Posted on 10/04/2016
If you’ve tried all of the over-the-counter remedies to relieve your canker sore, or aphthous ulcer, with no improvement, you’ll love the new laser treatment now available at Main Line Center For Dental Excellence located in Narberth, PA. The diode laser is the effective, painless therapy to quickly make that distressing sore disappear. In fact, in a recent study, researchers observed that ulcers treated with laser therapy were cleared up in half the time and 93% of the subjects studied had complete and immediate pain relief. It’s just another of our comprehensive services that are aimed at giving you the individual oral health care you deserve.
WHAT IS AN ORAL ULCER?
A canker sore is a small, flat open sore that occurs in your mouth. They usually appear as a white or yellow round or oval-shaped lesion surrounded by red, inflamed tissue on your tongue or on the linings of the cheeks, lips, floor of mouth and the throat. They can be very painful, especially when you’re trying to talk, eat or drink.
Canker sores are the most common type of ulcer inside the mouth and happen most commonly in people age 10 to 20, although they can happen at any age. They are often confused with cold sores or fever blisters, but are very different. Canker sores are not associated with herpes virus infections and cannot be spread to other people. They occur only inside the mouth and not over bone.
You might notice a tingling or burning sensation a day or two before the sores actually appear.The types of canker sores vary depending on the size, depth and time to heal. Some may appear in small, pinpoint sized clusters. Some may take up to six weeks to heal and may leave scarring inside your mouth.
WHAT CAUSES CANKER SORES?
Canker sores are often caused by some type of injury or trauma to your mouth - cuts, burns, dental work, injury caused while brushing too hard, biting your cheek, stress-induced biting of your lip, or a sports injury. Other than that, researchers don’t really know what causes canker sores, but they believe the ulcers could be triggered by:
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The foaming agent found in most toothpastes and mouth rinses called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS dries the protective layer of oral tissues which hurts the tissue underneath
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Allergies or sensitivity to certain foods, especially to chocolate, coffee, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, eggs, nuts, cheese, and spicy, or acidic foods
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Not getting enough vitamin B-12, zinc, folate (folic acid) or iron in your diet
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Hormonal changes during menstruation cycles
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Immune system-related conditions such as ulcerative colitis, HIV, Celiac disease, autoimmune disorders and Crohn’s disease
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Unusual fatigue or stress
If you experience frequent canker sores, or you have unusually large or painful sores that don’t seem to heal, you should see your doctor for an exam.
HOW CAN LASER TREATMENT TREAT MY CANKER SORE?
While it’s true that most canker sores will disappear over time, many don’t want to deal with the pain and discomfort of having one. That’s where Main Line Center’s diode laser can help. Laser treatment for canker and mouth sores is proven effective for relieving the pain as well as preventing sores from returning. It’s fast, pain-free, and inexpensive.
Your Main Line dentist will only need two to three minutes to safely and effectively treat your aphthous ulcer (or canker sore). Your dentist will place the tiny tip of the laser a few millimeters from your ulcer. The laser, when activated, can emit both a pulsed or a continuous beam of light energy that the doctor will move over the ulcer area for 30-60 seconds. The laser technology has a germ-destroying effect and will give you almost immediate relief. There is a photo-thermal reaction which destroys the ulcer without harming the tissue around it. There’s no poking or even touching the ulcer. It’s quick and painless.
Contact our office if you develop a painful canker sore and need immediate relief. Our team cares about your oral health and will do everything we can to relieve your pain immediately. Main Line Center for Dental Excellence is a multispecialty practice located in Narberth, but we see patients from Penn Valley, Bala Cynwyd and more. Our dentists work diligently to offer you a comprehensive array of services that emphasize overall oral health, including reconstructive, cosmetic and preventive therapies and look forward to helping you.