More women than men develop cankers.
Canker sores are reddish bumps with a flat white center that appear on your tongue or inside your lips or cheeks. Also known as apthous ulcers, cankers can range from a tiny bump up to 1 inch across. Even though they are irritating and sometimes painful, canker sores are quite common. Doctors are uncertain about what causes cankers, but studies indicate possible links to stress, diet and hormone fluctuations.
Home Remedies
Canker sores will usually heal on their own within a week or two, even if you don't treat them. To help speed up the process, use a homemade mouth rinse made of 4 ounces water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Swish the mouth rinse over the canker for 60 seconds, then spit it out. Repeat three or four times per day until the canker is nearly gone. Another effective homemade mouth rinse requires 2 ounces hydrogen peroxide mixed with 2 ounces water.
Commercial Treatments
Large or extremely painful canker sores may require stronger treatment for the pain. Purchase an over-the-counter topical numbing gel designed for the mouth and apply it directly on the sore using a cotton swab. Avoid eating or drinking for at least 30 minutes after application. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also help relieve the discomfort of canker sores. Commercial mouth rinses are also available to treat canker sores, and usually contain peroxide.
Minimize Irritation
While your canker sore is healing, there are some things you can do to minimize the irritation and pain it can cause. Avoid eating spicy, salty or acidic foods, such as peppers, tomatoes and oranges. Sharp food, such as potato chips, can also irritate the sore area. Be careful when brushing your teeth around the canker area so you don't tear away the sensitive skin over the sore.
Warning Signs
If sores don't disappear after two weeks, or they occur frequently, talk to your doctor. Any canker sores that appear outside your mouth, such as on your outside lip, chin or nose, are not cankers at all -- these are cold sores. Often confused with cankers, cold sores are a result of contracting the herpes simplex virus, so see your doctor immediately. Finally, if your canker sores are so painful that you cannot eat or drink, see your doctor to receive prescription-strength medicines for treatment.
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