Canker sores in the throat can make you feel a lot of discomfort, making it hard to eat, drink, or even talk. Even though these small ulcers are not usually dangerous, they can make your life harder. Knowing what causes them, what the symptoms are, and how to treat them can help make the pain go away and keep them from happening again.
What is a Canker Sore in the Throat?
A canker sore in the throat is a small, painful sore that usually looks like a round or oval shape with a white or yellow middle and a red border around it. Unlike cold sores, canker sores are only inside the mouth and throat and are not caused by viruses.
What Causes Canker Sores in the Throat?
Canker sores in the throat, also called aphthous ulcers, are small and painful sores that show up on the soft parts inside the mouth and throat. The exact reason why they happen is not always clear, but there are a few things that might cause them:
Stress and Fatigue
When you’re feeling really stressed, whether it’s because of physical or emotional reasons, your immune system might not work as well as it should. This can make it easier for canker sores to develop. Getting enough sleep is important too, because if you’re tired all the time, your body might not be able to fight off the things that cause canker sores.
Nutritional Deficiencies
When you don't get enough of certain vitamins or minerals in your diet, such as vitamin B12, folic acid, iron, or zinc, it can cause a deficiency. This deficiency may make you more likely to develop canker sores. Eating a balanced diet and ensuring that you are getting the nutrients your body needs can help prevent these pesky mouth sores.
Food Sensitivities
Eating foods that are acidic (like lemons or oranges) or spicy (like hot peppers) can irritate the inside of your mouth. This can make it more likely that canker sores will form. It’s important to be mindful of what foods you’re eating and to try to avoid those that might irritate your mouth.
Hormonal Changes
Hormones in a woman's body can change a lot. These changes can sometimes cause canker sores to appear. This is because the hormones that control a woman's body can affect how the mouth and throat work, which can lead to canker sores.
Immune System Disorders
If you have a health condition that affects your immune system (like celiac disease or Crohn’s disease), this can cause your immune system to attack the cells of your body by mistake. This can make it more likely that canker sores will form, because the immune system is attacking the cells that line the inside of the mouth.
Viral Infections
If you get sick with a virus (like herpes simplex), this can sometimes cause sores in your throat that look like canker sores. This is because the virus can cause the cells of the lining of the throat to die, which can make sores form.
Medications
Some medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may increase your chances of developing canker sores. These sores are small, painful ulcers that form in the mouth and can be caused by a variety of factors. If you are taking medications that may cause canker sores, it is important to talk to your doctor about any potential side effects.
Symptoms of a Canker Sore in the Throat
Canker sores in the throat can cause pain and make it hard to eat, drink, or talk. Some of the symptoms are:
Pain or Soreness
A canker sore in the throat can cause pain that doesn't go away easily. This pain can be sharp, burning, or feel like a constant, uncomfortable soreness in the throat. It might be worse when you swallow or talk.
Small, Round Lesions
If you have a canker sore in your throat, you might be able to see small, round sores that are white or yellow in the middle and surrounded by red skin. They may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as itching, burning, or pain.
Swelling or Inflammation
The skin around the sore can sometimes swell up. This can make the area around the sore feel uncomfortable and might make it harder to move the area around it. This kind of swelling is called inflammation and it's the body's way of trying to heal itself, but it can sometimes cause pain or discomfort.
Difficulty Swallowing
When you have a sore in your mouth or throat, it can make swallowing very painful, whether it’s food, drinks, or even your own saliva. This can make it hard to eat and drink, and it can be uncomfortable to swallow. The pain can vary depending on how big or deep the sore is, and where it’s located. In some cases, the sore can make it so painful to swallow that it’s almost impossible to eat or drink anything.
Scratchy or Irritated Throat
A scratchy or irritated throat can be a really uncomfortable feeling in the throat. This feeling may be caused by different things such as dry air, allergies, or a cold, which can make your throat feel dry and uncomfortable. This feeling can make it difficult to swallow, and it can also make your voice sound different.
Tender Lymph Nodes
Tender lymph nodes means that the lymph nodes in your neck are swollen. Swollen lymph nodes can be a sign that your body is fighting off an infection or something that is irritating it. You might feel the swelling when you touch your neck, and it might be a bit tender or sore.
Mild Fever
In some cases, a mild fever might happen when there are a lot of canker sores or if they're really bad. Although this doesn't happen very often, a low-grade fever can be a sign that your body is trying to fight off an infection or something else that's making you feel sick.
