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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYour family doctor or general practitioner will likely be able to diagnose a canker sore based on its appearance. In some cases, however, your doctor may recommend that you make an appointment with your dentist.
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
Information to gather in advance
- Write down your symptoms, including when they first started and how they may have changed or worsened over time.
- Bring a list of all your medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements.
- Write down your key medical history, including other conditions with which you've been diagnosed.
- Write down key personal information, including any recent changes or emotional stressors in your life.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor. Creating your list of questions in advance can help you make the most of your time with your doctor.
Below are some basic questions to ask your doctor about canker sores. If any additional questions occur to you during your visit, don't hesitate to ask.
- Do I have a canker sore?
- What factors may have contributed to my developing a canker sore?
- Do I need any tests?
- What treatment approach do you recommend, if any?
- What self-care steps can I take to ease my symptoms?
- Is there anything I can do to speed up my recovery?
- How soon do you expect my symptoms will improve?
- Is there anything I can do to help prevent a recurrence?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:
- What are your symptoms?
- When did you first notice these symptoms?
- How severe is your pain?
- Have you had similar sores in the past? If so, have you noticed if anything in particular seemed to trigger them?
- Have you been treated for similar sores in the past? If so, what treatment was most effective?
- Have you had any recent dental work?
- Have you recently experienced significant stress or major life changes?
- What is your typical daily diet?
- Have you been diagnosed with any other medical conditions?
- What medications are you taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbs and supplements?
- Do you have a family history of canker sores?
- 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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