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CANKER SORES AND THE GENERAL DENTAL HEALTH

Canker sores similar to ulcers are small and shallow wounds that appear in the mouth, it makes eating, drinking and talking hard. The two types of canker sores

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Canker sores similar to ulcers are small and shallow wounds that appear in the mouth, it makes eating, drinking and talking hard. The two types of canker sores include:

Simple canker sore: Occurs to people mostly between the age of 10 and 20 years about three or four times a year, lasts for at least a week.

Complex canker sores: Occurs mostly to people who have previously had them, but it is less common.

Believed to caused by stress or tissue injury, certain foods like lemons, pineapple, apples, figs, tomatoes and strawberry somewhat trigger the occurrence of simple canker sore, hence worsening it. External factors such as sharp dental appliances like braces, bad fitting dentures can still cause canker sores.

Complex canker sore is mainly caused due to an impaired immune system, lack of nutritional supplements such as: Vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid and iron deficiency. Having gastrointestinal tract diseases such as Crohn’s or Celiac disease could lead to this mouth sore.

Canker sore has been linked to cold sore, similar yet different in some ways. Cold sores are blister which have also been identified as fever blisters/ herpes, caused by a virus they are mainly located at the external part of the mouth and highly contagious. 

Symptoms of canker sores

Below are some of the symptoms of canker sores:

• Painful sores located inside the mouth mainly on the soft palate, tongue, or inner cheek.
• Sores usually appear to be round, white or grey.
• The sores appear to have a red edge.
• When severe canker sores can cause fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes.

 

 

How to treat canker sores

Canker sores usually take a few days to heal with a little pain, but if you want lessen the symptoms quick you can opt for dental laser. Hence, you might have to consult your dental physician to guide you about the whole process. Canker sores have no immediate cure and the chances for occurring again are high, therefore to prevent reoccurrence you need to do the following:

• Avoiding foods that cause irritation in your mouth such as acidic vegetables, citrus fruits and spicy foods.
• Avoid irritating your mouth by chewing gum.
• Using a soft-bristled brush twice a day and flossing daily.
• Avoid sweets and candy that cause wounds in your mouth leading to sores.

Consult your dentist in case of:

• Uncharacteristically larger sores.
• Spreading sores.
• Sores that have lasted for long, which is more than a week.
• Having drinking difficulties.
• Having intolerable pain even though you have consumed pain relieving medicine.
• Having high fever together with canker sores.

In conclusion, do not be terrified when you notice that you have canker sore. Like any other dental problem it can still be prevented, you need consider your oral hygiene. Remember to brush your teeth and most importantly making regular visits with your dentist, it will enable them to evaluate the problem immediately to help you sort out the problem as soon as possible.

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elikaebrahimi October 18, 2022
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