First Dental of Bluffton wants to inform you better about this bothersome, small ulcer as well as ways to prevent and treat them, so you can get back to eating and drinking. Canker sores are a small abscess usually in the form of a gray or white sore with a red border.
The two commonly known canker sores are simple and complex. Appearing three or four times a year and lasting about a week, simple canker sores occur between the ages 10 and 20 years old. Much less common, complex canker sores occur more in people who have previously had them.
Though there are some options to why they happen, the root of most canker sores is unidentified. A dental appliance or jagged tooth surface, including dentures or braces, might trigger sores as well as stress or an injury to the mouth tissue. Citrus or acidic fruits and vegetables may make a canker sore worse, while bacteria, viruses, or other immune system problems are thought to be an issue for complex canker sores.
Floss daily and brush after meals to help free your mouth of foods that can activate a sore. Chewing gum and candy full of sugar is another irritant along with acidic or spicy foods, so these are all useful to avoid. Antimicrobial mouthwashes and over-the-counter anesthetics may provide momentary relief, but the best option to stop sores from growing can be discussed with your dentist.
If you find unusually large sores, sores lasting more than three weeks, spreading sores, trouble swallowing, a high fever, or further pain, call at 843-757-2828 here at First Dental of Bluffton in Bluffton, South Carolina. We will ease your discomfort and attend to your dental needs.