The following are a few of the most common mouth sores people experience and their causes, as well as when you should seek professional treatment!

Canker Sores

Canker sores can have a variety of causes, from hormones to food sensitivities to stress. Presenting as small sores with a whitish center and red edges, canker sores can happen anywhere on the soft tissues of the oral cavity.

Most canker sores will go away within 10 days and are nothing to be concerned about. However, you should seek help if your canker sore isn’t gone within two weeks, is extremely painful, or you have a fever along with the sore [1].

Cold Sores

Occurring outside the mouth on the lips or around the lips, cold sores are caused by herpes simplex viruses (most commonly type 1). While painful and uncomfortable, the sores generally only last a week.

You should seek treatment for cold sores if you have several sores, sores spreading to other parts of your body (such as near your eyes or on your hands), or your sores don’t go away after two weeks [2]. People who have a weakened immune system or get cold sores frequently should also seek treatment.

Oral Cancer

Mouth sores caused by oral cancer can develop anywhere on the soft tissues in your mouth and may present as a red or white lesions that don’t go away [3]. The sore may also be a lump that could be small and painless, but if it’s oral cancer, it will continue to grow.

Your dentist can identify oral cancer during your regular checkup, which makes keeping your bi-annual exams all the more important. While people who use tobacco are at the highest risk for oral cancer, anyone can develop the disease. Any lesions that don’t go away within two weeks—whether or not they’re painful—should be evaluated by your dentist.

Oral Thrush

A small amount of a yeast called candida normally exists in your mouth. Oral bacteria and your immune system help keep this yeast from overgrowing and causing problems. However, for some people, candida will overgrow and cause a condition called oral thrush.

Oral thrush can cause white sores in the mouth and on the tongue that can be uncomfortable [4]. People who have compromised immune systems, diabetes, or are taking steroid medications are more at risk to develop oral thrush. You should seek treatment if you’re having symptoms, including pain when swallowing, bad breath, a white tongue, or abnormal taste.

Experiencing Mouth Sores?

If you frequently suffer from mouth sores or have persistent mouth sores that don’t go away, it’s time to follow up with your dentist. Your oral healthcare professional can identify your mouth sore and discuss potential causes and treatment options with you to help you feel your best!

Sources:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/canker-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-
2. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/cold-sores-treatment
3. https://oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/oral-cancer-images/
4. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/thrush-children-and-

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How exactly does oral thrush happen and who’s most at risk for getting this infection? Here we detail what you need to know about this oral health condition including the most at-risk people and its treatment.

What Causes Oral Thrush?

Candida is actually a type of fungus that normally doesn’t cause problems in the body [1].
However, certain factors can cause candida to become rampant, which can then cause issues such as infections.

There are numerous factors that can cause oral thrush, including prolonged antibiotic use, treatment for cancer via immunosuppressive therapy, and poor oral hygiene.

Oral thrush can cause infections in the mouth, throat, and even the esophagus. Oral thrush can present as white patches in the mouth, redness or tenderness in the mouth, loss of taste, and cracks at the corners of the mouth, which can be painful.

Who Is Most at Risk for Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is common in babies as their immune system isn’t fully developed yet and not able to ward off an overgrowth of candida [2]. Babies and people who have compromised immune systems are the most likely to get oral thrush.

Oral thrush is also common in people who are pregnant, those who smoke, people who
experience chronic stress, and others who have suppressed immune systems [3].

People who have dry mouth may also be more likely to get oral thrush, as are people who have dentures, especially if the dentures aren’t properly cleaned or removed as directed by your dentist.

How Oral Thrush Is Treated

Oral thrush is treated with antifungal medicines. This will usually be a liquid that you’ll either rinse out your mouth with or apply directly to your mouth. However, your doctor may also prescribe capsules you can take orally to help treat your thrush.

Treatment for oral thrush can last up to two weeks [4]. If you or your child has been diagnosed with oral thrush, be sure to follow your dentist’s instructions for healing so you can treat thrush right the first time and not have it return!

Are you concerned about your risk for oral thrush? You can talk more with your doctor or your child’s healthcare provider about oral thrush. Fortunately, the condition usually isn’t considered to be serious and is relatively simple to treat, provided you follow your doctor’s instructions!

Sources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/thrush/index.html
2. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/thrush.html
3. https://www.medicinenet.com/thrush/article.htm
4. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/oral-
thrush-in-adults

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Tongue discoloration happens when papillae—the structures that give the tongue its texture on
the surface—become discolored. Discoloration of the tongue can happen for a variety of
reasons, and its treatment will depend on the cause.

What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of tongue discoloration that you should know
about?

Symptoms of a Discolored Tongue

The most obvious sign of tongue discoloration is examining your tongue and noticing the odd
color. However, you may also have symptoms of tongue discoloration, which include a fever,
dehydration, or symptoms of oral thrush.

Oral thrush can cause white patches on the tongue and is usually accompanied by a burning
sensation, a bad taste—or in some cases, loss of taste—and even redness. If you’re prone to
mouth breathing, you may also be more susceptible to have a discolored tongue.

Causes of Tongue Discoloration

There are many potential causes of tongue discoloration. These include:

 Tobacco use. Smoking and chewing tobacco can lead to a heavily discolored tongue that
can be white or darker in color.
 Leukoplakia. This is a condition in which the cells in your mouth grow too much, which
can lead to a white tongue.
 Vitamin deficiency. A red tongue may be indicative of a vitamin B-12 deficiency or even
a folic acid deficiency.
 Scarlet fever. This type of fever can cause a reddish or strawberry-colored tongue.
 Certain medical conditions. People who are receiving chemotherapy, antibiotic
treatment, or have diabetes may be more susceptible to a black tongue.
 Poor oral hygiene. Not taking proper care of your teeth can cause black hairy tongue
due to cells not shedding normally which can lead to buildup of bacteria.

Depending on what’s causing your tongue discoloration, your doctor or dentist can help you
formulate a treatment plan.

Treatments That Can Help

You can receive treatment to help get your tongue back to normal. First, you’ll need to
determine the cause of your tongue discoloration with a dentist or doctor before you can begin
to evaluate your treatment options.

If you have an underlying medical condition that’s causing the discoloration—such as oral
thrush, scarlet fever, or a vitamin deficiency—you will need to address this problem first. In
addressing the cause, your tongue discoloration should go away on its own.

For people who smoke or have poor oral hygiene, these are habits that can be changed. You
can better your oral care habits and receive professional cleanings to help your tongue regain
its normal color, and quitting smoking is always an option.

If you have leukoplakia, a white tongue may go away on its own, although you should always
seek professional care as leukoplakia can be a predecessor to some diseases such as cancer.

Have you noticed that your tongue is discolored but aren’t sure why? In addition to evaluating
the above causes, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist. He or she can help
you properly determine the underlying cause of your tongue discoloration and work with you to
fully treat the problem!

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