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Help control, relieve and prevent canker sore outbreaks

	Canker sores are small, very sore patches inside your mouth that nearly everyone gets. Most go away in a week or so, but some people keep getting them. ConsumerReportsHealth.org can help you find effective treatments for canker sores.
	Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org today and find out which treatments rate best for treating and reducing the symptoms of canker sores.

Consumer Reports Health explains the best and most up-to-date expert research about recurrent canker sores and weighs the evidence about how to treat them. You can use our information to talk with your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.

Key points for people with canker sores

• Canker sores are small, white sores inside your mouth where the top layer of the skin is damaged. They are very sore but usually don’t last long.
• If you keep getting bouts of canker sores every few months, weeks or even every few days, doctors say you have recurrent canker sores.
• As many as two out of three people get bouts of recurrent canker sores at some time in their life.
• You're more likely to get them when you are a young adult, but they're also common in children.
• There are three main types of canker sores: minor canker sores, major canker sores and herpetiform sores.
• The main symptom you'll notice with canker sores is that your mouth gets very tender on and around the sores.
• There's no one treatment that works for everyone with recurrent canker sores. You may need to try a few treatments to see what works best for you.

Having recurrent sores can be distressing, especially if they are major sores and cause you a lot of pain. Mouthwashes and gels containing an antiseptic called chlorhexidine may make your sores become less painful and go away faster. If you have extremely painful sores, your doctor or dentist should check after a few days to see if they are starting to heal. If the pain is so bad that you can't eat at all during an attack, you should talk with your doctor about the different treatments available.

Our concise condition report and treatment ratings table will help you and your doctor decide which treatment for canker sores is right for you. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, we'll also help you sort through the best research and the most effective treatments for over 100 conditions and illnesses that may affect you and your family.