Caring for a Cantankerous Canker Sore

Cranky about a sore inside your mouth? If it’s a canker sore, it should disappear within a week or two.¹ To ease the pain in the meantime, try an over-the-counter canker sore ointment or mouth rinse.¹ And limit or avoid hot, acidic, and spicy foods.¹

If a sore lasts longer than 2 weeks, talk with your dentist.¹

Can you prevent canker sores? It’s hard to say. The causes of canker sores are not yet clear, and research hasn't yet uncovered methods for preventing them. Some people are prone to sores because of their genes.¹ Canker sores also may be caused by not getting enough vitamin B-12, iron, or folic acid in your diet.² Try to put a lid on stress and fatigue, which may trigger sores.²

¹ “Canker Sores.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, September 9, 2008. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000998.htm. Accessed 2010.

² “Canker Sores, Cold Sores, and Common Mouth Sores.” American Dental Association. www.ada.org/2982.aspx. Accessed 2010.