I get canker sores two or three times a year. They are very annoying and disruptive. I had one over Thanksgiving and another one during my company Christmas party, so eating really sucked. I believe I may be getting another one right now, just in time for the beginning of the winter quarter in college. I would like to know how to prevent them or kill them at the beginning. BTW, this recent bout is unusual. I have never gotten them that close together, timewise.
Talk to your doctor. I believe valacyclovir (Valtrex) has been found effective in shortening the course of herpes simplex type I oral lesions if used early. It has also been used as a maintenance medication to prevent outbreaks in people prone to them.
I put alum on mine, they disappear pretty quickly.
Are your teeth crooked?
I always get one right near my one wayward tooth (the one that rubs weird against my inner lip. Also when I use Listerine more frequently, I have fewer. Not sure if there is a relationship.
Regarding treatment, I just numb it with 0.5 tube of Professional Strength Ambusol every 12 hours.
I’ve found that Orabase B (and it has to be “B”) works better - and tastes better - than Anbesol. Some people swear by sauerkraut juice, but I’ve never tried it.
Mouthwash always does the trick for me. Just soak a Q-tip in some and apply it to the sore whenever you get the chance. In about 3 days mine are usually gone, sooner if I treat them early.
No disrespect to friend Qadgop, but I don’t believe canker sores (sores inside the mouth) are caused by Herpes virus, but rather cold sores (sores outside the mouth are.
For further information see here, here, or here.
IIRC Pugluvr reported some success using Claritin, but my wife, who has recurring bouts with canker sores, had no luck with that. She does, however find some relief by taking L-Lysine tablets.
Good luck.
Most canker sores inside the mouth are apthous ulcers, which may be caused by a virus but can happen for lots of non-contagious reasons. Mine are from Behcet’s Syndrome, but other people get them because of mouth trauma (biting your cheek, for instance) or allergy to a specific toothpaste. If you get them a lot, tell your dentist or GP; you may have something that warrants further inquiry (or maybe a change of toothpaste).
I recommend carbomer peroxide. GlyOxide is the brand name, but I know that most big stores have their own, cheaper brand. It doesn’t taste bad and helps the sores shrink and heal faster.
I do have crooked teeth. I tend to get sores near one of my canines. I recently bit the inside of my lip while chewing food, so now I have sore starting there.
I have heard that stress can cause the sores. I may be making a false connection, but I noticed they tend to be more frequent when I’m stressed.
Qadgop, I don’t think it’s herpes because there is no way I have contracted an STD, being a virgin, unless herpes can be transmitted some other way (my 7-year-old brother gets canker sores).
I never liked anbesol. I found that when the numbness wore away, the pain felt worse. I usually just wait it out without anything for pain. I probably should talk to a dentist, though. I have been getting these since I was kid.
Drinking coffee seems to exascerbate canker sores. I’ve found this for myself and have heard it elsewhere (and a Google of canker sore coffee also gives other irritants).
If I’ve bit my lip, how much coffee I’m drinking is a big factor in how bad the sore will get and how long it will last.
Do you chew on your lip when stressed?
I do believe the herpes simplex is alive in a lot of people, just that some people react to it by getting cold sores and some don’t. The genital herpes virus is a different type of herpes than what Qadgop was necessarily talking about, I think. Wikipedia has a little to say about it that sorta sounds like what I said.
I get canker sores about as often as the OP. In my experience, gargling with salt water and/or using mouthwash frequently help the healing process. Try not to poke it with your tongue too much.
Oh, and canker sores are not caused by a virus:
When I went to my doc the first time my Canker sores became a problem (had about 5 of them all very close to each other causing a large sore spot) he recommended 50/50 mix of water and hydrogen peroxide mouth wash even 6 hours.
I dunno if it made them go away faster though (I still use this as a “treatment”).
I get them, too, and no, they aren’t the same as cold sores.
Mine seem to be partly relate to food–especially nuts and citrus, which you might be eating more often this time of year.
I’ve been taking L-lysine, which is supposed to help prevent them in those who are prone. I’m not certain that it’s working, but I’ve only had one in the last 4 months, which is not too bad for me.
I also find that Cepacol mouthwash works to help heal them faster and seems to slow down the ones that are forming.
zamboni, that’s why I recommended talking to your doctor. I should have elaborated more. But first you need a diagnosis of what you really have. Despite what bumbazine says, lesions in the mouth may frequently be Herpes Simplex 1 lesions, which are not traditionally transmitted by sex. (type 2 lesions are sexually transmitted.) I’ve seen hundreds of HSV 1 lesions on the soft palate, the inner lips, the gums, and the tongue in patients as young and 2 or 3 years old. All in addition to the more classic outer lip HSV lesions. And I’ve seen many people who thought they had apthous ulcers turn out to have herpetic ones.
So you need a diagnosis first, ie apthous ulcer (canker sore) vs. herpetic ulcer.
If you have a herpetic ulcer, you might benefit from an anti-viral medication such as I mentioned. If you have an apthous ulcer, recommendations are less clear-cut.
zamboni, that’s why I recommended talking to your doctor. I should have elaborated more. But first you need a diagnosis of what you really have. Despite what bumbazine says, lesions in the mouth may frequently be Herpes Simplex 1 lesions, which are not traditionally transmitted by sex. (type 2 lesions are sexually transmitted.) I’ve seen hundreds of HSV 1 lesions on the soft palate, the inner lips, the gums, and the tongue in patients as young and 2 or 3 years old. All in addition to the more classic outer lip HSV lesions. And I’ve seen many people who thought they had apthous ulcers turn out to have herpetic ones.
So you need a diagnosis first, ie apthous ulcer (canker sore) vs. herpetic ulcer.
If you have a herpetic ulcer, you might benefit from an anti-viral medication such as I mentioned. If you have an apthous ulcer, recommendations are less clear-cut.
Salt water. As salty as you can stand to make it. If it kills them in a matter of day, it’ll certainly won’t have a problem preventing them.
I used to get canker sores in the mouth all the time. The worst were on the underside of the tongue and on the uvula.
I switched to a non-SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) toothpaste on the recommendation of a thread here something over a year ago. The last canker sore I had was months ago.
Check your toothpaste. Almost all major brands contain SLS; iirc, it’s a foaming agent that makes the toothpaste nice and lathery while you’re brushing. Apparently a substantial minority of the population is allergic to it, though. Based on my experience, I’m one of them.
If you’re like me, switching toothpaste will make all the difference in the world. Give it a shot.
I’ll get to the doctor, or a dentist, if one would know. I don’t see why a dentist wouldn’t know, though. Thanks for all the remedy suggestions. I’ll check what’s in my toothpaste first, then use salt water.
Not being a doctor, I can only go by the information I’ve been given, so I apologize for giving you inaccurate information.
Qadgop, I’ll pass that along to Herself, thank you.