One day you wake with a stinging sensation in your mouth. Then, you rush to the mirror. After you flip your lips, you see small, open, shallow sores. These sores are often termed canker sores.
What are Canker Sores?
These are also known as aphthous ulcers. The occurrence is characterized by a shallow, white ulcer that passes down stinging sensations when touched. Furthermore, red-inflamed tissue surrounds these sores. It always popup inside the mouth, like on the thin lining of the cheeks and lips or the base of the tongue. These sores usually prefer to run solo. However, sometimes they can appear in small clusters.
Gladly, the silver lining here is that these sores do not pose any real threat apart from the tormenting stings. Therefore, these sores only last for a week as the body heals itself and wrap them up within a week.
As far as the frequency of canker sores in the population is concerned, they are relatively common. About 20% of the population get them regularly. However, they mostly pop up between the ages of ten to twenty.
The Mystery of Canker Sores:
The most baffling thing about these sores is the cause behind these sores. There is no substantial research or finding regarding the exact factor which gives rise to these sores. However, scientists have isolated a few factors that can play a vital role in canker sores.
- A sharp-edged dental instrument or pointy teeth can cause these sores. This is because the mucosal is thin and sensitive, so anything sharp can easily bruise it.
- Family history also contributes to these sores’ frequency; if it runs in your family, you will most likely get one.
- Doctors also link stress to these sores. Under extreme stress situations, these sores can popup inside your mouth. Therefore, it’s your body’s indicator telling you to relax a bit and cut down the extra dosage of stress.
- Hormonal Discrepancy can also cause them. Hence, the frequency can increase during the menstrual cycle, puberty or menopause.
- In addition to the deficiency in specific vitamins (such as B-3 (niacin), B-9 (folic acid), or B-12 (cobalamin)), calcium, iron, and zinc deficiency can make you more prone to canker sores.
Canker Sores VS Other Sores:
Unlike cold sores ( caused by herpes simplex virus), canker sores are not contagious. Moreover, these are not cancerous. You can distinguish them from cancerous ones by their appearance. We know that flat and painful white lesions characterize the canker sores. However, oral cancer sores are not necessarily painful, and they can be either white or red with raised borders.
When To See A Dentist:
As far as canker sores are concerned, they don’t require immediate medical attention. You may want to try some pain reliever to help you with the stings. However, if these sores last for more than ten days, please visit a professional dentist like Angleton Family Dental on a priority basis. Furthermore, you can call us at 979-308-4450 for more information.
