Also called mouth ulcers, canker sores are whitish-coloured lesions that appear on the mucosal area of the mouth as a result of biting or rubbing. They also often appear on the edges of the tongue, the soft palate and the buccal and lingual grooves.
Types of canker sores
There are different types, whether they are canker sores in the mouth or on the tongue:
- Minor aphthous ulcers: these are the most common and appear oval in shape with a red border. They are usually small in size and usually heal without scarring in one to two weeks.
- Major canker sores are larger and deeper and can take up to six weeks to heal, even leaving scars. As a result, they tend to be quite painful.
- Herpetiform aphthous ulcers: these are the least frequent and are very small in size, with irregular edges. They usually appear in groups and can join together to form a larger ulcer. However, they usually heal on their own, in one or two weeks, without leaving scars.
Treatment of canker sores
Although most canker sores usually go away on their own in a matter of days without the need for medication, they can be painful. For this reason, the use of products that help relieve pain as well as promote the healing process is recommended.
The best treatment for canker sores is to use a pain relief product (such as Acliclovir cream) together with a specialised mouthwash for canker sores, such as Aftex mouthwash, which soothes and promotes healing of cold sores.
What is cold sores?
Also known as fever blisters, cold s ores are a very common viral infection characterised by small, fluid-filled blisters that appear on or around the lips.
The healing process for cold sores usually takes 7 to 10 days and, once the blister has ruptured, a crust forms and can last for several days. As with cold sores, there is no treatment for cold sores, although over-the-counter medications are available to help control the pain and promote healing.
Symptoms of herpes
In terms of symptoms, cold sores go through several stages:
- Itching and burning around the lips, about a day before the blister begins to appear.
- Blister. Once they appear, they begin to fill with fluid.
- Discharge. Occurs when the blister ruptures, leaving open sores.
- Crusting. The sore forms a scab as the last stage of the herpes healing process.
Causes of cold sores?
The most common reasons for the appearance of cold sores are:
- Fatigue or stress
- Viral infection or fever
- Injury to the skin
- Exposure to sunlight and wind
- hormonal changes, such as those related to menstruation
- Changes in the immune system
How can cold sores be cured?
Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir, which does not require a prescription, Famciclovir and valacyclovir, which do require a prescription, can be used to speed up the healing process.
