Mouth sores and liquid food.
February 6, 2008 5:54 PM Subscribe
I have a bunch of cold sores or canker sores or a bunch of barely visible SOMETHING on the outer edges of my tongue. I suspect my retainer and have ceased wearing it, doctor's appointment is on Friday. It's doubtful that I have an STD, but who knows? In the meantime, what can I do for relief of my tongue? And how do I give my retainer some sort of extreme cleaning?
It's only been a few days. Yes, it's bothers me a little when I eat, and have adjusted diet accordingly.
Also, I doubt that topical medication at the local drugstore will stay put on my tongue for more than 5 seconds?
The retainer has only ever been soaked in water, cleaned with toothbrush/toothpaste, an occasional dipping in Listerine.
And of course - you are probably not a doctor, and if you are, you are probably not mine, all advice will be taken accordingly. Yes, I am heading out to a doctor - appointment is this Friday.
It's only been a few days. Yes, it's bothers me a little when I eat, and have adjusted diet accordingly.
Also, I doubt that topical medication at the local drugstore will stay put on my tongue for more than 5 seconds?
The retainer has only ever been soaked in water, cleaned with toothbrush/toothpaste, an occasional dipping in Listerine.
And of course - you are probably not a doctor, and if you are, you are probably not mine, all advice will be taken accordingly. Yes, I am heading out to a doctor - appointment is this Friday.
Something similar happened to me once when I was 12. Gargling warm salt water was by far the best thing I did. You might try chamomile tea, too (it's weakly anti-everything -- anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, etc. -- or so some book on herbal medicine led me to believe).
posted by salvia at 6:28 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by salvia at 6:28 PM on February 6, 2008
Will the retainer lose its shape if you boil it for a few minutes? I should think that would disinfect it pretty well.
posted by infinityjinx at 6:37 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by infinityjinx at 6:37 PM on February 6, 2008
I've had frequent canker sores over my whole life. The most effective thing I've found to do is wash my mouth several times a day with listerine, for a few minutes (really) each time. It stings at first, but as I hold the listerine in my mouth it gradually numbs the pain so I can eat and talk for awhile, and seems to help them heal faster.
posted by jon1270 at 6:45 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by jon1270 at 6:45 PM on February 6, 2008
This only answers half your question, but when I had a retainer, I always disinfected it with the fizzy denture cleaner tablets. I don't know if that's any better than using listerine, though.
posted by Secretariat at 6:47 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by Secretariat at 6:47 PM on February 6, 2008
I get canker sores frequently, and when I was a child my mom would dab alum powder on them. You can get it in the spice aisle of your grocery store. It's as bitter as hell, but it did seem to help.
posted by christinetheslp at 6:50 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by christinetheslp at 6:50 PM on February 6, 2008
It sounds disgusting, but wet a Q-tip with hydroxen peroxide and rub it into the sore itself for a couple of seconds. Repeat. Stings like a bitch and tastes twice as bad, but the sores are gone the next day.
Works like a charm for me.
posted by John of Michigan at 6:51 PM on February 6, 2008 [1 favorite]
Works like a charm for me.
posted by John of Michigan at 6:51 PM on February 6, 2008 [1 favorite]
Rinse with a 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water after every meal. If you look at the ingredients on the expensive canker sore rinse at the drug store you'll see it is flavored hydrogen peroxide.
posted by COD at 6:54 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by COD at 6:54 PM on February 6, 2008
nthing the hydrogen peroxide.
I also like the orajel that comes in the little q-tip looking dispensers, or a mix of 2 parts water, 1 part bleach.
Don't forget to change your toothbrush, as well.
posted by messylissa at 6:57 PM on February 6, 2008
I also like the orajel that comes in the little q-tip looking dispensers, or a mix of 2 parts water, 1 part bleach.
