What To Do To Cure Canker Sores In Children?
Canker sores are ulcers that occur in the mouth and generate burning, pain and great discomfort when eating. In children, these injuries can be a real nuisance. What’s worse is that some can last for a long time, so it’s good to know some tricks to cure canker sores in children.
You don’t need to be an expert to identify a cold sore in your child’s mouth. They are characterized by being round, white or yellowish and surrounded by a red area.
In addition, its characteristic pain will cause constant complaints from children, obviously, with a lot of sense.
Discomfort intensifies when eating hot, salty, peppery, or acidic foods. Canker sores are also more uncomfortable with drinking certain fluids or brushing your teeth.
Often, canker sores in children – which can also occur in babies – appear on their own, but there can also be more than one. They usually disappear after 7 or 10 days, or even longer if they are of considerable size.
Causes of thrush in children
It is not always possible to determine the origin of thrush in children. However, many can appear as a trigger for a viral infection. Others, however, can appear due to reactions to certain foods, whether due to digestive problems or allergic reactions.
Stress and a lack of vitamins and nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid may also be possible explanations for the appearance of thrush.
In addition, some oral problems, such as a very aggressive cleaning, a dental correction with braces or even a bite on the lip, can trigger this immune system response.
In either case, it ‘s wise to attack the problem rather than hoping it will go away on its own.
How to cure canker sores in children?
Sores or canker sores appear on the gums, on the inside edge of the lips, or on the inside of the cheeks. For this reason, they are exposed to contact with all the foods the child eats and, therefore, they are capable of causing great pain.
Thus, it becomes very important to have the proper knowledge to cure thrush in children. Here are some tips:
1. Acetaminophen for pain
The safest solution to cure canker sores in children, especially when they last a long time or are very big, is to ask the doctor to prescribe certain medications. If the child suffers from very intense discomfort, the doctor may recommend the use of acetaminophen to relieve the pain.
To treat thrush itself, you can use products like the one described in the next section. It is noteworthy that antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs usually do not work in these cases.
2. Antiseptic solution
Antiseptic solutions are applied with a small brush or also come in the form of a spray bottle. With a small dose of antiseptic, about 3 or 4 times a day, the wounds disappear in a short time.
3. Mouthwash
There are some over-the-counter products that are effective in these cases. Of course, the application of those containing alcohol should be avoided as they produce more irritation.
On the other hand, rinsing your mouth with water and salt is also effective. A traditional trick is to apply baking soda and water directly onto the cold sore, although it is often very painful to do this.
4. Stronger drugs
In certain situations, more specific medical intervention may be needed to address what is causing the canker sores. In such cases, medications such as chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash or steroids are usually prescribed.
A very effective measure to cure canker sores in children and also to prevent their appearance is the treatment of digestive problems, considering the fact that in childhood there is greater sensitivity to certain types of food.
When should I worry?
As we noted earlier, thrush can appear in children as a symptom of a viral infection. For this reason, if your child has other warning signs, such as fever or swollen glands, a doctor’s appointment will be necessary to avoid further complications.
We must also be careful that this discomfort does not last for a long time or is too intense, to the point of affecting the child’s daily life. If she feels weak or the pain is very severe, you should see a doctor right away.
