Recently my granddaughter experienced a canker sore, not an uncommon occurrence for her, but this one was on her throat. The pain was excruciating, more so because of the location. It hurt to swallow, to speak, and pretty much hurt constantly. It even kept her awake at night. Canker sores, also referred to as an aphthous ulcer, are small, shallow sores inside the mouth, under the tongue, cheeks, or along the gums.These lesions are usually no larger than a centimeter, are usually self-diagnosed and self-treatable and often clear up within a week or two, but the common point is they can be quite painful and irritating. I have seen patients from children to adolescents to adults who get them, but they seem to be more common in adolescents and young adults. The treatments, when necessary, range from over the counter natural remedies to mouth rinses, pastes ointments or sometimes a prescription medication.

Canker sores have varying causes, but can sometimes be prevented. Some people are more susceptible, so avoiding spicy or acidic foods, mouth injuries (like brushing too vigorously), and minimizing stress could help. Canker sores are not directly caused by a virus or bacteria, but are an autoimmune response, meaning the body attacks itself.  In some cases, they could be caused by a vitamin or mineral deficiency, a hormonal imbalance, or a food allergy. Some medications can actually make certain individuals more prone, as in the case of some cancer treatments. Canker sores can even be hereditary. Determining the cause is not always easy, although doing so will help prevent them in the future. This is of little comfort to people when they already have one or are unable to directly attribute the cause to any of the aforementioned.  

If and when I get the rare canker sore, I use a prescription oral paste to relieve discomfort. There are many different treatments and remedies I have heard of and some I have suggested. Rinsing with warm water and baking soda or salt, rinsing with an over the counter antiseptic  oral rinse like Biotene, drinking chamomile tea with honey for the inflammation (not too hot), using an over the counter oral gel, ointment or paste. Clove oil has been shown to have fantastic ability to numb pain. My daughter uses clove oil and other essential oils for her canker sores with excellent results. As for my granddaughter and her canker sore on her throat, she found Chloraseptic sore throat spray brought the most relief. If you happen to get a canker sore you can try one of these suggestions or your own remedies. If you have recurring canker sores or some that last longer than fourteen days it could require more than an over the counter pain reliever and further investigation.