Don't forget to change your toothbrush, as well.
posted by messylissa at 6:57 PM on February 6, 2008
Peanuts can give rise to cankersores; avoid them while you have them. And remember citrus hurts. A multivitamin may help them heal.
posted by Riverine at 6:58 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by Riverine at 6:58 PM on February 6, 2008
Doesn't answer your question about how to minimize the pain, but some info I gathered when researching this a while back: If it is/was accompanied by a fever, it could be your primary (first) infection with herpes. Some doctors actually don't recognize the first infection because it can happen inside the mouth, whereas subsequent outbreaks occur on the lips and around the mouth. Look at a bunch of pictures online and if there's any chance it's herpes get to a doctor quick. I remember reading that the more you bury minimize your first infection (as in, take Valtrex, rest, etc.), the fewer and less intrusive the outbreaks you will have later. Of course, if you already get cold sores it probably isn't herpes - unless you had Herpes 1 and now have 2, or vice versa. Also, Valtrex will make the pain go away a bit faster (not much because you didn't start taking it immediately when you first felt the outbreak coming on).
posted by lorrer at 7:04 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by lorrer at 7:04 PM on February 6, 2008
I used to get little painful cankers when I ate too many tomatoes or oranges. Did you over-do it a little?
posted by parmanparman at 7:15 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by parmanparman at 7:15 PM on February 6, 2008
Had exactly what you describe back when I played a lot of harp (harmonica). That was a few years back, and the dermatologist said they were benign "warts" caused by a harmless virus and that go away on their own. Suspect the harps acted as a reservoir (just like your retainer). She did prescribe something for the pain (something pretty thick that actually stayed in place for a while).
posted by bluefrog at 7:17 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by bluefrog at 7:17 PM on February 6, 2008
or a bunch of barely visible SOMETHING on the outer edges of my tongue.
I don't think we're talking about canker sores here. Is it like inflamed taste buds, that always find a way to rub against your teeth? I occasionally get one of those and they resolve themselves in a day or two. I don't know what they are offhand, but I don't think they're canker sores... aren't those usually rather visible ulcerations?
If the pain's bugging you and you don't want to buy anbesol, you could try cloves if you have any in the house. Sucking on a whole one will numb your tongue/mouth for a while. Dabbing on a bit of ground cloves might work too, though I've never tried it. Just keep in mind that you could end up biting your tongue if you go the numbing route.
posted by CKmtl at 7:17 PM on February 6, 2008
I don't think we're talking about canker sores here. Is it like inflamed taste buds, that always find a way to rub against your teeth? I occasionally get one of those and they resolve themselves in a day or two. I don't know what they are offhand, but I don't think they're canker sores... aren't those usually rather visible ulcerations?
If the pain's bugging you and you don't want to buy anbesol, you could try cloves if you have any in the house. Sucking on a whole one will numb your tongue/mouth for a while. Dabbing on a bit of ground cloves might work too, though I've never tried it. Just keep in mind that you could end up biting your tongue if you go the numbing route.
posted by CKmtl at 7:17 PM on February 6, 2008
Are you accustomed to using Listerine? I only ask because I caused sores to appear on my tongue by using Listerine a few years back. Surprisingly painful. Some kind of allergic reaction, I guess.
posted by O9scar at 7:38 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by O9scar at 7:38 PM on February 6, 2008
Try this stuff called Gly-Oxide. It comes in a little squeeze bottle with a long tip, and it's sold near toothpaste in drug stores.
It's a thick liquid that foams a bit. Brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, then put the Gly Oxide on. Let it sit as long as you can. It doesn't hurt, but it foams up a lot, and it's not really pleasant. But it cleans and soothes like nothing else I've tried.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 7:39 PM on February 6, 2008
It's a thick liquid that foams a bit. Brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, then put the Gly Oxide on. Let it sit as long as you can. It doesn't hurt, but it foams up a lot, and it's not really pleasant. But it cleans and soothes like nothing else I've tried.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 7:39 PM on February 6, 2008
I feel like I get the same thing sometimes - and I get proper cold sores around my face on occasion - but I think the sore spots on my tongue have more to do with glands and stress.
