A canker sore is within the mouth or on the lips and appears as a round spot with a yellow or red interior and a red circle around it. These will generally go away on their own if left untreated, but can occasionally last longer than a few days and can then be treated to decrease discomfort. While mostly harmless and safe to ignore they can occasionally cause larger concerns and may even lead to tooth damage.

Symptoms

The beginnings of a canker sore include a tingling feeling or discomfort. Other possible symptoms include fever or pain at the spot the sore is occurring. Sometimes it is difficult to speak with a canker sore and in more intense cases it can even grow to be uncomfortable swallowing. For these reasons it can become important to monitor the progress and treat them if they last longer than a few days.

Salt Water Rinse

A canker sore can be treated for pain as needed with a mouthwash or over-the-counter gel applied directly to the sore spot. Some will halt the pain and make it more comfortable while others will halt the growth and aid in healing. The mouth can be rinsed a few times a day with warm salt water. Gentle foods should be consumed until the problem is resolved.  Medical treatment may become necessary if it doesn’t heal itself within a few days because it should not last longer then a week.

Vitamins And Supplements

While there are some medicated washes and creams that can be used, there is also some evidence that certain supplements and vitamins can help to increase the speed of healing a canker sore. These include folic acid and the B vitamins 6 and 12, as well as a topical or supplemented zinc. They provide the body with the necessary nutrients to fight the canker sore though they may not prevent the occurrence of one before it forms. In some cases a doctor or a dentist may decide it is necessary to remove it by burning it off. This is done using a chemical such as silver nitrate.

While a canker sore will generally resolve on its own, it can be an uncomfortable and even painful concern. It can lead to problems with swallowing and eating properly as well as leading to problems with the teeth. When it becomes an ongoing problem or one that simply is not resolving on its own it may become necessary to treat it. Treatments can be as simple as a salt water rinse a few times a day or more serious occurrences can be treated by a doctor or dentist and may even lead to it being burned off with a chemical treatment.

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Written By:

Kassandra Foreman has been writing freelance for five years now and enjoys learning about new things to write about. When not writing she teaches yoga and meditation with a focus on health and fitness.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.