CANKER SORES: WHAT CAUSES THEM?

 Are there little white or yellow bumps with a red border around them in your mouth? Those might be canker sores. Canker sores may affect about one in five people, making it one of the most common infirmities in the dental health community. However, the exact cause of canker sores is unknown.

What are Canker Sores?
As mentioned previously, cankers are small white sores that could form on the inside of your mouth. Canker sores could reoccur, but they are not contagious to others. They can be small and are typically oval or round in shape.

Risk Factors
While the precise cause of canker sores isn’t known, there could be some factors that may increase your chances of getting them.
-Mouth Injuries: One way to describe a canker sore is an abrasion in the mouth. From this description, you may not be surprised to know that an injury in your mouth could elevate your risk of developing a canker sore. You may not want to chew on your cheeks, lips or tongue.
-Hormonal Changes: With so many changes happening in the body, a correlation may hardly seem surprising.
-Food Sensitivities: If you are sensitive to different foods, they might agitate your mouth leaving you more vulnerable to canker sores. If you already have canker sores, you may not want to eat foods that are acidic or spicy as they can cause discomfort.
-Certain Health Conditions: If you have a lower immune system, your risk for canker sores could be elevated. Stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression could also increase your chances.

If you would like to make an appointment with Drs. Johnston or Rosenman, and live near Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, please call us at 215-643-9430 today. We, at Dental Arts Of Blue Bell, want you to enjoy your best possible dental health.

How to Treat Canker Sores at Home

The good news is that most canker sores heal on their own within one to two weeks without any special treatment. In the meantime, there are several ways to manage the discomfort:

• Rinse with Salt Water: A warm saltwater rinse several times a day can help reduce irritation and keep the area clean.
• Avoid Trigger Foods: Steer clear of acidic, spicy, or rough-textured foods while the sore heals, since these can prolong irritation.
• Over-the-Counter Gels: Topical numbing gels and pastes made for canker sores can ease pain and create a protective barrier over the sore.
• Gentle Oral Hygiene: Switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate, which can be irritating for some people.
• Cold Compress: Sucking on ice chips or applying a cold compress to the outside of your mouth can help numb the area and reduce swelling.

When to Seek Professional Canker Sore Treatment in Blue Bell

While most canker sores clear up on their own, some cases call for a dentist's help. You should schedule an appointment if a sore lasts longer than two weeks, keeps you from eating or drinking comfortably, or is unusually large or painful. Sores that keep coming back are also worth mentioning to your dentist, since they can sometimes indicate an underlying nutritional deficiency or health condition.

At Dental Arts of Blue Bell, we offer canker sore treatment in Blue Bell for patients dealing with persistent or severe sores, including options to speed healing and manage pain when home remedies aren't enough. If your canker sore isn't improving, don't wait it out—our team can help you find relief and rule out anything more serious.