Of course, I am not a doctor, but it seems like I get those little tongue sores that aren't visible around the same times as I'd have swollen neck glands and/or been really stressed, and they both seem to go away within a day or so. I'd venture to say that if you can't see them, and if they only last for a little bit, it's nothing to worry about.
posted by cusack at 8:39 PM on February 6, 2008
Of course, I am not a doctor, but it seems like I get those little tongue sores that aren't visible around the same times as I'd have swollen neck glands and/or been really stressed, and they both seem to go away within a day or so. I'd venture to say that if you can't see them, and if they only last for a little bit, it's nothing to worry about.
posted by cusack at 8:39 PM on February 6, 2008
How's your diet? I ask because sometimes I'll get a "hard spot" which seems like a little wart or something, a spot with no feeling on the end or side of my tongue. It's irresistable to bite on and play with, which only makes it worse. It happens when I'm under stress and not eating well - fast foods, microwave crap, etc. Paying attention to what I'm eating and my health in general makes it go away within a few days.
posted by ctmf at 10:30 PM on February 6, 2008
posted by ctmf at 10:30 PM on February 6, 2008
people have answered the canker sore treatment i think, so i'll address the retainer. DON'T boil it. get some fizzy denture cleaner, run a cup of hottish water, dump the fizzy in there, and then put the retainer in. give it a few minutes, then take it out and give it a good brushing with a toothbrush.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:14 AM on February 7, 2008
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:14 AM on February 7, 2008
I get these flareups occasionally and they often coincide with canker sores and appear to be caused by the same triggers: Stress, lack of sleep, citric acid, and mouth irritation from crunchy food. Rinsing with a hydrogen peroxide solution, avoiding triggers, and avoiding toothpaste containing Sodium laurel Sulfate helps make them go away quickly,
posted by Manjusri at 8:22 AM on February 7, 2008
posted by Manjusri at 8:22 AM on February 7, 2008
When ever I feel a canker sore developing, like when I've been over zealous with the tooth brush, or accidently bitten myself while chewing, etc., I take Lysine. It's an amino acid. I'm not sure how or why it works, but it does. I get it at Trader Joe's (cheap), but I've also seen it in the vitamin/supplement aisle at regular drug stores.
Incidently, I recently read that Lysine can help ease a cold. I tried it a couple of months ago when I started coming down with a cold, and the duration was less than a week, symptoms were pretty mild and didn't develop a cough like I normally do.
posted by socrateaser at 8:32 AM on February 7, 2008
Incidently, I recently read that Lysine can help ease a cold. I tried it a couple of months ago when I started coming down with a cold, and the duration was less than a week, symptoms were pretty mild and didn't develop a cough like I normally do.
posted by socrateaser at 8:32 AM on February 7, 2008
Oil of clove is a terrific natural anesthetic for tongue and gums. You can get it in just about any health food store. They will probably also have clove gum, although this might be difficult as it's your tongue. You can also do-it-yourself: wrap some ground cloves in cheesecloth and place it against the affected area.
I've never tried this on tongue, but it works great on cold sores on the interior of the mouth and on dental pain.
posted by nax at 9:43 AM on February 7, 2008
I've never tried this on tongue, but it works great on cold sores on the interior of the mouth and on dental pain.
posted by nax at 9:43 AM on February 7, 2008
When ever I feel a canker sore developing, like when I've been over zealous with the tooth brush, or accidently bitten myself while chewing, etc., I take Lysine. It's an amino acid. I'm not sure how or why it works, but it does. I get it at Trader Joe's (cheap), but I've also seen it in the vitamin/supplement aisle at regular drug stores.
I do this too. Lysine is used to treat herpes outbreaks fyi.
posted by Big_B at 9:50 AM on February 7, 2008
I do this too. Lysine is used to treat herpes outbreaks fyi.
posted by Big_B at 9:50 AM on February 7, 2008
Go to your local pharmacy super store and pick up some drugs containing benzocaine. It's the stuff your dentist gives you to numb up your mouth. They have several medicines aimed directly at canker sores. Kanka works great for me. No prescription required.
posted by ShootTheMoon at 10:00 AM on February 7, 2008
posted by ShootTheMoon at 10:00 AM on February 7, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Melismata at 6:03 PM on February 6, 2008