Canker sore
A canker sore is a common form of mouth ulcer, which appears as a painful white or yellow ulcer surrounded by a bright red area. A canker sore sore can be triggered by emotional stress, dietary deficiencies, menstrual periods, hormonal changes, food allergies or trauma in the mouth.
Overview
A shallow and painful ulcer or sore on the inside of the mouth. This makes eating and talking difficult.
Symptoms
If you’re experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider.
The symptoms include:
- Major symptom is an ulcer inside the mouth, on the tongue or at the base of the gum
- It has a red border and white or yellow center
- Is shallow at the center
- Starts with burning or tingling sensation
- Fever
- Pain
- Cancerous sores may show symptoms like bleeding gums, loose teeth, trouble swallowing
Causes
- The exact cause is not known, but the factors which could trigger canker sores are
- Stress or anxiety
- The duration before or during menstruation
- Injury accidental cheek or lips bite
- Braces on teeth
- Food allergies
- Food or juice that has a lot of acid, such as orange juice
- Iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid deficiency in diet
