Canker Sore Symptoms & Signs
Some people may experience the following related canker sore symptoms and signs:
- Bleeding gums
- Lump or mass on gums
- Painful gums
In most cases, canker sores do not require any treatment, and there is nothing specific you need to do to get rid of a canker sore because it usually will heal on its own. Home remedies can be used to help relieve the pain and inflammation of canker sores.
If you already have a canker sore, there are home remedies that can be used to help relieve the pain or irritation caused by the sore and to speed healing:
Consult a health care professional before using any home remedy as many have not been scientifically tested or proven effective.
Some people may experience the following related canker sore symptoms and signs:
Canker sores (aphthous ulcers or aphthous stomatitis) are small, painful ulcers inside the mouth. They may occur on the tongue and on the inside linings of the cheeks, lips, and throat. They usually appear white, gray, or yellow in color, with a red border.
Canker sores are not the same as cold sores (fever blisters), which are an infection caused by the herpes virus and are contagious. Canker sores are not contagious, and are categorized into three types:
The cause of most canker sores is not well understood, and multiple factors may cause sores to appear. Some possible causes of canker sores include the following:
No, canker sores are not the same thing as cold sores (fever blisters).
Canker sores are painful sores inside the mouth. They may occur on the tongue, the lining of the cheeks, the gums, the inside of the lips, or the soft palate on the back of the roof of your mouth. Common symptoms of canker sores include the following:
Less common symptoms that can also indicate a more serious underlying infection include:
Contact your doctor or dentist if your canker sores are
Topical gels or ointments are used for canker sores to relieve pain, decrease inflammation, and prevent infection.
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Several mouthwash solutions may be used to treat canker sore symptoms, and include:
Several oral medications may help relieve symptoms of canker sores.
Medical Author: Karthik Kumar, MBBS
Medical Reviewer: Pallavi Suyog Uttekar, MD
Having a cold sore or canker sore is painful and differentiating them isn’t always easy. However, a cold sore isn’t the same as a canker sore. The simplest way to differentiate between cold sores and canker sores is by location. Cold sores are usually on the outside of the mouth, typically directly on the lips, whereas canker sores are always on the inside of the mouth.
Cold sores are usually caused by the herpes virus and it is highly contagious.
Symptoms of cold sores include
Lesions are commonly preceded by an itching, burning, or tingling sensation. The lesions are often painful and can come back regularly. They might be triggered by exposure to sunlight, local injury, allergies, stress, hormonal changes, or an illness such as a bout of fever or flu. The infection usually heals within 7 to 10 days.
Treatment of cold sores
There is no cure available for the herpes virus; however, symptoms may be treated
Canker sores are mouth ulcers that are not contagious. They are autoimmune. Some may be due to repeated trauma to the lining of the mouth. For example, biting the inside of our cheek could wind up as a canker sore because the body tries to heal the wound. You may be likely to bite the same spot inside your mouth several times making the canker sore more severe.
Symptoms of canker sores include
Treatment of canker sores
Canker sores are not easy to treat