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Home > Specialities and Services > Dentistry > Educational Materials > 

Topics:

4Bad Breath

4Cosmetic Dentistry 

4Dental Implants 

4Root Canal Treatment 

4Tooth Whitening Treatments 

4Tooth Extraction New

4 Canker Sores (Mouth Ulcers) New

4Periodontal (gum) Diseases New

4Orthodontics

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Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Wh   Whether you call it bad breath or halitosis, it’s an unpleasant condition that is a cause of embarrassment.  Some people with bad breath aren’t even aware there’s a problem.  If you’re concerned about bad breath, see your dentist.  He or she can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it.

What you eat affects the air you exhale.  Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odour. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, the odour is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled.  Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odour temporarily.  Odours continue until the body eliminates the food.  Dieters may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria which can cause bad breath.  Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odour.

Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases.  Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odour.  Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth.  If you suffer from dry mouth, your dentist may prescribe artificial saliva, or suggest using sugarless candy and increasing your fluid intake.

Tobacco products cause bad breath.  If you use tobacco, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.

Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of bad breath.

Maintaining good oral health is essential to reduce bad breath.  Schedule regular dental visits for a professional are cleaning and check-up.  If you think you have constant bad breath, keep a log of the foods you eat and make a list of medications you take.  Some medications may play a role in creating mouth odours.  Let your dentist know if you've had any surgery or illness since your last appointment.

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque.  Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth.

Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath.  If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odour, see your dentist.  If you need extra help in controlling plaque, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouth rinse.  A fluoride mouth rinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay.

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Cosmetic Dentistry

A smile can be the most eye-catching feature of a face.  With dentistry's many advances, you no longer have to settle for stained, chipped, or misshapen teeth. You now have choices that can help you smile with confidence.

Even the most subtle change in your smile can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel about yourself. Talk to your dentist about the options most suitable for you, what your expectations are and the dental fees involved. Some options are:

Cosmetic Dentistry
Before

Cosmetic Dentistry
After

4      Tooth whitening (bleaching) brightens teeth that are discolored or stained. Bleaching may be done completely in the dental office or the dentist may dispense a system for you to use at home.

4      Bonding can improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken, cracked, stained, or have spaces between them. With bonding, tooth-colored materials are applied, or bonded, to the tooth surface.

4      Enamel shaping involves modifying teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring enamel. The process, which often is combined with bonding, usually is quick and comfortable and the results can be seen immediately.

4      Veneers are thin custom-made shells designed to cover the front side of teeth. Made of tooth-colored materials, veneers are used to treat spaces between teeth and teeth that are chipped or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or slightly crooked.

4      Braces are not just for kids. Orthodontics may be needed if teeth are crooked, crowded or do not meet properly. If your dentist thinks you should see a specialist for treatment, he or she will refer you to an orthodontist.

 

Cosmetic Dentistry
Before


After

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Dental Implants

 

Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture.

Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone. Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural and some people also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.

Candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by your dentist will help determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.

Dental Implants
Before

Dental Implants
After

 

What is root canal treatment?
Your dentist uses root canal treatment to find the causes and then treat problems of the tooth's soft core (the dental pulp). Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, root canal treatment has given dentists a safe way of saving teeth.

What is dental pulp?
Dental pulp is the soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. It lies within the tooth and extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the root in the bone of the jaws.

What happens if the pulp gets injured?
An abscessed (infected) tooth is caused by tooth decay. When the pulp is diseased or injured and can't repair itself, it dies. The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep cavity. Both of these problems can let germs (bacteria) enter the pulp. Germs can cause an infection inside the tooth. Left without treatment, pus builds up at the root tip, in the jawbone, forming a "pus-pocket" called an abscess. An abscess can cause damage to the bone around the teeth.

Why does the pulp need to be removed?
When the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result. Certain by-products of the infection can injure your jaw bones. Without treatment, your tooth may have to be removed.

What does treatment involve?
Treatment often involves from one to three visits. During treatment, your general dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in problems of the pulp) removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed.

Here's how your tooth is saved through treatment:

1.       An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.

2.       The pulp is then removed. The root canal(s) is cleaned, enlarged and shaped to a form that can be filled.  

3.       Medications may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help get rid of germs and prevent infection.

4.       A temporary filling will be placed in the crown opening to protect the tooth between dental visits.  You might also be given medicine to help control infection that may have spread beyond the tooth. 

