Understanding the Causes of Cold and Canker Sores

By Dr. Ronald K. Wagner

On and off one might be faced with ailments that can be painful and hard to bear. Mouth sores are one such problem that not only are painful but inconveniences you in your daily life, while eating or simply talking. Mouth sores typically can be of two types, cold sores and canker sores. Though the nature of the ailment is the same, their causes may be attributed to different reasons and health conditions.

Difference between a cold sore and a canker sore

Cold Sores

Cold sores typically form outside the mouth and happen as the name depicts due to cold and related virus.

Canker Sores

As opposed to cold sores, canker sores occur inside the mouth. They are small and occur as an ulcer and can be extremely painful. While the causes of formation of these cankerous sores are not known, it is believed that excessive consumption of acidic food often cause the sores to occur and multiply. Sometimes sudden injury to the tissues in the gums could also lead to their occurrence.

Unlike cold sores, canker sores are not easy to deal with. There are two types of canker sores – simple and those that can be not so simple. Simple canker sores are the most common type of canker sores and can be treated rather easily. On the other hand, the serious canker sores typically happen to those who have had it before. The ongoing or recurrence of the canker sores is a manifestation of a bigger problem at hand, which one often tends to ignore. Often dentists or doctors attribute the occurrence and reappearance of canker sores to deficiency of major vitamins in the body like vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, iron. It can also be the cause of nutrition deficiency or various gastrointestinal tract diseases.

Whatever the causes of these sores, they are extremely painful to bear. These fleshy and watery growths in the insides of the cheek, tongue or on the palate can make life unbearable. Often the pain and discomfort results in fever and temperature as well.

Treatment for canker sores

How can one treat canker sores? If you feel that the pain and discomfort is getting unbearable, it may help to visit your dentist. If the problem isn’t as serious, one may look at over-the-counter medications and oral rinses that might temporarily relieve you of the pain as well as kill the infection, if the cause is superficial. However, if the sores are due to other serious problem, continued use of these rinses or medications may not do much in terms of relief; rather prolonged use could often enhance the irritation and make the situation worse.

If even after over the counter medications there isn’t much in terms of relief, it perhaps is a sign that there may be more that what meets the eye. In such a scenario, do not waste time and consult your dentist to get appropriate treatment.