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<p>You mean like a chewable Tums? Or something else?</p>
<p>I get horrible canker sores so I’m bookmarking this thread for when the next one hits.</p>
<p>First of all, when you all say “canker sores” are we talking about “cold sores”? Are these one and the same?</p>
<p>My doctor prescribed Valtrex for me to take when I feel one coming on. Valtrex is actually used for genital herpes, which is a second cousin once removed to cold sores. The Valtrex seems to keep the cold sore from developing.</p>
<p>“First of all, when you all say “canker sores” are we talking about “cold sores”? Are these one and the same?”</p>
<p>Nope. Cold sores are on the outside of the mouth and caused by a virus. Canker sores are sores inside the mouth, I think just caused by general exposure to bacteria I’m not positive. Either way, not the same thing.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for all of the advice. Now my only problem is I don’t know which methods to try first!</p>
<p>I’ve had recurrent problems with aphthous stomatitis for the last 25 years and more: sores developing on the inside of my mouth (inside the lip, on the gums, on the roof of my mouth, and, most painfully, on the sides of my tongue), all as a manifestation of Crohn’s Disease. (As my gastroenterologist explained to me at the outset, one’s mouth is, after all [at least from the perspective of a GI doctor!], nothing more than the uppermost end of one’s intestines.) Whether the ones I get are entirely identical to what most people call canker sores I’m not sure, but they’re certainly intensely painful, so much so that at times, especially when I’ve had several – sometimes, a lot more than several – simultaneously, I’ve been unable to eat, at all, or even to speak, for days at a time. Fortunately I haven’t had any very recently, since the flareups tend to parallel flareups in the Crohn’s itself, and I’ve been in remission for a while except for that little episode last summer. </p>
<p>I’ve found that for very temporary relief, liquid Anbesol sometimes numbs the pain for a little while. But it doesn’t help make anything go away, or prevent anything from developing. The only truly effective remedy for me has been prescription fluocinonide ointment (I think the brand name is Lidex), applied directly to a sore as soon as it starts developing. It’s a corticosteroid, and presumably works similarly to kenalog-orabase. It’s not a magic bullet and doesn’t make things instantly better, but it does help provide relief, and it does make the sores disappear much more quickly than they otherwise would. The sooner you apply it, the better. Sometimes the sore won’t really develop at all if you apply the ointment soon enough.</p>
<p>I empathize with all of you!</p>
<p>PS: My mother also used to give me gentian violet when I got sores inside my mouth as a child. I haven’t heard anyone mention that in decades! It was a very intense violet-purple color, and I have vivid memories of spilling it on the bathroom vanity while attempting to apply it myself on one occasion. My mother was not happy, to put it mildly, and I don’t think the stain ever came out!</p>
<p>I suffered for years and years with this problem. I got canker sores often, and they were literally the diameters of dimes…agony! Unfortuntately, my daughters got canker sores, too. I tried eliminating everything from my diet that might be the culprit. I took Lysine. I used Canker Melts, too (they only seemed to make it worse). I stressed out less, I got more sleep. Absolutely nothing worked, UNTIL I stopped using toothpaste with sodium laurel sulfate in it. Since I switched 4 years ago, I have only had one very tiny canker sore, which cleared up in one day (I got the canker sore from biting my cheek accidentally). My daughters haven’t had a serious canker sore since, either. You can get some varieties of toothpastes made without SLS -in your local drug store, probably - from the Tom’s of Maine brand (just check the label, not all Tom’s toothpastes are SLS free). Other brands are easily obtained over the internet; Squiggle is my personal favorite. Good luck!!</p>
<p>Stress and foods can be a a trigger as already mentioned. For many it is highly acidic foods, especially tomatoes, tomato sauce/pasta sauce/pizza sauce, citrus, drinks with citric acid for flavoring (many sodas, gatorade, crystal light, etc.</p>
<p>Current thinking with researchers is that “apthous ulcers”, cancker sores are an autoimmune response. They can also appear with trauma to the tissue. Some people respond to the above suggestion of a tooth paste w/o sodium laurel sulfate. Different things may be a trigger for different people so try to track them when you get them and try eliminating suspicious food. Stress is tough on the immune system and may include many things like poor nutrition, lack of sleep, sickness etc. Isn’t that how most students operate most of the time??</p>
<p>^^^^^^</p>
