Fix Canker Sore

How To Diagnose Canker Sores

For the diagnosis of canker sores, tests are not often needed. Using a simple oral exam canker sores can usually be easily identified by your dentist or doctor. In some instances, other more involved tests may be done to check for other health issues if your canker sores are severe and continue to reappear, or do not easily go away.

Treatment For Canker Sores

For minor canker sores special treatment is not usually needed. Canker sores, for the most part, tend to clear in a week or two on their own. However, persistent, unusually painful, or unusually large canker sores often will be in need of some medical attention. For these more substantial conditions, there are various canker sore treatment options depending on your exact situation, including:

• Mouth Rinses: Often if you have multiple canker sores you may be prescribed a mouth rinse to reduce inflammation and pain. Typically a prescription mouth rinse will contain a steroid that is called dexamethasone. Alternatively, lidocaine may be prescribed to reduce the pain.
• Topical Products: Both prescription and over-the-counter products (gels, liquids, pastes, or creams) are available and can help alleviate pain and if applied to individual sores as soon as they appear can speed the healing time. Some products have what are known as “active ingredients”, (For example Hydrogen Peroxide), but there are various other topical products used for canker sores, some of which do not contain active ingredients. To see what might work best for your specific case inquire with your doctor or dentist as soon as possible.
• Oral Medications: When a canker sore is severe and/or does not respond to topical treatments, oral medications are sometimes used. There are various oral medications that are used depending on the exact condition, sometimes involving the use of medications not specifically intended for the treatment of canker sores, (for example Carafate used as a coating agent, and Colchicine normally used to treat gout). Sometimes oral steroid medications are tried, but usually only as a last result because of possible serious side effects.
• Cautery of Sores: To perform cautery, a chemical substance or an instrument is used to burn, or destroy the tissues in and around the sores. One such chemical substance is Debacterol which is a topical medicine made specifically to treat gum problems and canker sores. With chemical cauterization of the canker sores the medicine can reduce the amount of time needed to heal by nearly a week. Another chemical, silver nitrate, is an option used sometimes to relieve pain associated with canker sores, however it has not been shown to speed up the healing.
• Nutritional supplements: Vitamins and/or supplement may be prescribed by your health professional if you aren’t getting enough of certain important nutrients. These may include zinc, folate, vitamin B-12, and/or vitamin B-6.

If your doctor suspects your canker sores might be relates to a more serious health condition , the underlying condition will be addressed and treated.

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