Diagnosing a Canker Sore in the Throat
If your doctor thinks you have a canker sore in your throat, they might check for a few things:
1. Medical History
First, the doctor will probably ask you about your medical history. This means that they will ask you about any health problems you've had before, and about any symptoms you've had. The doctor will want to know if you've had any other problems with your throat or mouth, and if you've had any problems with stress or nutrition.
2. Physical Examination
Canker sores are fairly easy to identify during a physical examination. By visually inspecting the throat and mouth, a doctor can identify the characteristic features of canker sores, such as small, round, painful ulcers in the lining of the mouth. These ulcers often have a red border and a white or yellow center, making them easy to distinguish from other types of mouth sores.
3. Additional Tests
If the sores don’t go away, look different from normal canker sores, or if you have other symptoms, the doctor might do some other tests to make sure it’s not something else. These tests could include taking a swab from your mouth or taking a sample of your blood. This is just to be sure that the sores are canker sores, and not something else.
Treatment for Canker Sores in the Throat
Treatment for canker sores in the throat means making the pain go away, helping the sores get better, and finding out what’s causing them. There are some ways to help with the symptoms and make them heal faster, such as:
1. Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be a great way to get rid of discomfort and swelling caused by canker sores in the throat. You don't need a prescription for these medicines, so they're easy to find and use. They can help reduce the pain you feel from the sores and make them easier to deal with, allowing you to go about your day without being slowed down by discomfort.
2. Saltwater Rinses
A simple way to help soothe a canker sore in your throat is to gargle with warm salt water. The salt can help with any irritation in your throat, and it may help your sore heal faster. To do this, mix some warm water and salt in a cup and gargle with the mixture for about 30 seconds. You can repeat this a few times a day as needed.
3. Topical Treatments
There are some over-the-counter creams or gels, like those that have benzocaine in them, that you can put right on the sore in your throat. These creams or gels can help get rid of the pain in that specific area and make the sore feel better. It’s kind of like putting a Band-Aid on a scrape on your knee — it helps the sore heal faster and makes it hurt less.
4. Avoid Irritants
If you have a canker sore in your throat, it's important to be careful about what you eat. Spicy, acidic, or rough foods can make your sore feel worse. Instead, try to eat soft, gentle foods like mashed potatoes, soup, or yogurt. These foods won't irritate your throat, and they can help you feel better while your sore heals.
5. Stay Hydrated
It’s important to keep your body hydrated when you have a sore throat. Drinking plenty of water can help soothe your throat and prevent dehydration, which can make your symptoms feel even worse. Staying hydrated can be an effective way to manage your symptoms and support your overall health.
6. Prescribed Medications
When your sore throat is severe, your doctor might decide to prescribe some medications to help. These might be corticosteroids or other topical treatments that can be applied to your throat. These medicines can help reduce the inflammation and pain in your throat, making you feel more comfortable. If your sore throat is really bad, be sure to talk to your doctor about whether these treatments might be right for you.
7. Address Underlying Conditions
If you have a medical condition like celiac disease or Crohn’s disease that’s making your throat hurt, you should try to treat that first. This means getting the right kind of food, medicine, and treatment to help make your condition better. Once you’ve done that, your sore throat will probably go away too.
Preventing Canker Sores in the Throat
You can prevent canker sores in the throat by making sure you avoid the things that can cause them and by taking good care of your mouth and throat. Here are some ways to do that:
1. Avoid Irritating Foods
Eating gentle foods is an important part of keeping your throat feeling good and healthy. You should stay away from spicy, acidic, or rough foods because they can cause pain or discomfort in your throat. These types of foods can hurt the tissues in your throat and make it feel uncomfortable, so it's best to avoid them if you want to keep your throat feeling nice and calm.
2. Stay Hydrated
Dehydration can cause the throat to become dry and irritated, leading to discomfort. To avoid this, make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day. Staying hydrated can help keep your throat moist, healthy, and less prone to irritation. If you’re experiencing throat discomfort, try drinking some water to see if it helps soothe the irritation.
3. Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Keeping your mouth clean by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly is important for making sure that your mouth is a healthy place to be. When you brush and floss your teeth, you help to get rid of all the bacteria that can cause sores, which makes your mouth a much more comfortable place to be. Brushing and flossing also help to keep your teeth and gums healthy, which is important for maintaining good overall health. So, if you want to avoid sores and keep your mouth feeling great, make sure to brush and floss your teeth every day!
