Canker Sore on Gums

Mouth ulcers can be quite painful and distressing, causing discomfort while eating, or talking or swallowing. A stinging sensation in the gums can upset moods and also disrupt normal eating habits. And if there are aphthous sores erupting on the soft tissue of your mouth at the base of your gums, it is a confirmed case of canker sore on gums. Canker sores are small and shallow lesions erupting inside the mouth, on tongue or gums.

Causes and Symptoms of Canker Sores

Most of the time, canker sores are an outcome of having a highly acidic food or an inadvertent bite in the cheek. Other causes include:

• Rough brushing of the teeth
• Accidents in sports
• Vitamin deficiency
• Gastrointestinal diseases (like celiac disease)
• Irregular bowel movements
• Extreme stress
• Autoimmune diseases (like HIV)
• Hormonal surges during menstruation
• Using toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate

The first symptoms show up with a round or oval-shaped lesion with a white center and a red border. The sores mostly erupt under tongue, base of the gums or inside cheeks. Specially, canker sores on tongue can be very stingy causing extreme discomfort when biting and tasting food. If the sores are small and disappear within a week, without any medication, they are termed as minor canker sore on the gums. But if the sores are about ½ inch with serrated edges and take weeks to heal, then they are major canker sores, that need medical attention. If the sores erupt in clusters, they are known as herpetiform canker sores. If the sores are of the major type, the person may suffer from fever, listlessness and swollen lymph nodes.

Canker Sore Treatment

• Salt water has been the most effective home remedy for most sores and wounds. And gargling salt water is one of the best home remedies for all mouth-related concerns. One can also add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to brine solution. Swish the solution in the mouth for about 30 seconds and spit out. Due to the osmotic properties of the solution, the bacteria in the mouth is killed. This is one of the most effective canker sore home remedies.
• You could also make a solution of hydrogen peroxide, with one part water. Take a cotton swab and dip it in the solution and gently dab on the canker sore. Please do NOT swallow the solution. Hydrogen peroxide, pertaining to its anti microbial properties reduce bacterial infestation in the mouth and is therefore an effective cure for canker sores on gums.
• A liquid suspension of magnesium hydroxide, also known as milk of magnesia is an effective treatment to be followed after using the hydrogen peroxide solution. Again take a cotton swab and soak it well and apply on the canker sores, 3 - 4 times a day. The healing is faster with this effective canker sore treatment.
• Liquid antihistamines like Benadryl is prescribed as oral medication for keeping up with a good oral hygiene. Mix this with a part of milk of magnesia and rinse your mouth with the solution. Remember to spit it out after rinsing the mouth for a whole minute.
• Besides, there are some oral medications available over the counter, which help in palliating the soreness of these lesions on gums. Canker sores, which are of major and herpetiform type, are treated with tetracycline (liquid form), which is to be contained in the mouth for about 5 minutes, prior to swallowing. However, this medication is not prescribed for toddlers and children. For severe canker sores, zovirax, an antiviral drug is prescribed. Corticosteroids (like prednisone and dexamethasone) are also prescribed.

It is evident that a sound dental health is important for a healthy living. Unwelcome dental afflictions like canker sore on the gums can make a person quite irritable. Dental attention is a must, if the sores erupt at too many places inside the mouth. This is a strong indication to the fact, that your diet does not include enough vitamin supplements. Consume a lot of citrus fruits like oranges, grapes, lemon, sweet lime and gooseberries which are packed with vitamin C, as this vitamin is essential for healthy gums and teeth. Also include calcium supplements in your diet. Make sure you consume a balanced diet, and needless to say, drink a lot of water every day. This is because, many a time, gastric problems like indigestion and constipation can also cause these canker sores. So detoxification is also important and water serves as the best detoxifier