Canker sores

[spazzyjazzy]

Oh my goodness! I have one huge one on the back of my cheek. It hurts so bad. I used to get them all the time. I always get them when I bite my cheek. They hurt like a mother flubber. I wish it would go away.

 

[Christine]

I remember learning this, but I can't guarantee it's accurate, that canker sores were cold sores INSIDE your mouth. It's the same virus. If it IS the same virus, you may want to get an as-needed prescription for valtrex. You would take it only when you feel the canker sore for 5 days, I think. It should start to work almost immediately.

I'm not sure if kids are supposed to take it or not, though.

I think, also, what you might want to do is find a medication that stays on soft tissue/membrane. I'm not sure that Abreva will, even if it's a great medication. You really just want to protect the area from food and bacteria. There are some liquid medications (ask the pharmacist) that should be able to adhere to the tissue inside your mouth.

Good Luck.

No, it's not accurate. Cold sores are the Herpes Simplex virus, canker sores are not. They aren't really sure what causes cankers but they do know that it is not the herpes virus. Valtrex, Zovirax, Abreva are only to be used on true herpes outbreaks.

 

[CajunDixie]

L-lysine

 

[Chuck S]

I usually get canker sores if I eat too many acidic foods, especially cantalope, or drink too much orange juice or iced tea.

I've found making a paste of baking soda and applying that to the sore, or holding a milk of magnesia tablet on the sore usually helps quite a bit.

 

[Nala56]

Growing up I always had cancer sores, terrible ones. When I would get one, they would spread until my mouth was full of them. Later in life, I worked for a doctor, he was an old fashioned general practioner. After hearing me complain about my mouth he told me he would get rid of them for good. Back when you could still get small pox vaccine for three years in a row he gave me a small pox vaccination, just like you got when you were little. He said cancer sores had something to do with the same virus as small pox. Anyway, I haven't had a cancer sore since 1985, my last vaccine.

 

[Christine]

Growing up I always had cancer sores, terrible ones. When I would get one, they would spread until my mouth was full of them. Later in life, I worked for a doctor, he was an old fashioned general practioner. After hearing me complain about my mouth he told me he would get rid of them for good. Back when you could still get small pox vaccine for three years in a row he gave me a small pox vaccination, just like you got when you were little. He said cancer sores had something to do with the same virus as small pox. Anyway, I haven't had a cancer sore since 1985, my last vaccine.

I'm a bit confused. Does this mean that you would have to get a second round of smallpox vaccine? I only ask because I am old enough that I had the smallpox vaccine as a child. But I still get tons of canker sores.

I remember when I was a kid and I had a real bad one, I would go to my family physician and he would use silver nitrate sticks on them and burn them right off. For a time he would give us some to use at home and my mom would use them on me. Then they stopped doing that. I don't even think doctors use them anymore but they were a godsend.

 

[DebbieTN]

My daughter has had them since she was little. Over the years she traced them to eating anything citrus. Every time she eats or drinks anything with citrus in it, she gets canker sores. She likes Zilatin (sp). It works really well. I know you said you eat a lot of oranges, so you might try not eating them for a while and see if you stop getting them. You may have developed an allergic reaction to them.

 

[Disneyrsh]

.

 

[sugarpie]

In the peds office where I work we recommend a mixture of Benadryl and Maalox (1 part Benadryl to 3 parts Maalox). It's a swish and spit type solution. It apparently numbs the painful area. Might be worth a try...especially since you may already have these items around the house. I don't recommend it for kids though unless you check with your ped first...

We call that Magic Mouthwash.

I've put hydrogen peroxide on canker sores. Hurts like heck, but they seem to go away faster.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My 15yo used to get them all the time (really all the time), but I read a thread about them here on the CB and we tried a couple of suggestions and now he rarely gets them. He takes a daily L-lysine tablet and uses Arm & Hammer Brilliant Sparkle toothpaste. If he feels one coming on he brushes his teeth an extra time and takes an extra L-lysine.

I'm going to quote myself...

If a person can stop themselves from having them, the treatments won't be needed. We had a bunch of expensive things that my son would use once he had them, but he doesn't need those things anymore.

Same with me and the cold sores. I have my Valtrex ready and waiting for the cold sores, but haven't had to use it since starting the L-lysine.

And once my son would get one, he would be eating and bite it and make it swollen and he'd be more apt to bite it again. He was a disaster. So much better now.

 

[willis37862]

I get them also. Once I had two at the same time. Couldn't eat or drink or talk. I was so stinking miserable. I haven't found anything that helps much but I might try some of the stuff the other posters have written about. I don't know what causes them but for me it seems I get them more often when I am stressed or am having allergy/sinus problems. There may be no connection just seems to happen at the same time.

 

[Wishing on a star]

My 15yo used to get them all the time (really all the time), but I read a thread about them here on the CB and we tried a couple of suggestions and now he rarely gets them. He takes a daily L-lysine tablet and uses Arm & Hammer Brilliant Sparkle toothpaste. If he feels one coming on he brushes his teeth an extra time and takes an extra L-lysine.

I also take the L-lysine for cold sores. I used to get at least one a month and I don't think I've gotten any in the 5 months since starting the daily L-lysine.

Yep, that was me making those recommendations. Works for me and DH!!

 

[Stacerita]

I get them every now and then and never put anything on them. They usually disappear after a couple of days. Not sure why I get them. I had one during the week. I assumed it was because I kissed someone with a cootie. Oh well.

 

[willis37862]

I assumed it was because I kissed someone with a cootie. Oh well.

Oh. Guess I better get DH tested for cooties

 

[Kimmumum]

I'm sorry but I didn't read ALL of the responses to this may have already been mentioned......take a Tums or Rolaids and put it on the sore (either between your gum and cheek or gum and lip). It will suck up all of the acid and take the pain away. When it gets slimey just take it out and throw it away. You could also grind it up into a powder but that is messier. Hope you feel better.

 

[Chuck S]

I've had a lot fewer of them after I switched to a baking soda based toothpaste, as the baking soda neutralizes acid.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Yep, that was me making those recommendations. Works for me and DH!!

In that case, my son thanks you! And I do, too, because he complains a lot less! Of course he's a teenager, so he still finds plenty to complain about.

 

[Stacerita]

Oh. Guess I better get DH tested for cooties

You better. Even the nice guys can have cooties.

 

[Nala56]

I'm a bit confused. Does this mean that you would have to get a second round of smallpox vaccine? I only ask because I am old enough that I had the smallpox vaccine as a child. But I still get tons of canker sores.

I remember when I was a kid and I had a real bad one, I would go to my family physician and he would use silver nitrate sticks on them and burn them right off. For a time he would give us some to use at home and my mom would use them on me. Then they stopped doing that. I don't even think doctors use them anymore but they were a godsend.

Yes, I got smallpox vaccine as a child, but I was in my 20's when this doctor gave me the vaccine again. I don't know the relationship between the smallpox vaccine and cancer sores, but it worked. I had tried everything, I use to use xylocaine viscous, a liquid that would numb your mouth. My sores were terrible. All I know is this worked and have never had problems again.

Good luck to everyone finding something that works. Canker sores are really miserable.