Symptoms
You may feel a burning or tingling sensation in an area of inflammation before an ulcer appears. An ulcer takes two to three days to form completely. The sores are round, shallow and symmetric, which means they are the same on all sides. The are painful. They usually are found on the inner part of the lips and cheeks and the tongue.
Diagnosis
Canker sores are the most common recurring oral ulcers and are diagnosed mostly by process of elimination. If the ulcers become more frequent or severe, are accompanied by other symptoms (such as rashes, joint pain, fevers or diarrhea) or are larger than about ½inch in diameter, you should visit your dentist or physician. He or she will try to rule out blood diseases, connective tissue diseases, drug reactions and skin disorders. A biopsy and blood tests may be required to rule out other conditions or diseases.
Expected Duration
The painful stage lasts 3 to 10 days, and most canker sores disappear within 2 weeks.
Prevention
There is no way to prevent canker sores.
Treatment
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. Rinsing with a warm-water solution and eating bland foods can minimize discomfort. Anesthetic medications or over-the-counter agents that are placed directly on the sores to coat them also may help.
People with more severe disease may need steroid medications placed on the lesions. These medications significantly shorten the healing time of the ulcers and prevent them from becoming larger. Other possible treatments include placing a medication called chlortetracycline (Aureomycin) on the sores or injecting steroids into the sores. In very severe, disabling cases, your dentist may prescribe oral medication.
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