Canker Sores: How Long Do They Last And What You Can Do About Them
December 06, 2021
Author: Admin Editor
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Written By Jennifer Raskin / Reviewed By Ray Spotts
Got a sore in your mouth that’s bothering you? It’s likely a canker sore. This common mouth ulcer can present itself inside your lips or on your cheeks. They tend to be white or yellow with redness surrounding them in the soft tissues.
If it’s a canker sore, you’ll feel tingling or pain. You may also have swollen lymph nodes, a fever, or just not feel well. The good news is that you can’t give canker sores or get them from anyone else. They tend to take one to three weeks to heal without any treatment though in about a week to 10 days the pain should subside.
What Should I Do if I Have a Canker Sore?
Generally, canker sores will go away without you needing to do anything. You will want to keep up good oral hygiene even more so than usual to prevent germs from causing an infection. Additionally, avoiding spicy foods will help prevent antagonizing your canker sore. Soothing foods like milk, yogurt, or ice cream can help you with the pain.
Gargling with salt water can also help relieve some of the pain. Even honey can be an effective treatment for canker sores. Topical OTC treatments can help you, though for severe canker sores, you may want to consult your doctor or dentist for a prescription to help it go away.
Why Do I Get Canker Sores?
Canker sores have many causes. Often it is the result of viral infection, hormones, vitamin deficiencies, and stress. You can find out more from your doctor or dentist to see what you can do.
For most people, avoiding the foods that made you get a canker sore could help. Anything spicy, salty, acidic, or prone to causing allergic reactions should be avoided. If you find you’re getting canker sores when you’re stressed out, it helps to look into meditation and deep breathing techniques to help you get a handle on it.
Additionally, making sure you’re on top of your oral health is ideal for avoiding canker sores. You should brush at least twice per day with a soft toothbrush and floss once daily too. Make sure you avoid agitating your gums and any soft tissue in your mouth.
With vitamin and mineral deficiencies, you’ll need to speak to your doctor. They can test you to see what you’re lacking and recommend suitable foods and supplements to help your body get what it needs to thrive.
However, if your canker sores become large, you get many at once, you’re in horrible pain, have a high fever, rash, headache, or diarrhea, it’s cause for concern. If you can’t eat or drink, or your canker sore continues to throb with pain even after three weeks, make sure you have it looked at by a medical professional to get the relief you need.
Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Written By:
Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
