Canker Sores
By Dr. Linda Niessen -- Baylor College of Dentistry STORY: CANKER SORES SCRIPT # 515 SHOOT: 6/12/03 AIRDATE: Monday, July 14, 2003 DHC MASTER #18 Timecode: 5:04
Monday, July 14, 2003
One in every five Americans suffers from canker sores, or mouth ulcers. Unlike herpes, canker sores are NOT caused by a contagious virus, a common misconception. New medication relieves pain and speeds the healing of canker sores. Dr. Linda Niessen has the latest in today's Dental Health Check.
About every two months, Kajuri Lalwani develops a canker sore. She has one right now inside her mouth. Kajuri only eats soft food such as yogurt until the sore goes away. "Quite painful, usually even if I drink water, it really upsets it, aggravates it more," Kajuri said.
Over the counter medication provides pain relief. These ointments contain benzocaine, a topical anesthetic. But a prescription drug called Aphthasol can do more. The oral paste contains an antihistamine related drug called amlexanox. Aphthasol calms down the cells producing the canker sore.
"There are some effective medications now that decrease the pain and the duration of the ulcers. The only downside of the medications is that they have no effect on subsequent outbreaks. We would love to find something that prevents these," said oral pathologist Dr. John Wright of Baylor College of Dentistry. Dr. Wright studies diseases of the mouth including canker sores.
"We're now looking at a combination of drugs, some of which we know has an effect on canker sores and some that are a little experimental."
Kajuri, a college student, qualified for Dr. Wright's latest study when she suddenly developed a canker sore. The sore may have been triggered by the stress of studying for a college test. "In many patients, stress is one of the things at the top of the list. It will activate their canker sores," said Dr. Wright.
A canker sore will go away on its own if you do nothing, usually in 7 to 10 days. After about age 40, they occur less frequently. For Baylor College of Dentistry, The Texas A & M University System Health Science Center in Dallas, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.
Canker Sore Facts
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They are not contagious.
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They are genetically related.
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Trauma can cause them.
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Allergies can trigger them.
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Stress may play a role.
Note to viewers:
Apthasol is a prescription drug that can be obtained through a dentist or
physician to treat canker sores inside or outside the mouth.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
