{"id":1073,"date":"2021-03-03T19:40:13","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T19:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/graystonedental\/dental-care-blog\/canker-sores-triggers-and-remedies\/"},"modified":"2021-03-03T19:40:13","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T19:40:13","slug":"canker-sores-triggers-and-remedies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/graystonedental\/dental-care-blog\/canker-sores-triggers-and-remedies\/","title":{"rendered":"Canker Sores: Triggers and Remedies"},"content":{"rendered":"

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GETTING A CANKER<\/b> sore can mean days of distracting discomfort. Canker sores are small, shallow sores that develop on the inside of our lips or cheeks, and they can make it difficult to eat and even talk. Where do these awful ulcers come from and what can we do about them?<\/p>\n

5 Common Canker Sore Triggers<\/h3>\n

Most canker sores come from one of these five causes<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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  1. A tissue injury, such as when we bite our lip or cheek. When it swells up, it compounds the issue by making it easy to accidentally bite it again!<\/li>\n
  2. Prolonged high stress levels put a real strain on the immune system, which makes the mouth more vulnerable to developing sores.<\/li>\n
  3. Being sick also strains the immune system, which is why we can be more likely to develop a canker sore in addition to the main infection we\u2019re already fighting.<\/li>\n
  4. When we eat foods that are highly acidic (including lemons, strawberries, tomatoes, and pineapple), they can be pretty hard on the tissues of the mouth.<\/li>\n
  5. Ill-fitting dentures or poking braces can lead to canker sores if they rub the cheeks the wrong way.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Simple Remedies for Canker Sores<\/h3>\n

    If you\u2019re prone to canker sores, try to identify the main trigger. Knowing the cause makes it easier to fight back. We can cut back on eating acidic foods, we can use dental wax to protect from poking wires and brackets, and we can work on reducing our stress levels to give our immune systems a break<\/strong>. If none of these solutions apply, or if you\u2019ve tried them and it still isn\u2019t helping, we recommend following these tips:<\/p>\n

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    • Apply topical medication or take painkillers to reduce the discomfort.<\/li>\n
    • Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help reduce inflammation and make the healing process go faster.<\/li>\n
    • Use a toothpaste that doesn\u2019t contain sodium laurel sulfate (but does contain fluoride!).<\/li>\n
    • Only brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush to minimize irritation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n