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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers, are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues in your mouth and at the base of your gums. Unlike cold sores, canker sores don't occur on the surface of your lips and aren't contagious. They can be very painful, however, and can make eating and talking difficult.
Most canker sores go away on their own in a week or two. Check with your doctor or dentist if you have unusually large or painful canker sores or canker sores that don't seem to heal.
- Morelli JG. Disorders of the mucous membranes. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/174218004-3/925169573/1608/1550.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50665-4--cesec7_12116. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Leggiadro RJ. Infections of the oral cavity. In: Long SS, et al., eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/174218004-3/925169573/1679/31.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50030-8--cesec16_721. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Travers JB, et al. Physiology of the oral cavity. In: Cummings CW, et al. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/174218004-4/0/1263/586.html?tocnode=49543605&fromURL=586.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..50067-8--cesec61_2453. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Common mouth sores. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/public/topics/mouth_sores.asp. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Mouth sores. The Merck Manuals: Home Edition for Patients and Caregivers. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec08/ch112/ch112a.html. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Amsterdam JT. Oral medicine. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00068-2--s0160&uniq=174218004&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&sid=925188259.Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Rakel D, et al. Recurrent aphthous ulceration. In: Rakel RE. Integrative Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/174218004-8/925191198/1494/118.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2954-0..50075-2_3684. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 9, 2009.
- Benzocaine topical products: Sprays, gels and liquids — risk of methemoglobinemia. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm250264.htm. Accessed Apr. 8, 2011.
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