What is the treatment for canker sores?
Canker sores typically resolve without any specific treatment. But measures can be taken to alleviate the pain and discomfort and to hasten the course. Therapies include topical medications (applied directly on), mouthwashes, and oral medications. What kind of topical medications (gels or ointments) are available for canker sores? Topical medications include numbing ointments, such as benzocaine (Oragel), which are available in drug stores without a prescription. The ointment should be applied a few times daily directly to the sore in order to reduce irritation form eating, drinking, or brushing. Topical 2% lidocaine (an anesthetic) gel has also been used effectively in some patients, but it may associated with some toxicity, especially in children. In very painful cases, injection of local anesthetics may help relieve the symptoms effectively, but it is usually temporary. Anti-inflammatory (steroid) gels may also be applied locally to reduce the inflammation. These products are genera
Canker sores typically resolve without any specific treatment. But measures can be taken to alleviate the pain and discomfort and to hasten the course. Therapies include topical medications (applied directly on), mouthwashes, and oral medications. What kind of topical medications (gels or ointments) are available for canker sores? Topical medications include numbing ointments, such as benzocaine (Oragel), which are available in drug stores without a prescription. The ointment should be applied a few times daily directly to the sore in order to reduce irritation form eating, drinking, or brushing. Topical 2% lidocaine (an anesthetic) gel has also been used effectively in some patients, but it may associated with some toxicity, especially in children. In very painful cases, injection of local anesthetics may help relieve the symptoms effectively, but it is usually temporary. However, in April 2011 the U.S. FDA issued a warning about an association between benzocaine and methemoglobinemia
Canker sores typically resolve without specific treatments. However, measures can be taken to alleviate the pain and discomfort and to hasten their course. Therapies include topical medications placed directly on the sores, mouthwashes, and oral medications. Topical medications includes numbing ointments, such as benzocaine (Oragel), which is available over-the-counter. The ointment should be applied several times daily directly to the sore to reduce irritation from eating or brushing. Non-numbering medications include Glyoxide and Rincinol. Anti-inflammatory (steroid) gels may also be applied to reduce the inflammation. This prescription medication is usually fluocinonide (lidex) or triamcinoline. There are also several mouthwash solutions one can use. One type of mouthwash is Benadryl Allergy liquid to provide temporary pain relief. This is available over-the-counter. Your doctor or dentist could also prescribe a mouthwash containing an anti-inflammatory steroid or tetracycline antib
