There’s hardly anything more irritating than a canker sore.

These tiny ulcers only last a few days…but wow! When you’ve got one, just about every word spoken and every bite taken hurts like heck! You know that feeling, right? Now, imagine how they feel in your child’s mouth! What exactly are those little buggers, and how in the world can you ease the pain fast? We’ll fill you in, and share our “canker-sore-be-gone” grocery list that’ll help save the day.

What Exactly is a Canker Sore?

To know the medically proper name for a canker sore is to understand why it hurts so much. A canker sore is actually an ulcer. An “Aphthous Ulcer” to be exact. These ulcers come in two forms, minor and major, and are surprisingly experienced by only about 20% of the U.S. population. Aren’t we lucky?!

Minor cankers (common in people between the ages of 10 and 20), are the smaller of the two, as the name would suggest, and last about 7-10 days. Major cankers can last from two to six weeks, have noticeable depth, and often have irregular borders. This type of sore is more common after the age of 20, and is essentially a recurrent canker, returning to a site previously impacted by a minor canker.

Who Gets Cankers?

While cankers affect both genders, girls tend to get them more often, likely because of hormonal fluctuations. Aside from that, the vast majority of people in general are believed to get cankers due to genetic tendencies – and the condition is triggered by spicy, salty or abrasive foods.
If your kids are among those unlucky people gifted with canker sore genetics, there is hope!

What’s the difference between a canker sore and a cold sore?

Cold sores, also called feverblisters or herpes. Herpes simplex type 1, are groups of painful, fluid-filled blisters.

Unlike canker sores, cold sores are caused by a virus and are extremely contagious.

Arrest the pain and speed up the healing process for canker sores with this short shopping list:

Rinses (use one of the below rinses four times a day)–

• Hydrogen Peroxide – Equal parts peroxide and water
• Salt and baking soda – Add a half teaspoon of both to 4oz. of water

Numbing Agents

• Brands like Orajel® and Kank-A® can provide relief

Protective Pastes

• Milk of Magnesia – dab on a cotton swab and use four times daily after the hydrogen peroxide rinse.
  
• Baking Soda and Water Paste

Antimicrobial Mouthwashes

• OraCare mouth rinse is great at keeping ulcers clean and plaque free, which reduces pain and makes them go away faster

Soft Tissue Dental Laser tretment

Dental lasers heal the sore with a single, painless visit to your dentist. After a brief feeling of warmth, the canker sore will no longer feel tender, and you can leave our office knowing that your mouth will be cleared up in just a day or two.