5.       The temporary filling is removed and the pulp chamber and root canal(s) are   cleaned and filled.

6.       The pulp chamber and root canals are filled and sealed.

7.       In the final step, a gold or porcelain crown is usually placed over the tooth.

How long will the restored tooth last?
Your restored tooth could last a lifetime, if you continue to care for your teeth and gums. However, regular checkups are necessary. As long as the root(s) of a treated tooth are nourished by the tissues around it, your tooth will remain healthy.

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Tooth Whitening Treatments

What should you ask your dentist?
While speaking with your dentist. He or she can tell you whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellow-ish hued teeth will probably bleach well, brownish-colored teeth may bleach less well, and grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, bleaching may not enhance your smile if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth. The whitener will not effect the color of these materials, and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you may want to investigate other options, like porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

What is in-office bleaching?
You are a candidate for bleaching, your dentist may suggest a procedure that can be done in his or her office. This procedure is called chairside bleaching and may require more than one office visit. Each visit may take from 30 minutes to one hour.

During chairside bleaching, the dentist will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent.

A number of in-office bleaching agents have the ADA Seal of Acceptance, your assurance that they have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.

Lasers have been used during tooth whitening procedures to enhance the action of the whitening agent. No whitening products using lasers currently are on the ADA list of accepted products.

What are at-home procedures and products?
There are several types of products available for use at home, which can either be dispensed by your dentist or purchased over-the-counter:

Bleaching solutions

These products contain peroxide(s), which actually bleach the tooth enamel. These products typically rely on percent carbamide peroxide as the bleaching agent, carbamide peroxide comes in several different concentrations (10%, 16%, 22%).

Peroxide-containing whiteners typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouthguard. Usage regimens vary. Some products are used for about twice a day for 2 weeks, and others are intended for overnight use for 1-2 weeks. If you obtain the bleaching solution from your dentist, he or she can make a custom-fitted mouthguard for you that will fit your teeth precisely. Currently, only dentist-dispensed home-use 10% carbamide peroxide tray-applied gels carry the ADA Seal.

You also may want to speak with your dentist should any side effects become bothersome. For example, teeth can become sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching solution. In many cases, this sensitivity is temporary and should lessen once the treatment is finished. Some people also experience soft tissue irritation—either from a tray that doesn’t fit properly or from solution that may come in contact with the tissues. If you have concerns about such side effects, you should discuss them with your dentist.

Tooth Pastes

All toothpastes help remove surface stain through the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA accepted products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.

Tooth Extraction

Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed, others may have advanced periodontal diseases (gum diseases) or broken in a fashion which cannot  be repaired. Some are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted wisdom teeth) or else in preparation for orthodontic treatment (braces).

4 Problems when a tooth is missing

The neighboring teeth will tend to shift, sometimes significantly, which in turn can have a major impact on your dental health. Even the removal of  a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and predispose the teeth that have shifted to problems also. To avoid these complications, in most cases your dentist will probably recommend to you to replace the tooth that has been extracted. Replacing a tooth that has been extracted with an artificial one can easily  cost more than the alternative of not having a tooth extraction and instead rebuilding the tooth.

Post Extraction Instructions

First 24 hours

 4 Controlling bleeding from the extraction site

Some bleeding may occur for some time after your tooth extraction. This bleeding can usually be controlled by placing a piece of moist clean gauze over the empty tooth socket and then biting firmly on this gauze for 45 minutes to an hour. Make sure that it is positioned so when you bite down the gauze in turn applies pressure directly to the extraction site. If you bite down and your teeth come together fully you may not be placing much pressure on the gauze.

 

4  keep changing the gauze

If a small amount of bleeding persists after 45 minutes then repeat these instructions. If heavy bleeding is still present then contact your dentist.

 

4About the blood clot that forms in the empty tooth socket

Avoid vigorous rinsing or spitting during the first 24 hours after your tooth extraction. Also, creating suction, such as using straws or smoking, may dislodge the blood clot. Hot liquids will tend to dissolve blood clots so stay away from hot coffee or soup.

 

4Swelling

Trauma from a tooth extraction can cause swelling. The swelling might present itself as just a slight fullness that you can feel but is not readily obvious to others or at the other extreme a clear enlargement of facial tissue. In general, the more difficult the extraction has been the more likely swelling will occur.

 

Any swelling that does occur can be kept to a minimum by placing ice on your face in the area where the extraction took place. Position the ice on your face for 10 minutes on and then leave it off for the next 20 minutes. Repeat this cycle as you feel is necessary for up to 24 hours after the extraction.

4 Smoking

Persons who smoke tend to have more complications with extraction site healing than those people who don't (including the development of “dry socket"). If you can avoid smoking for the first 48 hours after your tooth extraction it will be to your benefit.

