Tongue And Cheek: A Canker Sore Story
Sometimes, mouth pain goes beyond a toothache. One day you’re feeling fine, watching TV or driving in your car, when you suddenly notice a sore spot on your tongue or cheek. You try to ignore it, but once you notice it, you can’t forget about it. If it’s on your tongue, you touch it to your tooth; if it’s in your cheek, you touch it with your tongue. You can’t stop trying to figure out what’s going on and the more you touch it, the more sensitive it gets. Finally it’s in full-blown irritation mode and the sensitivity can be enough to drive you mad! Welcome to the world of the canker sore.
Canker vs. Cold
A canker sore is not the same as a cold sore. Canker sores are found inside the mouth; on the tongue, roof of the mouth, or in the cheek. They are not contagious, but there are many different reasons that you might have one. Some causes include:
- Viral infections
- Stress
- Citrus or acidic foods
- Hormonal changes
- Vitamin or mineral deficiency
- Compromised immune system
- Mouth injury
- GI disease
- A broken tooth
Cold sores, on the other hand, are painful, fluid-filled blisters that typically appear outside the mouth around the lips. They are caused by a virus and they are very contagious. If you think you have a cold sore, see your doctor for treatment options.
Healing And Prevention
Fortunately, canker sores clear up fairly quickly. You can do a few things to lessen the irritation, such as gargling several times a day with salt water or mouthwash, or use a topical numbing agent made for the mouth. If your canker sore is really causing you a lot of pain over several days and doesn’t seem to be going away, your dentist can prescribe antibiotics, ointments, or mouthwashes that can speed the healing and reduce the pain.
Though there is no foolproof way to keep from getting a canker sore, you can prevent future outbreaks by avoiding foods that can trigger an outbreak, reduce your stress levels, and stick to a good oral hygiene routine.
Broken Teeth
If your canker sore is the result of broken tooth, there is not much you can do to prevent it from coming back. As long as that tooth has a rough or sharp edge, the irritation will continue. Fortunately, you can do something that might keep it from coming back for good. At Community Dental Group, we offer tooth bonding, which is a way to repair damaged or broken teeth. A durable resin is bonded to the tooth, restoring it to its natural shape and texture. Your tongue or cheek will no longer get caught up in the drama of the canker sore and you can say finally say goodbye to the irritation that drives you mad.