found at the base of gums. When you have canker sores, you may experience some tingling and burning sensation before the sores appear. This should be a day or two before the sore physically shows.
Types of Canker Sores
Three types of canker sores may affect you, and they are
Minor – this is the most common one
- Are small
- Oval shaped with a red edge
- Heal without scarring – this takes a week or two
Major – they are less common, unlike the minor ones
- Are larger and deeper
- It can be painful – extremely painful
- They are round in shape and with defined borders
- It can take up to six weeks to heal and will leave scarring
Herpetiform – extremely uncommon and will only develop later in life. And they aren’t caused by herpes virus infection
- Pinpoint in size
- Irregular edges
- They are often in a cluster of 10 – 100 sores
- Heal in a week or two with no scarring.
Diagnosis
You don’t need any form of test for the doctor to determine if you have canker sores or not. They can identify the sores with a simple visual exam. There are some instances, though, that the doctor will need to check for other health problems. This will only happen if the sores are ongoing and severe.
Treating Canker Sores
There’s usually no need for treatment for minor sores as they will disappear in a week or two. However, the large and persistent ones need medical care. There are several modes of treatment for the same.
- Mouth Rinses – some mouthwashes contain steroid dexamethasone that the doctor can prescribe to reduce pain.
- Tropical Products – over counter Medication such as benzocaine can be used.
- Oral Medication – when topical treatments aren’t responding, oral Medication may be prescribed.
- Nutrition Supplements – a doctor can also prescribe nutritional supplements. This is if you consume a low amount of crucial nutrients.
- Cautery of Sores – here, an instrument or chemical substance is used to sear, burn and destroy the tissue.
How To Treat Canker Sores
There isn’t much to be scared of when you have canker sores, as they are pretty treatable. However, these are some of the signs of canker sores and how you can treat them.
