Ouch! A painful canker sore can make eating a meal a most unpleasant experience. Canker sores, also known as apthous ulcers, are a common affliction that up to 20 percent of people will experience one at some point in their lifetime. Although most apthous ulcers will subside without treatment within ten to 14 days, the pain can be significant enough to make eating, and in some cases, speaking difficult. For these situations, treatment of canker sores may be needed to reduce pain and irritation.
What Are Canker Sores?
Canker sores are painful ulcers that occur on the inner cheeks, gums, and throat. They can be a recurrent problem in people who are susceptible and can be provoked by irritation such as biting the mouth, stress, hormonal imbalances, food sensitivities, and even sensitivity to some ingredients in toothpaste. They’re also more likely to occur when immunity is reduced due to fatigue or underlying illness. In some people, they’re a frequent problem.
Treatment of Canker Sores
Although there’s no treatment that will “cure” apthous ulcer, there are ways to reduce the pain and shorten their duration. To treat a canker sore and soothe the pain, there are ointments available at most drugstores that temporarily numb the inflamed area and reduce the stinging and irritation. These include Zilactin-B and Anbesol. As an alternative, two percent viscous lidocaine can be applied to the canker sore using a cotton swab for temporary numbing.
Kenalog in Orabase contains a weak steroid compound along with a coating agent to reduce inflammation and protect the inflamed area until it heals. Hydrogen peroxide diluted with equal part water can also be applied to safely treat a canker sore and remove debris that can slow down the healing process. Using a salt water mouthwash every few hours is also helpful. Anti-microbial mouthwashes such as Listerine have also been shown to treat canker sore pain safely.
There is a prescription medication called Aphthasol that’s approved for treatment of canker that can be applied to the inflamed area four times a day. It can help to reduce inflammation and may help the apthous ulcer to heal more quickly.
In some cases where the pain makes eating and speaking difficult, a short course of prednisone may be prescribed by doctors, but this should be reserved for only the most severe cases due to the side effects of steroids.
The Best Treatment for Canker Sores?
The best treatment for canker sores is to prevent them in the first place. Although this may not always be possible, getting enough sleep and eating a nutritionally rich diet helps to maintain a healthy immune system, which can reduce the incidence of apthous ulcer. Some studies show that using toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulfate can increase the chance of developing painful canker sores. It may be helpful to switch to a SLS free toothpaste and brush teeth and gums gently to avoid trauma. Some people also seem to experience more canker sores when they eat acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus fruits.
The bottom line? Although there’s no cure, there are effective ways to treat canker sores and reduce the pain temporarily. The prescription drug Aphtasol, while not effective in everyone, can also shorten the duration of these painful mouth sores.
References:
Merck Manual. 18th Edition.
 |
