Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Canker Sores
Canker Sores
Elsevier Patient Education © 2023 Elsevier Inc..
Last revised: October 6, 2023.
Canker sores are small, painful sores that develop inside the mouth. You can get one or more canker sores on the inside of your lips or cheeks, on your tongue, or anywhere inside your mouth. Canker sores cannot be passed from person to person (are not contagious). These sores are different from the sores that you may get on the outside of your lips (cold sores or fever blisters).
What are the causes?
The cause of this condition is not known. The condition may be passed down from a parent (genetic).
What increases the risk?
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Females.
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People in their teens or 20s.
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Females who are having their menstrual period.
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People who are under a lot of emotional stress.
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People who do not get enough iron or B vitamins.
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People who do not take care of their mouth and teeth (have poor oral hygiene).
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People who have an injury inside the mouth, such as after having dental work or from chewing something hard.
What are the signs or symptoms?
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Fever.
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Tiredness (fatigue).
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Swollen lymph nodes in your neck.
How is this diagnosed?
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Blood tests to rule out possible causes.
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Swabbing a fluid sample from the sore to be tested for infection.
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Removing a small tissue sample from the sore (biopsy).
How is this treated?
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Numbing ointment to relieve pain.
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Do not use products that contain benzocaine (including numbing gels) to treat teething or mouth pain in children who are younger than 2 years. These products may cause a rare but serious blood condition.
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Vitamins.
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Steroid medicines. These may be given as pills, mouth rinses, or gels.
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Antibiotic mouth rinse.
Follow these instructions at home:
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Apply, take, or use over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider. These include vitamins and ointments.
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If you were prescribed an antibiotic mouth rinse, use it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if your condition improves.
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Until the sores are healed:
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Do not drink coffee or citrus juices.
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Do not eat spicy or salty foods.
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Use a mild, over-the-counter mouth rinse as recommended by your health care provider.
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Take good care of your mouth and teeth (oral hygiene) by:
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Flossing your teeth every day.
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Brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush twice each day.
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Contact a health care provider if:
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Your symptoms do not get better after 2 weeks.
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You also have a fever or swollen glands in your neck.
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You get canker sores often.
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You have a canker sore that is getting larger.
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You cannot eat or drink due to your canker sores.
Summary
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Canker sores are small, painful sores that develop inside the mouth.
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Canker sores usually start as painful red bumps that turn into small white, yellow, or gray sores that have red borders.
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The sores may be painful, and the pain may get worse when you eat or drink.
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Most canker sores clear up without treatment in about 1 week. Over-the-counter medicines can relieve discomfort.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
