Does your child often get canker sores? Let's be aware of this!

Does your little one sometimes not want to eat? Does he/she always cry, "Mommy, my mouth hurts"? When you open your mouth at that time, you may have noticed a small, white sore inside his/her mouth, on the inside of his/her cheeks, or on the inside of his/her lips. These are what we commonly call 'mouth sores' or medically known as `(Aphthous Stomatitis)` `(Canker Sores)`. These can be a bit painful and can make the child uncomfortable. So let's learn more about this today.

Why do these mouth sores (Canker Sores) occur?

In fact, it is difficult to say one specific reason why a child develops these mouth sores. However, through research and experience, doctors have found several possible causes. Girls are slightly more likely to develop this condition than boys. Also, younger children are more likely to develop these than children under the age of 10. However, children of any age can develop this condition.

Even if your child sees a doctor, they may not be able to pinpoint the exact cause. However, if these sores occur frequently, there are several main factors that can contribute to them.

• Viral Infection: If your child, especially a toddler or preschooler, is constantly getting mouth sores, there's a good chance that a virus is causing them. For example, hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common virus that causes mouth sores. When this disease occurs, along with mouth sores, you may see watery blisters on your child's palms and soles.

• Autoimmune Conditions: Sometimes, if mouth sores keep appearing for no apparent reason (like a virus or a nutritional deficiency), it could be an early sign of a problem with the body's immune system. Mouth sores are very common in children with conditions like Celiac Disease or Inflammatory Bowel Disease. They may also have other symptoms, such as fatigue and body aches.

• Nutritional Deficiencies: Low levels of Ferritin, a measure of the amount of iron stored in the body, are a major cause of frequent mouth ulcers. Iron deficiency is very common among children. If your child has this condition, you may notice symptoms such as pale skin, dark circles around the eyes, and feeling tired all the time despite sleeping well. A child generally needs between 8-15 milligrams of iron per day. Folic acid and vitamin B-12 deficiencies have also been linked to mouth ulcers.

• Food sensitivities: Some children's delicate linings inside their mouths can be easily irritated by certain foods. This can lead to mouth sores, especiallyFoods that are highly acidic, such as chocolate, coffee , and citrus fruits like lemons and oranges , are the main culprits.

What are the symptoms of these mouth sores?

The first thing to remember is that these mouth sores are not the same as cold sores, which look like chickenpox blisters. Canker sores are not contagious. Cold sores usually appear on exposed areas like the lips, around the mouth, and near the nose.

But Canker Sores only occur inside the mouth . They are found on soft tissues like the inside of the cheeks and the inside of the lips. The table below can help you understand these symptoms more clearly.

How does a doctor diagnose this condition?

Since these sores are usually visible to the eye, a doctor can easily diagnose this condition. The sores are painful, have a white color with a red ring around them, and are only found inside the mouth. This can be confirmed as a ``Canker Sore``.

Most of the time, the doctor will prescribe treatment without any further tests. However, if these lesions persist or occur frequently , blood tests or sometimes a biopsy may be needed to find out exactly what is causing them.

How is it treated? How can it be prevented from coming back?

Treatment

Mouth sores usually heal on their own within a week or two. However, the pain that lasts until they heal can be difficult for your child to bear. There are a few things you can do at home to help your child cope with this discomfort.

• Rinsing your mouth with a liquid antacid can reduce pain and inflammation.
• Applying a little honey to a wound can help reduce pain and help the wound heal faster. But remember, honey is not good for babies under one year old.
• Holding a little milk in your mouth and then spitting it out also helps relieve the pain.
• Be careful about the foods you give your child. Avoid giving hard, sharp things like crispy biscuits and bread crumbs . Give soft foods like rice, soup, and yogurt.
• To speed up the healing process, encourage them to drink plenty of fluids, such as clean water and fruit juices (non-acidic) .

Prevention

To prevent mouth ulcers from recurring, you first need to know the cause. For example, if your doctor confirms that your child is suffering from frequent mouth ulcers due to iron deficiency, it is important to follow the prescribed treatment for the deficiency exactly. This will not only prevent mouth ulcers from recurring, but also other health problems caused by iron deficiency.

How does this condition affect the child's health?

Children with mouth ulcers may be restless and irritable. They may not want to eat or drink due to the pain. Especially spicy and acidic foods like spaghetti with tomato sauce or orange juice may be completely avoided, as the pain will only get worse.

Therefore, if your child is suffering from mouth sores, especially if they occur frequently, it is very important to see your doctor to determine if there is an underlying cause and treat it.