Fix Canker Sores
Diagnosis
Fortunately, you do not need to go to the dentist office for a test to diagnose your canker sores. You may not even need a dentist or a doctor to identify them for you during an exam. You may be able to determine if you have a canker sore but you should consider talking to a medical provider if you have severe and persistent canker sores to rule out a more serious medical condition.
Treatment
If your canker sores are minor, you will not need treatment for them to clear within a week or two. There are a variety of treatment options for large, chronic, or especially painful sores to help them heal.
Mouth rinses
Mouth rinses with a steroid called dexamethasone is available through a prescription. The steroid will reduce the inflammation and your discomfort from the pain. Some even contain lidocaine to numb the area and relieve your pain.
Topical products
Both prescription and over the counter liquids, gels, creams and pastes can help reduce the pain and even help the healing process once they are applied to newly developed sores. The best ingredients in these products are: benzocaine, fluocinonide, and hydrogen peroxide. You may even see additional products advertised to treat and relieve canker sores, but when they do not have active ingredients it is important to ask your dentist or doctor about applying them to your sores.
Oral medications
When your canker sores are serious and are not responsive to topical treatments, oral medications can provide relief. There are medications used for intestinal ulcer treatments called sucralfate or for gout treatment called colchicine. The dentist or doctor may try these before going to oral steroids because of the serious side effects from oral steroid use.
Cautery of sores
Dentists can use cautery to burn, sear, or destroy tissue through instruments or chemicals to speed the healing process. One option is a topical solution called debacterol to address canker sores and gum problems. The solution chemically cauterizes the canker sore and can reduce the healing time to a week for serious sores. Another option is silver nitrate which is another chemical to cauterize canker sores. While this chemical may not heal the sore faster, it does usually reduce the pain.
Nutritional supplements
Depending on the cause of your canker sores, the dentist may suggest nutritional supplements to improve low levels of important nutrients like folic acid, vitamin B-5, vitamin B-12 or even zinc.
Related health problems
When your canker sores are persistent, large and problematic, be sure to talk to your doctor or dentist to rule out more serious health issues that could be causing your sores.
Lifestyle and home remedies
To help your mouth heal faster and to reduce the pain from your sores, here are some tips to try:
- Use a soft bristle brush with a toothpaste that does not have a foaming agent
- Use ice chips on your canker sores and allow them to slowly dissolve to numb the area
- Avoiding foods and drinks that are acidic, abrasive, or spicy will prevent further irritation
- Use small amounts of milk of magnesia on the canker sores multiple times a day
- Rinse your mouth with salt water or a baking soda rinse