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Many people have had the experience of getting a canker sore. They’re small, painful, crater-like bumps that show up on the tongue or on the inside of the mouth. Usually white, gray, or yellowish with a red rim, these nuisances can last up to two weeks. Canker sores are most common in teenagers and women, but they can strike children as young as two.
Although the cause of canker sores isn’t always known, and most of the time, they disappear on their own, the sores can sometimes appear after eating certain foods or after using toothpaste with foaming ingredients. They can also show up at the site of a minor bump to the mouth, caused by biting the inside of the cheek or scraping the mouth with a piece of hard candy. If your child continually gets sores in the same spot inside the mouth, the sharp edge of a tooth could be the cause. Your child’s dentist can perform an exam to determine if this is the cause.
Although “curing” the canker sores is not exactly possible, since the causes are often unknown, and most of the time, they disappear on your own, you can take steps to help your child relax while they run their course. Here are a handful of steps you can take to help ease your child’s pain:
- Make sure your child avoids acidic foods, and drinks, spicy foods and salty foods.
- Make sure your child uses toothpastes and mouthwashes that do not contain SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate).
- Have your child brush gently with only soft-bristled toothbrushes.
- Make sure your child avoids sodas.
- If the pain is severe, try using an ice cube to numb the area.
Keep in mind that canker sores are not contagious, but a cold sore is very contagious. You can tell the difference by where the sore erupts. Cold sores appear on the outside of the lips and near the nostrils. Canker sores appear on the soft tissues of the mouth. If you think that sharp edges of teeth might be the cause of your child’s sores, make an appointment with the dentist today for an exam.
