slider

Ow! Your Guide to Canker Sores | Dentist Mamaroneck NY

Town Periodontist and Dentist

Posted on
Dentist Mamaroneck NY

A canker sore can make eating, drinking, and talking difficult and even painful. Maintaining your oral health by brushing and flossing may also be difficult with a sore in your mouth, but keeping up with your daily oral hygiene routine is an important step in the healing process. We’ve put together a short guide to everything you need to know about canker sores.

What do they look like?

Canker sores are usually small, round reddish sores. You’ll find them on the soft tissues of your mouth, such as your tongue, the sides of your mouth, and at the base of your gums. Occasionally, a sore might have a yellow or white colored center.

What causes them?

Among the most common causes of canker sores are injuries. This can happen from biting your lip or cheek, an injury from sports, or even vigorous brushing. Certain people are sensitive to toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulfate, leading to sores. Foods may also cause canker sores in certain people. Chocolate, eggs, nuts, and spicy foods have been known to cause the sores. At times, a diet that is deficient in vitamin B-12 or zinc is the culprit.

What can I do?

Your best defense is to keep your mouth healthy. This means keeping up with your twice-daily brushing and daily flossing. With a mouth sore, it may be tempting to avoid the area when brushing your teeth. This can lead to a buildup of plaque and bacteria. Aid the healing process by keeping your mouth clean and healthy. You may also try a mouthwash formulated for mouth sores. When in doubt, or if pain persists, talk to our team.

Brush thoroughly but gently around sores. Most canker sores heal within a week. If you find you are regularly getting sores, or they are taking longer than one week to heal, schedule a visit to our office to see our dentist in 10543. We will assess your oral health and provide you with our expert advice. 

For more information about oral health or to schedule your next visit, please contact our Mamaroneck, NY dental office. We look forward to seeing you.

The Dental Equation
Phone: (914) 821-6262
626 E Boston Post Rd.
Mamaroneck, NY 10543

Read Our Mamaroneck Dental News

Periodontist and dentist in Mamaroneck, NY

mamaroneck NY dentist

9 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About the Tongue | Mamaroneck NY Dentist

June 1st 2023

We use our tongues every day to talk, taste, and swallow, yet we rarely take time to think about this flexible organ. Here are 9 things you may not know about the tongue:  The longest recorded tongue was more than...

Dentist 10543

Seniors and Oral Health | Mamaroneck Best Dentist

May 15th 2023

Your teeth age with you. It’s important to keep them strong and healthy even as you grow older. Seniors are at a higher risk for developing periodontal disease. In addition to getting a regular dental examination, here are some other...

Dentist 10543

Should I Be Using a Tongue Scraper? | Best Dentist Mamaroneck

May 1st 2023

In addition to brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing at least once, it is also important to take good care of your tongue. Bacteria can build up on your tongue throughout the day. For some patients, using a...