If you notice that you keep getting small, unpleasant ulcers on the inside of your mouth, you may be dealing with canker sores. These are a type of shallow ulcer that typically looks pale with an inflamed red border around it. The most common location is along the inner lip, but a canker sore can also occur along the inside of the cheeks or the gum line. They can be very unpleasant, causing a lot of discomfort while eating, drinking, or moving the mouth. There are three main types of sores: minor, major, and herpetiform. Minor sores are very common.They look like a small oval and heal within a couple of weeks. Major sores are less common, and they may take almost two months to heal. A major canker sore is much deeper and bigger than a minor one, and it may have irregular borders instead of being a smooth circle or oval. Herpetiform canker sores are tiny sores that cluster in a bunch somewhere in the mouth. They are not caused by the herpes virus, despite the name, and they heal within a couple of weeks. Though it is possible to treat some of the symptoms of a canker sore, it may come back if you do not also treat the underlying cause. These are some of the major causes of canker sores.
