Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesCausesAre They Cancerous?Mouth Ulcer vs. Cold SoreDiagnosisFinding ReliefTreatmentsOutlookPreventionSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Causes
Are They Cancerous?
Mouth Ulcer vs. Cold Sore
Diagnosis
Finding Relief
Treatments
Outlook
Prevention
Seeking Medical Care
Canker sores are common, with about 20% of people experiencing them regularly. They can happen at any age but typically begin appearing between 10 and 20.
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Types of Mouth Ulcers and Their Symptoms
Aphthous Ulcers
Aphthousulcers are found inside the lips, cheeks, sides of the tongue, floor of the mouth, roof of the mouth toward the back, and in thetonsil area. They usually resolve within 10 to 14 days but often recur.Recurrent aphthous ulcersaffect about 1 in 5 people.
Specific symptoms of aphthous ulcers depend on the type, but general symptoms include:
Complex aphthous can include nearly constant ulcers and/or oral and genital aphthous ulcers.Less commonly, aphthous ulcers may cause fever,swollen lymph nodes, general discomfort, and/or uneasiness.
Minor Ulcers
About 85% of aphthous ulcers are recurrent minor aphthous ulcers (minor canker sores).They are less than 10 millimeters (mm) in diameter and heal within a week or two.
Mild canker sores are typically slightly sunken, with reddish edges slightly raised.They can appear as a solitary sore or in clusters of up to four to six at a time.
Major Ulcers
Major aphthous ulcers (major canker sores) are less common, accounting for about 10% of canker sores.They are large ulcers or several that have come together to form a large ulcer, greater than 10 mm in diameter and with raised margins. They are often associated with fever,malaise(generally feeling unwell), anddysphagia(difficulty swallowing).
The pain from major canker sores can be stronger and last longer than with minor ones. Healing time can also be longer, taking up to four weeks (sometimes longer) to resolve.Major canker sores often leave a scar.
Herpetiform Ulceration (HU)
The term herpetiform means to resemble herpes and is used to describe clustered vesicles (small fluid-filled membrane bulges). It doesn’t mean that it is associated with aherpes virus.
Herpetiform ulceration (herpetiform canker sores) are many pinhead-sized ulcers. They occur most often on the tongue and typically heal within a month.These tiny sores may merge to form larger areas, which can cause scarring.
The cause of a canker sore isn’t always known. Some things that may trigger a canker sore include:
In some cases, canker sores may be associated with certain medical conditions, such as:
Is a Mouth Ulcer Cancerous?
Canker sores are not cancerous, and they do not lead to cancer. Some types ofmouth cancer can resemble canker sores.
Mouth Ulcer vs. Cold Sore: How to Tell the Difference
Canker and cold sores are bothmouth soresbut arenot the same conditionand have several key differences.
Cold sores:
Canker sores:
A visual examination from a healthcare provider or an oral health professional usually diagnoses canker sores.
If an underlying cause of the canker sore is suspected, or the lesion may be something other than a canker sore, additional tests may be ordered, such as:
How to Find Relief
Canker sores usually go away without treatment but can be painful while healing.
Somestrategies that may help ease discomfortfrom canker sores include:
You can also try remedies and over-the-counter products such as:
Medical Treatment Options
Uncommonly, canker sores may needmedical treatment. In some cases, your healthcare provider or oral health professional may prescribe:
Applying Topical MedicationsWhen applying medications directly to the canker sore:First, use a tissue to blot the area dry.Apply a small amount of the medication using a cotton swab.Avoid eating and drinking for at least 30 minutes after application to prevent the medication from being washed away.
Applying Topical Medications
When applying medications directly to the canker sore:First, use a tissue to blot the area dry.Apply a small amount of the medication using a cotton swab.Avoid eating and drinking for at least 30 minutes after application to prevent the medication from being washed away.
When applying medications directly to the canker sore:
What Is the Outlook?
Minor canker sores usually heal within one to three weeks, and pain often goes away in a week or two. It is common for them to recur periodically.
Major canker sores can take longer to heal and often leave scarring.For most people, recurrent aphthous ulcers are uncomfortable but not serious. In some cases, they may be associated with more serious health problems.
Canker sores can rarely become severe (permanent, so painful they interfere greatly with eating and drinking or involve the mucous membranes of the genitals).
There is a tendency for aphthous ulcers to become less severe later in life gradually.
How to Prevent Them
It isn’t always possible to prevent canker sores, but some measures that may help lower the risk include:
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Contact a healthcare provider or oral health professional if:
Summary
Mouth sores, also called canker sores, are painful, white, or yellow lesions inside the mouth. Most canker sores are minor and clear up within two weeks. Less commonly, they may be major (larger than 10 mm) or herpetiform (many pinhead-sized ulcers).
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Better Health.Mouth ulcers.MedlinePlus.Canker sore.Nemours KidsHealth.Canker sores.DermNet.Aphthous ulcer.DermNet.Mouth ulcer.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Overview: canker sores (mouth ulcers).Oral Health Foundation.Mouth ulcers.National Health Service.Mouth ulcers.Nemours KidsHealth.Cold sores.MyHealth Alberta.Canker sore: care instructions.Healthlink BC.Canker sores.Nemours KidsHealth.Canker sores (aphthous ulcers).Seattle Children’s Hospital.Mouth ulcers.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Better Health.Mouth ulcers.MedlinePlus.Canker sore.Nemours KidsHealth.Canker sores.DermNet.Aphthous ulcer.DermNet.Mouth ulcer.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Overview: canker sores (mouth ulcers).Oral Health Foundation.Mouth ulcers.National Health Service.Mouth ulcers.Nemours KidsHealth.Cold sores.MyHealth Alberta.Canker sore: care instructions.Healthlink BC.Canker sores.Nemours KidsHealth.Canker sores (aphthous ulcers).Seattle Children’s Hospital.Mouth ulcers.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Better Health.Mouth ulcers.MedlinePlus.Canker sore.Nemours KidsHealth.Canker sores.DermNet.Aphthous ulcer.DermNet.Mouth ulcer.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Overview: canker sores (mouth ulcers).Oral Health Foundation.Mouth ulcers.National Health Service.Mouth ulcers.Nemours KidsHealth.Cold sores.MyHealth Alberta.Canker sore: care instructions.Healthlink BC.Canker sores.Nemours KidsHealth.Canker sores (aphthous ulcers).Seattle Children’s Hospital.Mouth ulcers.
Better Health.Mouth ulcers.
MedlinePlus.Canker sore.
Nemours KidsHealth.Canker sores.
DermNet.Aphthous ulcer.
DermNet.Mouth ulcer.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Overview: canker sores (mouth ulcers).
Oral Health Foundation.Mouth ulcers.
National Health Service.Mouth ulcers.
Nemours KidsHealth.Cold sores.
MyHealth Alberta.Canker sore: care instructions.
Healthlink BC.Canker sores.
Nemours KidsHealth.Canker sores (aphthous ulcers).
Seattle Children’s Hospital.Mouth ulcers.
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