 

4Pain and pain medications

You may not experience much pain after your tooth extraction.  If you do, for minor pain you might use non-prescription drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil). Follow the directions and warnings that accompany these products.

 

The pain reliever your dentist prescribes may contain a narcotic (such as codeine). If so, most narcotic pain medications will have a tendency to upset your stomach so it is usually best to take them with food. Narcotics can also make you drowsy or even act strangely.

 

4Antibiotics
Your dentist may have placed you on antibiotics some days before your tooth extraction. If any of this medication remains, even after your tooth has been extracted, continue to take the antibiotic as initially directed. Failure to do so can lead to the development of bacterial resistance to the antibiotic.

 

4Activities
So to reduce the amount of bleeding which occurs and to promote the formation of a blood clot in the tooth socket, avoid strenuous activities or exercise for 24 hours after your tooth has been extracted. If you lie down use an extra pillow so to elevate your head.

 

4Foods and Eating

After difficult extractions a soft or liquid diet may be indicated for 24 hours after your dental surgery. For simpler extractions just making sure you do your chewing with those teeth which are away from the extraction site will be sufficient. Hot liquids will tend to dissolve the blood clot that has formed in the extraction socket so avoid them for the first 24 hours. Also, you should avoid alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours.

4 Brushing and cleaning your teeth

It is important to maintain good oral hygiene during the healing process. On the day of the extraction it might be best to avoid brushing the teeth directly neighbouring the extraction site. The next day you can resume cleaning these teeth in a gentle manner. On the day of the extraction you may want to gently roll some water through your mouth as a part of cleaning so to dislodge food particles. Just don't rinse the water around vigorously so it dislodges the newly formed blood clot.

 

Post extraction instructions/dry sockets

 

 

Beginning 24 hours after your tooth extraction

4 Swelling

Any swelling that is related to the trauma of the tooth extraction process should reach its maximum after 24 hours. So to bring this swelling down more quickly apply a warm moist towel to the swollen area for 20 minutes followed by 20 minutes of no heat application. Repeat this cycle, as you find necessary.

 

4 Keeping the extraction site clean

The quicker it will heal. Beginning 24 hours after your tooth extraction you can gently rinse the socket with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of water) after meals and before bed. Do not use commercial mouth rinses, they may have a tendency to irritate the extraction site.

4Stitches (resorbable and non-resorbable)
Your dentist may have found it necessary to place sutures ("stitches") in the extraction site after removing the tooth. Some types of stitches are resorbable and therefore will dissolve away on their own, others will not and will need to be removed by your dentist. If stitches were placed make sure you know which type have been used. Usually a dentist will want to remove stitches that don't resorb in about a week or so after the extraction. The process of removing stitches is usually very easy and quite painless.

4Dry Sockets

One of the more common complications people experience after a tooth extraction is that of developing a "dry socket." It is thought that dry sockets occur when either a blood clot has failed to form in the socket (the hole found in the bone) where a tooth has been extracted, or else the blood clot that did form has been dislodged and lost. Since the formation of a blood clot is an important part of the healing process, the healing of the extraction site is significantly delayed.

Dry sockets are most frequently associated with difficult tooth extractions or those extractions that have been traumatic in nature. Extractions involving the removal of bone from around a tooth so the dentist can access it, which is often the case when lower impacted wisdom teeth are removed, would be considered to be more traumatic in nature than extractions where the tooth is already through the gums and easily accessed. 

 Typically dry sockets manifest themselves as a dull throbbing pain which doesn't appear until three or four days after the tooth extraction. The pain can be moderate to severe in intensity and often seems to radiate from the area of the extraction site to the ear. Dry sockets are usually associated with a foul odor or bad taste. Visually, if you can see down into the socket, the extraction site appears "dry", in the sense that you just see exposed bone, there is no formation of pus.

Dry sockets need to be treated by your dentist, and don't be hesitant to let them know that you need help. Your dentist knows that there is no predictability regarding who will develop a dry socket and who will not, and when one occurs they will be eager to assist you.

Typically a dentist will place a medicated dressing into the dry socket. This will help to soothe and moderate the pain. The dressing is usually removed and replaced every 24 hours until the dry socket's symptoms subside, which can in some cases take some number of days.

 

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Canker Sores (Mouth Ulcers)

Their development is related to a reaction of an individual's own immune system.

4 What triggers outbreaks of canker sores?
Toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate.  Research has suggested that the use of products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a foaming agent found in most toothpaste and mouthwash formulations, can be associated with an increased recurrence rate of canker sores for an individual.  This may be due to a drying effect SLS has on the protective surface of oral tissues.  Once this protective layer has been compromised, the tissue underneath is more vulnerable to irritants such as acidic foods.

