Medically referred to as aphthous ulcers or aphthous stomatitis, canker sores are small painful blisters that grow on the inner surfaces of the mouth such as on the lips, on the linings of the cheeks, and even on the surfaces of the throat.
Canker sores usually appear as white-grey-yellow patches inside a swollen reddened border. Canker sores are among the most common types of oral lesions affects approximately 20% of the entire adult population around the world.
Types Of Canker Sores
Canker sores are often misunderstood as being the same with cold sores or fever blisters. A good way to tell one apart from the other is to determine the site of the lesion. Cold sores usually occur outside the mouth, most commonly on the areas under the nose or around the chin. Canker sores, on the other hand, grow on the inside surfaces the mouth.
Canker sores are categorised into three main types.
- Minor sores are a small lesions that grow anywhere from 3 to 10 millimetres. These are perhaps the most common kind of canker sore. It affects approximately 80% of canker sore patients. These usually last up to two weeks before it fully heals.
- Major sores are larger and deeper oral lesions. Unlike minor sores, major sores have an irregular border and grow into a diameter greater than 10 millimetres. Major sores account for approximately 10% of all the recorded canker sore cases. Major sore usually take longer to heal. It is not rare for major sores to take months to fully heal.
- Herpetiform sores consist of large gatherings of multiple lesions. The lesions are small ulcers, often at around 2-3 millimetres. It is not rare of lesions of this kind to consist of 100 ulcers growing at around the same area at the same time. Herpetiform sores account for 10% of all cases of canker sores.
Dentist On The Gold Coast
Canker sores usually go away on their own. It is best to consult with your local Dentist On The Gold Coast, however, when you develop canker sores that continue to persist after 3 weeks. Main Beach Dental houses a team of dental experts who are committed to providing the local Gold Coast community with only exceptional dental healthcare. Claim your FREE dental consultation by calling us at (07) 5503 1177.
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