Topic Overview
What is a canker sore?
A canker sore is a shallow sore shaped like a crater
(ulcer) on your tongue or on the inside of your lip or cheek. Canker sores have
a red border and a white or yellow center. They may be painful and can make it
hard to talk and eat. You may have one or more than one canker sore at a time.
Unlike
, you cannot spread canker sores to other
people. See a picture of
.
Anyone can get a canker sore but women, teenagers,
and young adults have them more often. People usually get their first canker
sore between the ages of 10 and 40. Most people have canker sores at some time
in their lives, and some people have them regularly.
What causes a canker sore?
The cause of canker sores is unknown,
but they tend to run in families. Canker sores may also develop when
you:
- Are stressed or tired.
- Have your menstrual cycle,
if you are a woman.
- Hurt your mouth, such as biting your
lip.
- Have braces on your teeth.
- Have food allergies.
Eating foods that you are allergic to may cause you to get a canker
sore.
- Eat or drink food or juice that has a lot of acid, such as
orange juice.
- Do not get enough vitamins or minerals in your diet,
such as iron.
What are the symptoms?
The main
symptom of a canker sore is getting a shallow ulcer on your tongue or on the
inside of your lip or cheek. The sore may be large or small, and it will have a
red border and a white or yellow center. You might have more than one canker
sore at a time.
Canker sores usually begin with a burning or
tingling feeling. They may be swollen and painful. Having a canker sore can
make it hard to talk or eat.
Canker sores may hurt for 7 to 10
days. Minor canker sores heal completely in 1 to 3 weeks, but major canker
sores can take up to 6 weeks to heal. Some people get another canker sore after
the first sore has healed. Most canker sores heal without a scar.
How is a canker sore diagnosed?
If you see your
doctor or dentist about the pain caused by your canker sores, he or she will do
a
by looking in your mouth to diagnose the
canker sores.