Several studies have reported that participants who brushed using SLS free toothpaste found that they experienced a reduction in the total number of canker sores that they had form.  This reduction in mouth sores was found to be as high as 81% in one study.  In this same study also reported that some of its participants stated that the canker sores that did form were less painful than those that developed during those time periods when they had been using toothpaste that did contain SLS.

 

Mechanical Trauma

People state that they often recall some sort of physical trauma preceding the formation of their canker sores.  This trauma might take the form of a self-inflicted bite, irritation from a sharp tooth edge, or possibly trauma from some type of food such as a crisp chip.  38% of the participants of one study felt that their canker sores were precipitated by trauma.

 

Emotional Stress/Psychic Stress

Psychological stress has been shown to adversely affect the health of people in a number of ways.  Many people who suffer from canker sores report that the appearances of their ulcers coincide with periods of stress.

 

Nutritional Deficiencies

Researchers have detected that some people who suffer from canker sores have an underlying nutritional deficiency.  Some of the nutritional deficiencies that have been correlated with the presence of canker sores are:

4 Vitamin deficiencies: B1, B2, B6, B12, C.

4Other nutrients: zinc, folic acid, iron, selenium, calcium.

 

Allergies and Sensitivities

Allergies to foods and other substances have been postulated as being triggers for canker sore breakouts.  Any substance that comes into contact with the person's oral tissues must be considered to be a potential causative agent.  If an allergy is suspected the individual might choose to maintain a diary so to help them (and their dentist) identify the most likely candidates associated with the causation of their sores.  In some cases allergy testing might be considered.  Some of the substances identified by researchers as being potential triggers for canker sore outbreaks are:

4Cereal grains: buckwheat, wheat, oats, rye, barley, the gluten protein found in grains

4Fruits and vegetables: lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, figs, tomatoes, strawberries

4Dairy: milk, cheeses

4Other foods: nuts, chocolate, shellfish, soy, vinegar, French mustard

4Additives: cinnamonaldehyde (a flavoring agent), benzoic acid (a preservative)

4Other substances: toothpastes, mints, gums, dental materials, metals, medications

Hormonal Changes

Some women have reported that they find a relationship between the presence of canker sores and certain phases of their menstrual period.  It has also been reported that a woman may notice a remission of canker sores during pregnancy.  Neither of these observations has been adequately documented nor explained by research.

 

Genetics

Some researchers have felt that they have identified a genetic predisposition for canker sores.  One study found that 35% of those persons who experience canker sores have at least one parent who suffers from these ulcers also.  Another study found that 91% of identical twins both suffered from canker sores, whereas only 57% of fraternal twins did.

 

Infectious Agents (Both Bacterial and Viral)

The fact that chemical compounds typically associated with bacterial and viral infections have been isolated from canker sores suggests that bacteria or viruses could be causative agents in the formation of these mouth ulcers.

 

Medical Conditions

Several different medical conditions can be associated with the presence of canker sores (and other forms of aphthous ulcers as well).  For those patients who experience persistent difficulties with canker sores consideration must be given to the presence of an underlying undiagnosed systemic disease and the need for an evaluation and testing by a physician.  A few of the medical conditions that have been associated with the presence of mouth ulcers are: Behcet's disease, neutrophil dysfunction diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases (celiac and Crohn's), and HIV-AIDS.

 

Medications

The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), beta blockers, chemotherapeutic agents, and nicorandil have each been reported as possibly acting as a trigger for outbreaks of canker sores.

 

 

4 What solutions and remedies exist for the treatment of canker sores?


While there is no cure for canker sores, there are various treatments and remedies that can be useful in limiting their duration and lessening the pain and discomfort they cause.  This range of treatments includes common sense ideas, home remedies, over-the-counter products, and even prescription medications that have been specially formulated for the treatment of canker sores.

 

4 Treating canker sores with over-the-counter medications and home remedies

Most of the over-the-counter (OTC) medications and home remedies we've found mentioned as treatments for canker sores provide their benefit by way of one or more of the treatment modes discussed below.  Please note, before using any OTC product you should thoroughly read its directions, indications for usage, and precautions so to make sure that it is suitable and appropriate for your use.

-Toothpastes and mouthwashes that do not contain sodium lauryl sulfate.

 

-Products that create a protective barrier film over canker sores

Pastes have been formulated, which to some degree, can adhere to moist oral surfaces.  When this type of product is applied to the surface of a canker sore it can create a protective barrier film over the sore's ulcerated surface.  This barrier helps to reduce the canker sore's exposure to irritating substances such as foods and drinks.  These pastes themselves do not speed up the healing of canker sores, they simply cover over and protect them.

