A canker sore is an ulcer on the soft tissue inside your mouth. They can be painful and most often occur in people between the ages of 10 and 30, though they can occur at any age.
We don’t know what causes canker sores, though there are many theories. Some think they come from trauma to the soft tissue. Others believe they’re caused by nutritional deficits. The truth is we don’t know the cause. That doesn’t keep them from making eating and even talking painful.
Is It A Cold Sore Or A Canker Sore?
Cold sores and canker sores are completely different ailments, though it is not uncommon for people to use the two interchangeably. Knowing the difference is important though, because one of them is contagious and the other isn’t.
A cold sore forms outside of your mouth, usually around the lips and under the nose. Unlike canker sores, cold sores are caused by a virus and are highly contagious. If you have a cold sore, you need to avoid physical contact with others.
Canker sores will occur inside your mouth and aren’t at all contagious.
How To Cure A Canker Sore
According to Prevention Magazine, researchers at Saudi Arabia’s Salman bin Abdul Aziz University tested treatments for canker sores. They used three methods of treating canker sores: the first was honey, the second was an oral corticosteroid cream, the third was an over-the-counter paste that covers canker sores to help them heal.
Those who participated in the study applied their treatment three times a day.
In one day, the honey group reported a 95.5% reduction in pain with a complete elimination of pain by day two. The other groups required 8 days of treatment before the pain was eliminated.
Even better, the honey group reported the canker sores were gone after only 4 days. Unfortunately, the other two groups experienced no change in the sores at all.
So, the next time you’re faced with a painful canker sore, run to your pantry…not the pharmacy.
Dr. Mike Malone and his team practice expert cosmetic dentistry in Lafayette, LA. Dr. Malone is the former president and current accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is also the official Cosmetic Dentist of the Miss Louisiana USA and Miss Louisiana Teen USA pageants. Check out his website for more information.