Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Are canker sores the same thing as fever blisters?
The simple answer is no. Canker sores are generally inside the mouth or the oral cavity and are not contagious. However, fever blisters mostly occur on the lips and outside of the mouth and are very contagious. Fever blisters, or
cold sores, are infections caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
What steps can be taken to help canker sores?
If you have canker sores:
Avoid abrasive foods such as potato chips that can stick in the cheek or gum and aggravate the sores.
Take care when brushing your teeth not to stab the gums or cheek with a toothbrush bristle.
Avoid acidic and spicy foods.
Canker sores are not contagious, so patients do not have to worry about spreading them to other people.
A toothpaste free of sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients that are irritating to the tissues inside the mouth can be helpful in some patients, as can a toothpaste that inhibits the growth of irritating plaque. Therefore, something as simple as changing toothpastes may help with recurrent canker sores.
What is the treatment for canker sores?
Canker sores typically resolve without any specific treatment. But measures can be taken to alleviate the pain and discomfort and to hasten the course. Therapies include topical medications (applied directly on), mouthwashes, and oral medications.
What kind of topical medications (gels or ointments) are available for canker sores?
Topical medications include numbing ointments, such as benzocaine (Oragel), which are available in drug stores without a prescription. The ointment should be applied a few times daily directly to the sore in order to reduce irritation form eating, drinking, or brushing. Topical 2% lidocaine (an anesthetic) gel has also been used effectively in some patients, but it may associated with some toxicity, especially in children. In very painful cases, injection of local anesthetics may help relieve the symptoms effectively, but it is usually temporary. However, in April 2011 the U.S. FDA issued a warning about an association between benzocaine and methemoglobinemia, a rare but serious condition in which oxygen delivery to tissues is compromised. Because of this association, the FDA has stated that benzocaine products should not be used on children less than two years of age, except under the advice and supervision of a healthcare professional. Further, adults who use benzocaine gels or liquids to relieve pain in the mouth should follow the recommendations in the product label. Benzocaine products should be stored out of reach of children, and FDA encourages consumers to talk to their healthcare professional about using benzocaine.
Anti-inflammatory (steroid) gels may also be applied locally to reduce the inflammation. These products are generally provided by prescription from a physician or a dentist. The main ingredient in these medications is usually fluocinonide (Lidex) or triamcinolone.
Topical antibiotics (for example, tetracycline
(Achromycin]) may also be recommended by your doctor.
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease,
primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can
affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss are
common symptoms.
Herpes simplex infections are common and when they appear around the mouth and lips, people often refer to them as "cold sores" and "fever blisters." Canker sores are different than cold sores. Air droplets can spread the virus, as can direct contact with the fluid from the blisters. Cold sore treatment include over-the-counter medication as well as prescription medications.
There are a variety of diseases and conditions that can cause tongue problems, discoloration, and soreness. Though most tongue problems are not serious. Conditions such as leukoplakia, oral thrush, and oral lichen planus may cause a white tongue while Kawasaki syndrome, scarlet fever, and geographic tongue may cause the tongue to appear red. A black hairy tongue may be caused by overgrown papillae on the tongue. Canker sores, smoking, and trauma may cause soreness of the tongue.
Stress occurs when forces from the outside world impinge on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life. However, over-stress, can be harmful. There is now speculation, as well as some evidence, that points to the abnormal stress responses as being involved in causing various diseases or conditions.
Celiac disease is a result of an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat or related grains and present in many foods that we eat. Celiac disease causes impaired absorption and digestion of nutrients through the small intestine. Signs and symptoms of celiac disease include malabsorbption (diarrhea, foul smelling gas, bloating, and increased amounts of fat in the stool) and malnutrition (weight loss, edema, anemia, bruising easily, neuropathy, and infertility). Treatment for celiac disease is a gluten free diet, and at times if necessary, medications
An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to it. It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions. The parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies include the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common allergic disorders include hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives, and allergic shock.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Behcet's syndrome is a disease characterized by three symptoms: genital ulcers, recurring mouth ulcers, and inflammation around the pupil of the eye. Symptoms of Behcet's syndrome may also include inflammation of other areas of the body, such as the brain, joints, skin, retina, and bowels. Oral steroids, antiinflammatory drugs, and steroid gels, pastes, and creams may be used to treat Behcet's syndrome.
Gum problems may be caused by improper brushing and flossing, gum disease, canker sores, treatments and hormonal changes. Symptoms of gum problems include red, swollen, sore and bleeding gums. These symptoms can be prevented by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, eating a well-balanced diet, drinking enough water, not smoking, and relaxing.
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