Canker sores: what they are and what to do.
A canker sore is a small whitish ulcer with a reddish border that appears inside the mouth and usually stings when you eat or speak. In most cases it heals on its own within one to two weeks. When they are very frequent, very large, or do not heal, it is worth finding out why. Well Clinic Odontologia evaluates your case.
What is usually behind a canker sore.
A canker sore has several possible origins, and only an evaluation tells one from another. Among the most common:
A small injury
Biting your cheek, brushing too hard, a hard piece of food, or the edge of an appliance or denture can injure the lining of the mouth and start a sore.
Stress and sleep
Periods of stress and poor sleep are associated with canker sores in many people, even though they are not the single cause.
Food and nutrition
Acidic or heavily spiced food can irritate the lining of the mouth. Nutritional deficiencies are also associated with recurring sores, which is why they deserve investigation.
How the body responds
A canker sore can be linked to the way your body responds to certain triggers. When they appear often, that relationship with overall health is worth looking at.
Not every sore is a canker sore
Sores that do not heal, cold sores, and other lesions can look like canker sores. Only a clinical examination tells them apart, and that is what guides the right care.
Seek an evaluation if you notice:
- A mouth sore that does not heal within two to three weeks
- Sores that come back often, almost always in the same periods
- Several sores at the same time, or one very large sore
- Intense pain that interferes with eating, drinking, or sleeping
- A sore alongside fever, feeling unwell, or bleeding gums
None of these signs is a diagnosis: they are reasons to investigate. A sore that does not heal within the expected time always deserves an evaluation rather than getting used to it. If the pain is intense or keeps you awake, Well Clinic Odontologia sees urgent cases.
A canker sore that keeps coming back is talking to the body.
An isolated canker sore is usually local and passing. Recurring ones, on the other hand, can be connected to sleep, nutrition, stress, and the way your body responds. That is why the evaluation here looks beyond the sore itself.
What patients ask us.
How long does a canker sore take to heal?
Most heal on their own within one to two weeks. A sore that has not healed in two to three weeks deserves an evaluation.
Are canker sores contagious?
A canker sore appears inside the mouth and is not the same thing as a cold sore. Because different lesions can look alike, only a clinical examination tells them apart.
Why do I keep getting canker sores?
Recurring sores are associated with stress, sleep, nutrition, and the way the body responds to certain triggers. When they repeat, that relationship with overall health is worth investigating.
Can I be seen in English?
Yes. Consultations at Well Clinic Odontologia can be conducted in English, in Jardim Paulista, São Paulo.
The first consultation reads the whole case.
Two hours evaluating teeth, bite, habits, and overall health, in English if you prefer, before any plan is proposed.