Aphthous stomatitis or canker sores are sores or inflammation on the lips and in the mouth that can cause pain and discomfortn. Canker sores are often considered trivial, but can be annoying when the sufferer is eating, drinking, or talking.
Canker sores are usually not contagious. Canker sores can be experienced by everyone, but are more common in women, teenagers, and children.
Sprue Characteristics
Canker sores can appear anywhere in the mouth, from the tongue, lips, inner cheeks, to the gums. Canker sores can be oval or round, white or yellow in color with a red border, and vary in size and number. Canker sores usually recover on their own within 1-2 weeks.
Causes of canker sores
Canker sores can be caused by one or a combination of the following conditions:
- Injuries, such as from being bitten or brushing your teeth incorrectly
- Fungal, viral, or bacterial infections in the mouth or other parts of the body
- Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus
- Certain conditions, such as hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, stress, smoking, and genetic factors
Thrush can also be more common in pregnant women due to hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Sometimes, canker sores may indicate a tumor or cancer in the mouth and tongue. This condition should be suspected if the thrush that appears does not heal.
How to treat canker sores
Generally, canker sores don't need to be treated and will heal on their own in 1-2 weeks. You can do treatment independently at home to relieve pain, for example by compressing the painful area with ice cubes.
In addition, you also need to be more careful when brushing your teeth, and avoid foods or drinks that can aggravate the pain of canker sores, such as spicy foods.
If the thrush does not improve, you are advised to consult a doctor. The doctor will provide treatment, according to the cause of the thrush you are experiencing.
For example, if thrush is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics and antifungals. If necessary, the doctor will also give pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce complaints.
How to prevent thrush
So that canker sores do not reappear, there are several ways that can be done to prevent it, namely:
- Maintain healthy teeth and mouth
- Brushing teeth properly and avoiding the use of toothpaste made from sodium laureth sulfate
- Regularly check your teeth and mouth to the dentist
- Eat a nutritionally balanced diet