4. Manage Stress
To help prevent canker sores, try to do some things that help you feel less stressed, like meditation or going for a jog. Stress can be one of the things that cause canker sores, so doing things to help you relax can help avoid them.
5. Address Nutritional Deficiencies
To help your body stay healthy and avoid canker sores, try to eat foods that are rich in B12, folate, zinc, and iron. These vitamins and minerals can help keep your body strong and healthy, and might help you avoid getting canker sores.
6. Avoid Trauma
To avoid getting canker sores, try to be careful when you eat. Avoid biting your cheek or the inside of your mouth by accident, and be extra cautious when you eat hard or sharp foods. If you bite yourself, it can cause sores.
7. Limit Allergens
If you are sensitive to certain foods or oral products, it is best to avoid them to prevent canker sores. If you notice that certain foods or products cause inflammation in your mouth, make sure to stay away from them. This can help to keep your mouth healthy and prevent any discomfort.
8. Quit Smoking
Smoking is a bad habit that can cause a lot of health problems, including canker sores. When you smoke, you inhale a lot of harmful chemicals that can irritate the lining of your throat and make it more likely for you to get sores. Quitting smoking can help prevent these sores and improve your overall health. If you're looking for ways to quit, there are lots of resources and support groups available to help.
9. Use Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
If you want to keep your mouth and throat healthy, try using a mouthwash that doesn’t have alcohol in it. Alcohol can irritate the delicate tissue in your mouth and throat, which can lead to canker sores. Look for gentle, alcohol-free mouthwashes that are good for sensitive mouths.
When to See a Doctor
Most of the time, you don’t need a doctor for canker sores in the throat because they usually go away after 1-2 weeks. However, there are some situations where it’s important to see a doctor, like if:
Persistent or Recurring Sores:Â If canker sores don't heal in two weeks, or if you get them often, it's a good idea to see a doctor for more help and treatment options.
Severe Pain:Â If the pain gets too bad or makes it hard for you to eat, drink, or talk, you should deal with it quickly.
Difficulty Swallowing:Â If you have trouble swallowing or breathing, you should see a doctor right away because these symptoms might mean there's a serious problem that needs quick attention and care.
Fever:Â If you get a fever or have other body-wide symptoms like chills, feeling unwell, or swollen lymph nodes along with sores, you should see a doctor.
Atypical Appearance:Â If the sores are bigger than usual, have uneven edges, or come with other unusual symptoms like blisters or sores in other parts of the mouth, it might mean there is another underlying condition.
Signs of Infection:Â If the sores become very red, swollen, or start oozing pus, it might mean there's an infection that needs medical care and treatment.
Nutritional Deficiencies:Â If you think the sores might be due to not getting enough important nutrients like vitamin B12, folate, or iron, it's important to see a healthcare professional. They can check your nutrition levels and decide if you need supplements to help heal the sores.
Impact on Daily Life:Â If the sores are affecting your daily life, causing pain, or making you very upset, you should see a doctor.
If you have painful canker sores in your throat or other health problems, Volusia Medical Center can help. Our team of skilled medical professionals will create a care plan just for you and work hard to find effective solutions. Contact us and schedule a consultation today. We are dedicated to helping you live a healthier, pain-free life and improving your well-being!
Conclusion
Canker sores in the throat can be very painful, but there are ways to manage and reduce the discomfort. Knowing what causes these sores can help prevent them. If you get a canker sore, there are treatments that can help relieve the pain and help it heal. However, if the sore doesn't get better after some time, it's a good idea to see a doctor for more help and treatment options.
FAQs
1. Are canker sores in the throat contagious?
Canker sores are not contagious. They don’t spread to other people, so you can’t get them from someone else and you can’t give them to someone else.
2. What foods should I avoid with a canker sore in my throat?
If you have a canker sore in your throat, you should stay away from spicy foods, sour foods, and foods that are crunchy or hard. These types of foods can make the sore hurt more.
3. How to get rid of a canker sore in the throat?
Use a mix of home remedies like honey and lemon to soothe, over-the-counter treatments like painkillers and ointments, and make sure to drink enough water to help heal effectively.
4. How long does a canker sore in the throat last?
Most canker sores are small, painful spots inside the mouth that usually heal by themselves in 7 to 14 days. They can be uncomfortable, especially when eating or talking, but usually don't need a doctor unless they last a long time or keep coming back.
5. When should I worry about a canker sore in my throat?
If the sore lasts more than two weeks, causes a lot of pain, or comes with other symptoms like fever, swelling, or redness, it's important to see a doctor for advice.
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