(BeWellBuzz) There’s perhaps nothing worse than that nagging pain in your mouth that gets even worse when you try to eat or drink. Though quite miniscule in its presence, yet the dreaded canker sore can make your life terribly uncomfortable and painful.

Before we go any further, first let’s quickly understand what is a canker sore, why does it occur, how can you treat it and even prevent its recurrence.

What is a canker sore?

A canker sore is basically a round or oval-shaped lesion that might develop in your mouth, having a well-defined red border, with yellowish or white centre. Usually around three to five millimeters in size, you might get a canker sore on any of the below locations:

On the surface or the tip of your tongue

Underneath your tongue

On the gum tissue

On the inside of your cheek

Usually painful, these sores can vary in their intensity from being mild to major. One can also suffer from herpetiform canker sores, which are small clusters of tiny lesions that usually take a longer time to heal.

Causes and Symptoms

The most typical symptom of a canker sore will be a burning or tingling sensation in the affected area, just one or two days in advance. In rare cases, you might even get mild fever as the sore is developing.

Though the reasons of such canker sores might be often unknown, yet there are some causes that can surely be ascertained, including:

Poor dietary habits

Stress, anxiety and fatigue

Injuries or abrasions

Certain toothpastes

Food allergies

Vitamin deficiencies

Diseases like celiac and behcets disease

Heredity

Spicy food

Citrus fruits

When to seek help

Though most us will first attempt to treat a canker sore on our own, one should remember to watch out for any signs of a more serious infection. Make sure you seek medical advice if you experience any of the following symptoms:

If your sores reoccur frequently

If your sores are unusually large in size

If you experience severe pain that doesn’t respond to any home remedies

If you find it impossible to eat or drink

If you have fever along with your sore

Treatment Options

The most common form of treatment advised is the use of topical ointments to reduce the sensitivity and offer pain relief.

However, home remedies are the most effective form of treatment usually suggested for getting relief from the pain and discomfort.

10 home remedies you can use

Here, we’ve listed some of the most helpful home remedies you can use to treat as well as prevent the recurrence of canker sores.

Soak a cotton ball in Apple Cider Vinegar and apply on the sore. Burst a vitamin E capsule open and apply it directly on your sore. Put some ice cubes on the sores for a couple of minutes, 5 to 6 times a day. Spray some colloidal silver on your sore. Rinse with warm salty water or with some hydrogen peroxide diluted in water. Put some fresh aloe vera juice on your sore 3-4 times a day. Take a wet black tea bag and put it on your sore for 1 hour, twice a day. Maintain good oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing. Avoid spicy, acidic foods. Do not use toothpastes with sodium laurel sulfate (SLS).

References

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/canker-sore/DS00354/DSECTION=symptoms

http://www.mycankersoretreatment.com/home-remedies-for-canker-sores/