When sores start to show up in your mouth, they can make eating and talking painful- but what’s the cause of these painful blisters? Mouth sores can be many different types of sores, and oftentimes, they’re simple to treat, but sometimes they can mean a trip to the dentist. Check your symptoms and sores to see what kind of bump you’re dealing with:

1. Canker Sores: These painful ulcers of the mouth are typically white and appear on the tongue and the inside of the cheeks and lips. They’re not contagious and also not yet completely understood — it has not yet been determined what causes canker sores. However, they typically disappear on their own within ten days. If not, a trip to your dentist may be necessary to help relieve pain and rid your mouth of the sore.
2. Cold Sores: These pesky sores are contagious and are sometimes called ‘fever blisters.’ They appear on the lips and outer edge of the mouth, caused by the herpes simplex virus. Cold sores often scab after a few days and last up to 10 days. They heal on their own, but medicine is available to speed up healing, reduce pain and reduce the severity of outbreaks.
3. Chickenpox: Believe it or not, chickenpox can also occur in your mouth, though they look different. Chickenpox sores in the mouth will look like little raised bumps and will then turn into shallow ulcers. They heal with time on their own.
4. Injury: If there’s a an injury to the tongue or cheek from biting, chewing or burning, ulcers may occur.
5. Oral Cancer: Bumps directly related to oral cancer can occur anywhere in the oral cavity. Your chance of getting oral cancer increase with excessive smoking or using of tobacco and drinking.

If you’ve developed sores in your mouth and are concerned about what they may be, Greenspoint Dental is here to help you figure it out. Contact us today to make an appointment.