Tips for Stopping Canker Sores

If you or your children are among the 1 in 4 people who suffer from canker sores, then read on. Canker sores are miserable and considered one of the most common mouth sores.

May 21, 2024

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Tips for Stopping Canker Sores

If you or your children are among the 1 in 4 people who suffer from canker sores, then read on. Canker sores are miserable and considered one of the most common mouth sores. They first present in childhood, then plague people with a 50% recurrence rate (within 3 months).

What are canker sores?

The official medical term for canker sores is aphthous ulcers or aphthous stomatitis (we love these fancy medical terms, they make us feel smart). The sores (can be one or many at a time) are generally small, round/oval, with a yellow or pale floor and surrounding redness. They are very tender to touch and movement by the tongue or food and can be really uncomfortable. Typically, canker sores are inside the mouth (often along the base of the gums or cheeks).

Canker sores do not have other associated symptoms like fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, and rashes. If your child has these other symptoms, you aren’t dealing with a simple canker sore and will likely need to seek medical care.

Are canker sores serious?

Generally speaking, no. Canker sores are just a nuisance, they don’t cause long-term problems on their own. When they are associated with other symptoms, then you may be dealing with something more serious (again, warranting further medical care).

Are canker sores contagious?

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