Canker Sores Ousting the Ouch from the Mouth
CANKER SORES Ousting the Ouch from the Mouth
If your child yelps from pain after a sip of orange juice, he might be suffering from a canker sore. These tiny round craters on your child's mouth, tongue or gums just wait for something acidic like orange juice to come along and sting them into action. The official name for canker sores--aphthous ulcers--means ''fire sores.'' And if your child is one of the unlucky ones who is prone to getting them, it won't take you long to understand how this painful eruption got its name.
''Most of the pain comes from mouth acids and digestive enzymes,'' says David N. F. Fairbanks, M.D., clinical professor of otolaryngology at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. ''The sore is a break in the surface that allows those acids to seep underneath the surface and literally eat away at the gum.''
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| When to See the Doctor ''Any sore in the mouth that lasts more than two weeks ought to be examined by a physician,'' says David N. F. Fairbanks, M.D., clinical professor of otolaryngology at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. A physician may prescribe a chewable antibiotic to cut down on any oral bacteria that could be prolonging the healing process, says Dr. Fairbanks. Or he may numb and cauterize the sore. If he chooses this particular option, he'll also probably apply silver nitrate, which will cause a dense scab to form over the sore's top. The scab will allow the sore to heal and also protect it from the digestive action of saliva. |
Canker sores usually appear one at a time, settling inside the lips or cheeks--especially where the gums meet the inside edge of the lips. They're usually caused or aggravated by certain foods, stress or some superficial irritation like nibbling on the inside of lips and cheeks. Fortunately, they only take up residence for a week or so and then disappear. While they're on their way out, however, the following tips may help your kid feel better.
Neutralize that acid. ''Have your child chew chewable Tums, Rolaids, Maalox Plus or Pepto-Bismol to cut down on the acid in his mouth when he has a canker sore,'' suggests Dr. Fairbanks. ''As many as one Tums or Rolaids every three to four hours is safe for a child.''
Douse the fire with water. ''Have your child rinse his mouth three or four times a day with lukewarm water to clean the area and make it feel better,'' says Paul Rehder, M.D., a pediatric dermatologist in private practice in Oxnard, California.
Coat it. Apply a protective gel such as Zilactin, after first drying the sore with a cotton swab, suggests Dr. Fairbanks. Use as often as the package directs.
Numb it. ''Get your child anesthetic lozenges to suck on,'' says Dr. Fairbanks. He recommends lozenges containing benzocaine, such as Chloraseptic, available at most pharmacies. A cold Popsicle or a cool bowl of Jell-O can also do the trick.
Tackle the inflammation. ''Acetaminophen [Children's Tylenol] , an anti-inflammatory, helps reduce the discomfort for some children suffering from canker sores,'' says Dr. Fairbanks. Check the package directions for the correct dosage for your child's age and weight. If your child is under age two, consult a physician.
Avoid nuts that irritate. If your child seems prone to canker sores, you should have him avoid nuts and peanut butter, suggests says Dr. Fairbanks. ( Walnuts and pecans are especially pain-provoking--and so is coconut.)
Cancel the candy bars. Sweets and chocolate frequently induce canker sores. ''Therefore, for some kids, eating an Almond Joy, Snickers or virtually any chocolate-nut candy bar will result in misery the next day. Such bars frequently contain sugar, chocolate, coconut and nuts,'' says Dr. Fairbanks.
Axe the acids. Highly acidic foods or juices can be real yowl-raisers, says Dr. Fairbanks. These foods include pineapple, grapes, plums, tomatoes and all forms of citrus fruit.
| When Trouble Comes in Bunches If a child gets a whole group of canker sores on the back of his throat, it's a condition called herpangina, according to David N. F. Fairbanks, M.D., clinical professor of otolaryngology at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. Those clusters of sores, caused by a virus, can continue spreading from the tonsil up onto the soft area of the palate and beyond, advises Dr. Fairbanks. ''This whole crop of sores, which won't appear anywhere else in the mouth, hurts like mad,'' he says. Fortunately, once a child has had herpangina, she can't get it again. Treat it the same as you would regular canker sores, says Dr. Fairbanks, and in five to seven days the whole crop will disappear. |
Supply something chewy. If your child is in the habit of biting the insides of his cheeks and getting canker sores, you might want to suggest that he chew some sugarless gum when he gets stressed or hungry, says Dr. Fairbanks. ''Anything that scratches the inside of the mouth will trigger a canker sore in someone who's susceptible.''
Brush the old-fashioned way. ''Avoid electric or rotary toothbrushes if your child tends to suffer from canker sores,'' warns Dr. Fairbanks. The vigorous brushing provided by mechanical devices may also scratch the gum and initiate the canker formation process, he says.
Ditch an old brush. An old brush can also contribute to sores, adds Timothy Durham, D.D.S., assistant professor of dentistry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Omaha. ''If your child's toothbrush frays, she can scratch the soft tissues of her gum.'' And with some kids, that's all a canker sore needs to get started.