 

-Products that numb canker sores

Canker sores can be very sore to the touch, even to the point that a person may need to limit their oral activities.  Some OTC products contain numbing agents (such as the benzocaine, benzoin tincture, lidocaine, camphor, and phenol) and these products can be useful in minimizing the degree to which canker sores interfere with normal daily activities.  Some manufacturers incorporate their numbing agents into those pastes that can create a protective barrier film over a canker sore's surface.  Make sure you read the directions for these numbing products and use them judiciously.  In some cases, these products are indicated for short-term usage only.

 

-Antibacterial products

Some OTC canker sore medications contain ingredients (such as copper sulfate and iodine) that serve as antibacterial agents.  These products can help to prevent a secondary bacterial infection from forming in the canker sore lesion.  Research has suggested that antibacterial mouth rinses can speed up the healing of canker sores and also help to minimize their pain.

 

-Products that cleanse canker sore ulcerations

The accumulation of debris on a canker sore's surface can have an inhibitory effect on its healing.  A number of OTC products can be found that aid in the removal of this debris.  Some of the active ingredients often found in these types of products are: carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium perborate monohydrate.

 

-Milk of Magnesia and Benadryl Allergy liquid

Some people find that swishing a teaspoonful of milk of Magnesia and Benadryl.  Allergy liquid (diphenhydramine) mixed 50:50 over their canker sores (and then spitting this mixture out) four to six times a day helps to minimize the pain they cause.

 

-Herbal Remedies

Herbal sedatives such as chickweed and violet and also the herb rockrose, which is thought to reduce anxiety, have been suggested as treatments for canker sores.

 

Please remember that herbal treatments must be used appropriately, and therefore should only be used in response to a recommendation by a health care professional.

 

-Lactobacillus Acidophilus

Daily consumption of the bacteria lactobacillus acidophilus is believed to be helpful in preventing outbreaks of canker sores.  A good source of these beneficial organisms can be yogurt.  Make sure that the yogurt you buy states that it does contain an active culture of acidophilus, not all types of yogurt do.

4Treating canker sores using common sense remedies

-Since trauma to oral tissues can trigger the formation of canker sores, reduce your potential for accidental injury.  Broken teeth, rough or broken fillings, or teeth with excessively sharp edges should be treated by your dentist.  Dentures with sharp or rough borders should be repaired by your dentist too.  People who have braces can cover pointed wires and brackets with orthodontic wax.  When you brush your teeth, be thorough yet gentle.

-Even with the presence of canker sores, do your best to maintain adequate oral hygiene.  If your toothpaste or mouthwash seems to precipitate or exacerbate your canker sores try using products that are less irritating, such as those that do not contain sodium lauryl sulfate ("SLS") or alcohol.

-For some people certain foods have the ability to trigger outbreaks of canker sores.  You might consider keeping a "food diary" as a way of monitoring which foods seem to have this effect with you.  Once you have a few candidates in mind try a series of "elimination diets," each one specifically omitting one or some of the foods you most suspect.

-Minimize the chance that your outbreaks of canker sores are associated with a nutritional deficiency by way of taking a multivitamin.  Since canker sores can impair one's ability to eat, make sure you do maintain an adequate fluid and nutritional intake.  The use of a liquid dietary supplement such as Ensure or Sustacal might be indicated.

-Avoid those foods and beverages that have the potential to irritate canker sores.  Hard or crunchy foods, like potato chips, can easily abrade a canker sore's surface.  Acidic drinks, such as tomato juice or citrus juices, alcoholic beverages, and spicy or salty foods can all produce a stinging response from canker sores.

-Reduce stress.  Obviously, this is easier said than done and in some cases, for some people, not a possibility.  If you will just keep in mind however that stress can trigger canker sores, when you are stressed you can be on the lookout for the initial signs of canker sore development and begin with a suitable treatment sooner rather than later.

4What prescription medications can be used to treat canker sores?

- Anti-inflammatory medicines

Anti-inflammatory medicines can help to minimize the extent to which a canker sore's ulceration will progress.  The smaller an ulceration is the quicker it can heal.

- "Anti-bacterial" collagenase inhibiting medicines

This group of prescription items, at least at first glance, all seem to all be similar by way of the fact that they are each anti-bacterial in nature.  While it is true that these products can provide that function, it has also been discovered that these medicines possess the ability to inhibit the action of collagenase.  Collagenase is a compound that can break down collagen (an important tissue protein) and its presence is instrumental in the formation of canker sore ulcerations.

 

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