Canker Sores
I’ve been getting canker sores quite frequently it seems, for the past two years at least. For instance, right now I have one on my top lip, one on my tongue, and one on my bottom lip. I should be used to this by now, but the pain is driving me crazy. It won’t stop hurting even when I’m not eating anything. So I decided to do some research on them. Hopefully you won’t find it boring. There’s actually a Web site called allaboutcankersores.com. You should check it out sometime if you also get frequent canker sores.
What is a canker sore exactly? Well, another term for canker sores is aphthous ulcers, and they’re small painful sores that can form on the inside of your cheek, lip, or even on your tongue. A canker sore is a bacterial infection, and not contagious. It seems that they affect mostly people from 10-40yrs, especially teens and women in their 20s. The cause is still unknown but scientists say many times they happen because of stress or eating habits.
What should you do if you have one? If you don’t do anything and just leave them alone, they usually go away from about a week to three weeks. There are medications you can take like Oragel, Anbesol, or a number of other brands that help relieve pain and discomfort. Normally, they don’t require medical attention, but if you have a large one and it stays for more than two weeks, you may want to have it checked out. Also, if you feel sick and can’t eat, you should see the doctor. Prescription medications like Peridex, Aphthasol, and Tetracycline can treat canker sores.
Some preventive measures you can take include not using toothpaste with SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), flossing your teeth daily, drinking plenty of water and not eating spicy foods. There are some home remedies as well such as rinsing your mouth with 8 ounces of warm water and a table spoon of salt. You can also take 1-2 tablespoons of Maalox and mix it with a half tablespoon of liquid Benadryl.
An article I found interesting mentions using Arm and Hammer Baking Soda Toothpaste and rinsing your mouth with baking soda and water. I bought some of that toothpaste yesterday and plan on using it everyday. The article can be found here.
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