<p>It certainly makes sense that they’re an autoimmune response given that (as in my case) they can be associated with Crohn’s Disease.</p>
<p>hyperjulie, great question! I learned a ton of info our family can use now! </p>
<p>I never cease to be amazed by how extremely helpful the parents are on this forum! Where else can you get so many knowledgeable people chiming in so quickly on absolutely any problem in the universe!?</p>
<p>^^^
Agree. CC is terrific. My son get’s these sores and it’s great to get all these tips. I feel like I’ve attended a seminar! Thanks to everyone!</p>
<p>Our remedy is to mix equal parts liquid benedryl and liquid antacid, swish and spit. This seems to make it go away.</p>
<p>Lots of and long lasting canker sores are also a symptom of celiac disease.</p>
<p>I sympathize with all sufferers. I had them so bad for over 40 years that I know the agony. I never got just one either, and once had over 50. I was at the dentist and he had to count the ones down my throat. I was thin (until menopause), and am convinced it was a combination of high metabolism and being unable to eat anything for days at a time. I never had them when I was pregnant and haven’t had one since menopause. </p>
<p>The only thing I could eat that didn’t hurt a LOT was watermelon, which is hard to find in the winter. Even water hurts. Try everything and maybe you’ll find something that works for you. I do recommend the special toothpaste, it helped me and one of my sons.</p>
<p>For those who get cold sores (outside of the mouth). As soon as you feel the tingle that one is coming, put ice on it. Hold it for as long as you can handle it, remove the ice, repeat, repeat, repeat. For some reason (I forget the medical explanation) the ice (cold) disrupts the messaging or something for the cold sore to form.</p>
<p>What a great thread! I’ve had canker sores since I was a child and now my daughters do too. I tried all the OTC remedies and, while some provided temporary pain relief, none helped get rid of them. Every time I went/go to the dentist, I asked if anything new was available. About 10 years ago, my hygenist said she was at a conference and they found that a medication normally used for something else (forgot what), had a side benefit of keeping cankor sores from forming. I’ve used it ever since and it is great. You have to apply it at the first sign or, at least, within the first 24h of feeling one come on. Once it’s formed, this won’t help. Then, apply it as often as you remember–I try to use it up to 6 times in the first 24 hours although less is effective too. I’ve never needed it after those first 24 hours. You do need a prescription which I get from my dentist but my doctor would write it for me too. It’s fluocinonide cream USP, .05%. It’s kind of like vaseline and slides off which is fine but that is likely why the reapplication is needed.</p>
<p>Someone else mentioned a topical prescription that’s grainy, like sand. I used that before finding the Fluocinonide and find the one I use now to be not only more effective but more pleasant to apply and have in my mouth!</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone in their quest to find relief from these painful sores!</p>
<p>Yes, fluocinonide is what I’ve been prescribed for the last 10 years or so.</p>
<p>My son used to get canker sores a lot. I read that sodium lauryl sulfate is often a culprit in canker sores, so I got him some Tom’s natural toothpaste without SLS. It worked … no more canker sores! I have since found a couple other brands of toothpaste without SLS, including a couple types of Sensodyne. SLS makes the foam in toothpaste, so non-SLS toothpaste can be kind of weird. A new Sensodyne in what looks like a hairspray can recently came out. It has something in it that helps it foam without SLS. S likes this one a lot.</p>
<p>I thought this site might help re: canker sores.</p>
<p>[Canker</a> sore - MayoClinic.com](<a href=“http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/canker-sore/DS00354]Canker”>Canker sore - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic)</p>
<p>Cold sores, on the other hand, are caused by a herpes simplex virus and are highly contagious.</p>
<p>Hope it helps.</p>
<p>My mom always told me regular bowel movements and acidophilus. Laurel sulfate free toothpaste and don’t bite yourself (I know that’s hard to do). Once you have one, listerine held in the mouth for a minute several times a day.</p>
<p>I used to get them too. Badly. I tried
changes to diet - less acidic foods helped some, but you still hit yourself with the toothbrush :=)
reduce stress - yeah right. We have kids applying to college.
different toothpastes - didn’t help me, but try
kenalog with orabase - best thing I found for years. They are still there but don’t hurt as much
saw dental specialist</p>
<p>then - dental hygenist said LISTERINE. Sounds dumb but I never get them anymore. If I bite my mouth, I’m rinsing many times a day and …it works.
Good luck.</p>