Canker sore

 

Alternative Names

Aphthous ulcer; Ulcer - aphthous

Definition

A canker sore is a painful, open sore in the mouth. Canker sores are white or yellow and surrounded by a bright red area. They are not cancerous.

A canker sore is not the same as a fever blister (cold sore).

Causes

Canker sores are a common form of mouth ulcer. They may occur with viral infections. In some cases, the cause is unknown. 

Canker sores may also be linked to problems with the body's immune system. The sores may also be brought on by:

  • Mouth injury from dental work
  • Cleaning the teeth too roughly
  • Biting the tongue or cheek

Other things that can trigger canker sores include:

Anyone can develop a canker sore. Women are more likely to get them than men. Canker sores may run in families.

Symptoms

Canker sores usually appear on the inner surface of the cheeks and lips, tongue, upper surface of the mouth, and the base of the gums.

Symptoms include:

  • One or more painful, red spots or bump that develops into an open ulcer
  • White or yellow center
  • Small size (most often under 1/3 inch across)
  • Gray color as healing starts

Less common symptoms include:

Pain often goes away in 7 to 10 days. It can take 1 to 3 weeks for a canker sore to completely heal. Large ulcers can take longer to heal.

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider can often make the diagnosis by looking at the sore.

If canker sores persist or continue to return, tests should be done to look for other causes, such as erythema multiforme, drug allergies, herpes infection, and bullous lichen planus.

You may need further testing or a biopsy to look for other causes of mouth ulcers. Canker sores are not cancer and do not cause cancer. There are types of cancer, however, that may first appear as a mouth ulcer that does not heal.

Treatment

In most cases, the canker sores go away without treatment. 

Try not to eat hot or spicy foods, which can cause pain.

Use over-the-counter medicines that ease pain in the area.

  • Rinse your mouth with mild, over-the-counter mouthwashes or salt water.
  • Apply a mixture of half hydrogen peroxide and half water directly to the sore using a cotton swab. Follow by dabbing a small amount of Milk of Magnesia on the canker afterward. Repeat these steps 3-4 times a day.
  • Rinse your mouth with a mixture of half Milk of Magnesia and half Benadryl liquid allergy medicine. Swish mixture in the mouth for about 1 minute, then spit out. 

Medicines prescribed by your health care provider may be needed for severe cases. These may include:

  • Chlorhexidine mouthwash
  • Stronger medicines called corticosteroids that are placed on the sore or take in pill form

Brush your teeth twice a day and floss your teeth every day. Also, get routine dental check ups.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Canker sores almost always heal on their own. The pain should decrease in a few days. Other symptoms disappear in 10 - 14 days.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if:

  • A canker sore or mouth ulcer does not go away after 2 weeks of home care or gets worse.
  • You get canker sores more than 2 or 3 times a year.
  • You have symptoms with the canker sore such as fever, diarrhea, headache, or skin rash.
 

References

Daniels TE. Diseases of the mouth and salivary glands. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2011: chap 433.

Chattopadhyay A, Shetty, KV. Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis. Otolaryngological Clinics of North America. 2011;44(1)

Review Date: 4/13/2013
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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