A canker sore can make eating, drinking, and talking difficult and even painful. Maintaining your oral health by brushing and flossing may also be difficult with a sore in your mouth, but keeping up with your daily oral hygiene routine is an important step in the healing process. We’ve put together a short guide to everything you need to know about canker sores.
What do they look like?
Canker sores are usually small, round reddish sores. You’ll find them on the soft tissues of your mouth, such as your tongue, the sides of your mouth, and at the base of your gums. Occasionally, a sore might have a yellow or white colored center.
What causes them?
Among the most common causes of canker sores are injuries. This can happen from biting your lip or cheek, an injury from sports, or even vigorous brushing. Certain people are sensitive to toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulfate, leading to sores. Foods may also cause canker sores in certain people. Chocolate, eggs, nuts, and spicy foods have been known to cause the sores. At times, a diet that is deficient in vitamin B-12 or zinc is the culprit.
What can I do?
Your best defense is to keep your mouth healthy. This means keeping up with your twice-daily brushing and daily flossing. With a mouth sore, it may be tempting to avoid the area when
brushing your teeth. This can lead to a buildup of plaque and bacteria. Aid the healing process by keeping your mouth clean and healthy. You may also try a mouthwash formulated for mouth sores. When in doubt, or if pain persists, talk to our team.
Brush thoroughly but gently around sores. Most canker sores heal within a week. If you find you are regularly getting sores, or they are taking longer than one week to heal, schedule a visit to our office. We will assess your oral health and provide you with our expert advice.
For more information about oral health or to schedule your next visit, please contact our office. We look forward to seeing you.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Priyanka Dutt, DDS, is the Founder and Clinical Leader of Opulent Dental, overseeing clinical standards and patient care across all Opulent Dental offices, including Mill Mountain Dentistry By Opulent Dental in Roanoke.
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Dental Insurances and Finances
At Mill Mountain Dentistry By Opulent Dental, we understand that patient finances are important, so we accept and are able to file most commercial and private dental insurances.
Plans we accept and file include Anthem Blue Cross, Guardian, Cigna, Lincoln Financial Group, Delta Dental, Aetna, MetLife, GEHA, Ameritas, Principal and UnitedHealthcare. Coverage depends on your plan, so call +1 540-769-6370 with your insurance information if you have questions about your benefits.
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