A shallow sore shaped like an ulcer on your tongue or on the inside of your lip or cheek can be a canker sore. The borders of canker sores are generally red in color with a yellow or white centre. They may be painful and can make it hard to talk and eat. There can be more than one canker sore at a time. But the best part is, that you cannot spread canker sores to other people. We all witness canker sore at some point in life but it’s more common in women, teens, and young adults.

Causes

• By mistakenly biting your lips.
• Have braces on your teeth.
• Consuming certain sensitive foods 
• Do not get enough vitamins or minerals in your diet, such as iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid.

Symptoms

• A sore with a burning or tingling effect.
• A shallow ulcer on your tongue or inside of your lip or cheek.
• A sore with a red border and center part is white or yellow.
• Painful and swollen
• Sore makes it hard to talk and eat.

Minor canker sores heal in about 1-2 weeks but major one takes longer to heal. You do not need to visit the doctor as they go away on their own. There are several things that you can do to relieve pain at home

• Consume soft, bland foods that are easy to swallow, such as yogurt or cream soup. Cut your food into small pieces or mash or puree it. Avoid coffee, chocolate, spicy or salty foods, citrus fruits or juices, nuts, seeds, and tomatoes.
• Drink cold fluids, such as water or iced tea. Sometimes fluid touching the canker sore can cause a stinging pain. Use a straw so the fluid doesn't touch the canker sore. Hold ice on the canker sore until it is numb.
• Carefully brush your teeth so that the toothbrush bristles don’t touch the sore.
• Rinse your mouth with saltwater. To make salt water mix 1 tsp of salt in 1glass of water.
• You can put any OTC numbing medicine on the canker sore. You can apply this 3-4 times a day.
• You can have pain relievers, NSAIDs like ibuprofen, or aspirin. But they can have some side effects too. Don’t give them to a child below 20 years.

If your canker sore does not get better in 2-3 weeks with these tricks and tips, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor for its cure. Tell him what all you have used on it and he can prescribe you some other medicines.

(Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be taken as professional medical advice.  Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other health professionals for any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.)