Canker Sores: Understanding the Causes and Treatments

Mouth sores refer to any wound or scar that affects the mucous membrane lining of the mouth. One of the most common types of mouth sore is Canker sore. These sores are red, significantly painful, and cause inflammation inside the mouth. They are small in size. These sores are not severe, if appropriately treated with the medicines and gels given by doctors.

Moreover, a study suggests that almost all people suffer from canker sores at least once. These sores are more common in women than men due to frequent hormonal changes in their bodies. However, approximately 85% of people get minor canker sores, whereas only 10% suffer from major canker sores, which are either a cause of an underlying disease or mental stress. Scientifically, the umbrella term for canker sores is ‘Aphthous Ulcers’.

1. Types of Canker Sores

1.  Minor Canker Sores are the most common sores. They are usually not serious and heal in a 3 to 5 days. They are comparatively smaller in size and often occur due to the consumption of too hot or spicy foods.
2. Major Canker Sores- These are usually bigger and need proper treatment under the supervision of your doctor. These are generally caused due to a chronic health condition.
3. Herpetiform Canker Sores- Canker sores very rarely cause these. They form a group of many small, very big sores combined. These are more common in older people and take a long time to heal due to age-related factors and complications.

2. Symptoms of Canker Sores

• A burning sensation is caused in the mouth due to the presence of bacteria on sores or inflammation developed in the mouth.
• There is difficulty in swallowing food due to the painful canker sores which cause irritation and disturbance which is unbearable.
• There is severe swelling in the mouth making it difficult to speak or talk normally.
• If a sore bursts then a lot of blood flows from it causing pain in the mouth.

3. Causes of Canker Sores

As stated earlier, canker sores can either be minor or major and so does the causes.

3.1. General Causes Include

• Out of severe stress, anxiety ¹or nervousness, a person sometimes bit their cheeks, lips or tongue.
• Eating foods like oranges, and sauces that are high in acid and spices disturbs the pH level of the mouth which results in the development of canker sores causing irritation in mouth.
• Not wearing dentures or braces properly.
• Hormonal changes during periods or at the stage of menopause have adverse effects on oral health causing sores in the mouth.
• Too much smoking leads to damage to oral health.

3.2. Major Causes Include

• Stress– It is a normal thing that we feel when things don’t go as per our wish or we are not able to function properly under pressure due to expectations we have from ourselves. It’s a normal human feeling which if taken for too long has adverse effects on physical and emotional health. Severe stress often leads to canker sores and other health related problems in the body.
• Celiac Disease- It is caused by gluten, a protein present in wheat which causes issues in your digestive system. As a result, a person often experiences canker sores very frequently.
• Nutritional Deficiencies- Lack of calcium, folic acid,² and iron in the body leads to canker sores formation. As a result, doctors advise to have food rich in Vitamin B and D which helps in good health of teeth and gums for longer periods.
• Bechet’s Disease- It’s a condition that leads to swelling of blood vessels in the body causing severe and painful canker sores. This disease has a very serious impact on the oral health of a person making him/her more prone to mouth related problems.

4. Treating Canker Sores

Usually, minor canker sores heal on their own. But if you have major canker sores then the following things are suggested to treat it: –

1. Oral medicines such as benzocaine, lidex, and other strong steroids are suggested by doctors to treat canker sores.
2. Sometimes, if the pain is unbearable then doctors give gels like Orajel, which provides a soothing and numbing effect on the wounded areas.
3. Doctors suggest using an alcohol-free mouthwash and flossing teeth regularly to maintain good oral health.

If still canker sores don’t go away and cause irritation, then the dentist often suggests a quick soft tissue surgery of the mouth and removal of the wounds to get relief from pain and burning in the mouth.

5. Home Remedies to Get Rid of Canker Sores

1. Saltwater Gargles- Salt has been beneficial to recover a wound, so it helps in reducing the size of canker sores thereby decreasing the amount of pain and discomfort caused. You shall mix a small amount of salt in lukewarm water and gargle with it twice daily for better and quicker results.
2. Turmeric Powder- You should apply dry turmeric powder directly on the sores and leave it for some time, resulting in reduction in swelling caused in mouth. Later on, wash it properly with water for better results as turmeric helps to fight against bacteria by killing it immediately.
3. Milk of Magnesia- Chemically known as hydrogen peroxide, it helps in healing painful canker sores by killing bacteria on the roof of the mouth. You should dilute it with water and apply it by on the affected areas for better results.
4. Baking Soda- Being alkaline in nature, it helps to reduce the excessive acid present in the mouth due to sores thereby reducing pain and burning in the mouth. As a result, the acid gets neutralized in the mouth.

6. Take Away

Therefore, canker sores are a common problem and usually go away within 3 to 5 days. If they don’t go away, they might cause other health diseases mentioned above, which require appropriate treatment under a doctor’s supervision. Hence, you should maintain good oral health to avoid canker sores, which can disturb your day-to-day activities.

1. Knowles, Kelly A., and Bunmi O. Olatunji. “Specificity of trait anxiety in anxiety and depression: Meta-analysis of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.” Clinical psychology review 82 (2020): 101928. ↩︎
2. Shulpekova, Yulia, et al. “The concept of folic acid in health and disease.” Molecules 26.12 (2021): 3731. ↩︎

Last Updated on March 28, 2024 by Suchi