Aphthous ulcers, also known as a canker sore, are the most common type of mouth ulcers. A report said that one in five individuals might develop aphthous ulcers in any stage of their life. These ulcers in mouth are painful and recur from time to time.
Aphthous ulcers are the painful sores that affect the lining tissues of the oral cavity. These painful sores occur anywhere in the mouth except the hard palate (roof of the mouth) or on the gums present right beside the teeth. The ulcers appear as small, shallow lesions. These lesions cause difficulty to eat. This type of ulcer is most commonly seen in the age group of 10 to 20 years.
Swollen lymph nodes, fever, and weakness found in some cases. Also, the canker sores or aphthous ulcer heals without scarring in one or two weeks.Then your doctor may suggest you certain laboratory tests to rule out other health conditions such as cancer.
You have to visit doctor if you have:
Your doctor may identify the aphthous sores with a visual exam. Therefore, no other test or particular diagnosis is required for canker sores. But, if you have persistent or recurrent canker sores.
The particular cause of aphthous ulcers remains unclear. The combination of certain triggering factors may lead to formation of these ulcers.
Other causes include food allergies, medications (nicorandil, anti-inflammatory medicines), smoking, viral and bacterial infections, and emotional stress.
There is no treatment for aphthous ulcer. But there are certain medications which tend to relieve the symptoms. For minor aphthous sores, treatment may not be required. If the sores are larger and persistent, your doctor may prescribe the following for aphthous ulcer treatment:
As there is no best treatment for aphthous ulcer, self-management is necessary. Consider the following tips to relieve pain, promote healing, and prevent recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
