You may feel the itching and the tingling before anything can manifest its self. Before the swelling, the redness or the blisters actually exist you will probably know that something is amiss. If you’ve ever had one before you recognize the symptoms of the canker sore. It hurts, it’s miserable and it is down right embarrassing after you finally admit you might have one. Do you need to hide? Can you give it to someone you shake hands with in the store? The answer is no! Canker sores are not contagious. You may now kiss the Bride.
You or someone you know has probably suffered from this malady. Statistics show that 1 in 5 people get canker sores. Canker sores also show that they may run in families. Having a parent that has suffered from canker sores raises your chances to 90% that you will have them too. Also known as apthous ulcers or canker sores occur on the soft tissue of the inside of the lips, mouth or throat. The ulcers can also appear occasionally on the tongue.
Cold Sores are the ulcers that appear around the lips, chin and sometimes on the insides of the nostrils. These ulcers are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus 1. HerpesSimplex 1 or cold sores can be transmitted by infected saliva and by adult-hood nearly 90 % of men and women carry the virus. This condition is not to be confused with Herpes Simplex 2 can be spread by sexual intimacy and is usually found from the waist down. Women giving birth can pass the virus on to the newborn baby during the process of giving birth. There is no cure for this STD though thee is a treatment to help prevent outbreaks which is an active period in which blisters form. The genital version of this malady is called Genital Herpes.Cold sores or Herpes Simplex 2 is not the same as canker sores.
Canker sores appear showing up as red spots sometimes measuring up to 1″ or 2.5 centimeters though usually the ulcers are much smaller. Canker sores can also occasionally appear in clusters. After the sore or ulcer appears it may swell and burst leaving an open ulcer behind that can be coated in white or yellow surrounded by a dark red halo or ring. The blister or ulcer may take as long as two weeks to completely heal. The first three to five days is the most painful, causing problems with eating, drinking and sometimes speaking. On occasion, other symptoms may present themselves along with the ulcers. These can be fever, swollen lymph nodes, and lethargy or a general feeling of being unwell.
The causes of canker sores is not completely known, though poor nutrition seems to be one factor. The lack of folic acid, Vitamin B12 and low iron content in the body appears to cause mouth ulcers in some people. Other causes that can be responsible are; possible food allergies, stress, injury to the soft tissue in the lining of the lips or mouth, and accidentally biting the inside of one’s cheek or tongue. Something as mundane as receiving dental work or vigorously brushing one’s teeth can also make you a candidate of getting the painful blisters. Canker sores may also be an indication of a declining or problematic auto immune system.
Studies done on college students showed that during times of high stress, such as the periods of exam taking, the incidence of canker sores rose dramatically. During periods of calm such as vacations, the number of sores decreased. Though anyone of any age can get canker sores younger people, teens and people in their 20s seem to get the ulcers more often. Women are also twice more likely to get canker sores than are men. Some girls and women repeatedly get canker sores during the onset of their menstrual periods.
There are many over the counter (o.t.c.) remedies available for easing the painful side-effects of canker sores. Price ranges vary, but some of the lesser costing products can work as well as the more costly medications. Products containing carbamide peroxide may be quite effective. They are made up of peroxide which is a cleaning agent and glycerin which helps to coat the sore. Many over the counter products contain benzocaine, menthol or eucalyptus. These products may sting quite a bit but can reduce pain and hasten healing time. There are also some home remedies which can be effective in treating the side effects of canker sores. Here are a few that may work for you.
1. Rinse up to four times a day for a minute each time using 2 oz. of water mixed with 2 oz. of hydrogen peroxide.
2. You can also use a mix of 4 oz. of water and 1 tsp. of salt and 1 tsp. of baking soda.
Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after treating the area. You may also use cotton swabs or Q-Tips to swab each individual ulcer. To ease pain without using medication you may also swish milk of magnesia around in the mouth and then spitting it out. The milk of magnesia coats the ulcers and eases the discomfort temporarily. Some doctors may prescribe a treatment of wet black tea bags applied directly to the sore. The black tea contains tannin which is an astringent and can relieve pain.
If you or your child develop more than two episodes of canker sores a year, your doctor may want to check for dietary insufficiencies or auto immune problems. The next time you get a canker sore relax and if you can stand the pain, ask for that kiss. It isn’t catchy.
Sources used in this article are as follows: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/canker.html
