Canker sore question... (probably not TMI)

[Epimetheus]

@ThirdOne

I used to get canker and cold sores. I took Niacin (besides multi-vitamins in general that have B vitamins) 1-2 x a day for several days, til it went away. It may just be me, but that took care of it. I’ve not had either in years.

Normally I just take L-Lysine several times a day for a few days and it goes away, but I hate taking them every day as a preventative measure. (My wife is always "just take l-Lysine every day then). Bleh…

[Chessic_Sense]

@Epimetheus

but don’t belittle what problem I do have

Ok…

@Chessic_Sense

That’s not a put-down or anything, just an attempt to fight some possible ignorance.

[vivalostwages]

Zilactin helps a lot. I also hear that sauerkraut juice helps, but I never tried it.

[Epimetheus]

@Chessic_Sense

Ok…

Still, putting “I don’t mean offense at this… [something offensive]” doesn’t make it ok. Just so you know.

edit: to clarify, it isn’t fighting ignorance to say “10 times a year isn’t a lot, 10 times a month is a lot” when 10 times a month is at the extreme end of the scale. Scales aren’t binary you know. There isn’t some magical number at which it becomes a lot, and anything less is laughable. You aren’t fighting ignorant, but touting your frequency as being the only amount that is defined as “a lot”.

[USCDiver]

@Epimetheus

When I say Canker sore, I don’t mean those caused by Hepatitis or anything, but the annoying sores on the gums and such that cause irritation.

You don’t mean hepatitis, you mean herpes (HSV 1, usually) which are more commonly called fever blisters and typically occur outside the mouth. Cankers sores are known medically as apthous ulcers. And as has been mention, no one really knows where they come from.

[Epimetheus]

@USCDiver

You don’t mean hepatitis, you mean herpes (HSV 1, usually) which are more commonly called fever blisters and typically occur outside the mouth. Cankers sores are known medically as apthous ulcers. And as has been mention, no one really knows where they come from.

Oops, yeah, herpes. Obviously IANAD.

[DrDeth]

@USCDiver

You don’t mean hepatitis, you mean herpes (HSV 1, usually) which are more commonly called fever blisters and typically occur outside the mouth. Cankers sores are known medically as apthous ulcers. And as has been mention, no one really knows where they come from.

Right, and Lysine seems to help with Herpes, not canker sores.

[Epimetheus]

@DrDeth

Right, and Lysine seems to help with Herpes, not canker sores.

Seems to have always helped with my canker sores. I don’t get cold sores. Could be just that they normally last 2-3 days though, so I’m not opposed to the idea that they don’t really do anything…

Makes me wonder about the claims about 10 a month though, cause if they last 2-3 days each, that means they would often have a canker sore every day of the month.

[irishgirl]

Short answer- No added risk of oral cancer.

You should, however see a doctor if any aphthous ulcer (canker sore) takes longer than 14 days to heal.

There is no known cause, 20% of people get them, they tend to happen less frequently with age and can be exacerbated by stress, poor oral hygiene, any oral trauma and changes in the menstrual cycle. The are NOT infectious or caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.
In the vast majority of people they are just a nuisance, in a small minority they could be an indicator of other disease (such as Crohn’s disease, Behçet’s disease or vitamin deficiency).

There are 3 patterns of disease:
Minor aphthae are small and heal within 7-14 days, recurring every 1-4 months (80% of cases).
Major aphthae are larger and more painful and may take up to 2 months to heal, recurring frequently and healing with a scar (10%of cases)
Herpetiform aphthae are tiny, multiple (often covering the entire mouth) and very painful. They usually heal in less than a month without scarring, but can recur so frequently that someone is never entirely free of them (5% of cases).

There is a good article about them in the BMJ, here. It’s a brief overview for GPs about what to check for in patients with them, also treatments, tests and worrying signs. It’s not difficult to read.