Which would you rather deal with...

[davi_el_mejor]

Canker Sores or Sensitive Teeth?

It seems that I have to have one or the other. I used to have horrible canker sores about once a month until I switched to an SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) free toothpaste. No more canker sores!!!

But...

Now my teeth are super sensitive to sugar. The pain is so bad it makes my eyes water sometimes. No cavities the dentist could see, so that's the not the cause. I wonder if switching back to my former toothpaste would alleviate the sensitivity. Maybe another visit to the dentist is in order

I can live with the sensitivity just have to be careful with the sweets (which should help with another issue )but I don't think I could live with the horrible painful canker sores again.

 

[yennyfire]

Neither! Surely there's something that can be done so that you have neither of these problems?? I have very sensitive teeth and it sucks. I use Sensodyne toothpaste and it helps, but I am still careful about cold things....hope that you get some relief soon!

 

[dragonfly411]

Davi - What is your diet like? I ask because I usually get cankor sores when I am eating a lot of foods that are high in refined sugars or sweets, or foods that are higher in grease. I'm wondering if you could switch toothpastes and just do some adjusting to your diet to help alleviate the canker sores? Have you spoken with your general practitioner to see what their thoughts are? I hope you can find an answer! Neither is very fun.

 

[lliang_chi]

Davi, maybe there are some mouthwashes you can use to reduce canker sores? Hopefully one of the PS dentists can chime in...

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Davi - What is your diet like? I ask because I usually get cankor sores when I am eating a lot of foods that are high in refined sugars or sweets, or foods that are higher in grease. I'm wondering if you could switch toothpastes and just do some adjusting to your diet to help alleviate the canker sores? Have you spoken with your general practitioner to see what their thoughts are? I hope you can find an answer! Neither is very fun.

Some history:

After I had mono in my early 20's is when the canker sores started on the regular. No part of my mouth was spared, under the tongue, gums, lips, in a few words- a week of hell. I did some research and found SLS can trigger canker sores. I cut out SLS in toothpaste for about a year. I've had two canker sores in that time. It has been a blessing.

About 5 months ago (coincedentally after my 6 month dental exam) I started having sensitivity issues, no cavities in the area where it's sensitive. I posted this morning because I had a sweet treat with some coffee and nearly cried in pain. The pain lasted for a few minutes and then I was fine. The pain from the sensitivity is far more manageable than the canker sores, so, so far I'd rather deal with the sensitivity than canker sores.

Maybe the two aren't related but I can't help but put two and two together at this point

 

[dragonfly411]

Davi - Thanks for the history. I'd say consult a doctor or dentist. You shouldn't have to live without treats, but you also shouldn't live in pain from the sores.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Davi - Thanks for the history. I'd say consult a doctor or dentist. You shouldn't have to live without treats, but you also shouldn't live in pain from the sores.

Yeah those herpes simplex viruses suck!!! Thanks for the sympathy

 

[dragonfly411]

I actually just got rid of a canker sore they suck big time.

 

[iugurl]

I have had sensitive teeth since age 13 or so. I have no idea why! I use sensitive toothpaste, it does not matter the brand. I have used Crest, Colgate, and Sensodyne. All have worked. I remember once I ran out of it, and in the meantime used my sis's regular toothpaste. NEVER AGAIN. I was in intense pain in a matter of 2 days. I ran to the store as soon as the pain started, but the pain did not go away for several days.

I have had canker sores. They are painful, but nowhere near the (occasional) pain of my teeth. Plus, canker sores come and go. If your teeth are sensitive they are normally always sensitive (assuming toothpaste or other products do not help). I am sorry you are having such problems.

 

[afreebird]

Davi, I have sensitive teeth, too. I second using toothpaste specifically made for sensitivity issues. Also, a few years back I mentioned my sensitivity to my dentist. He put on some kind of sealer, and I've been back to using regular toothpaste ever since. I can't remember exactly what the sealer is called, but it worked wonders for me.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

I have had sensitive teeth since age 13 or so. I have no idea why! I use sensitive toothpaste, it does not matter the brand. I have used Crest, Colgate, and Sensodyne. All have worked. I remember once I ran out of it, and in the meantime used my sis's regular toothpaste. NEVER AGAIN. I was in intense pain in a matter of 2 days. I ran to the store as soon as the pain started, but the pain did not go away for several days.

I have had canker sores. They are painful, but nowhere near the (occasional) pain of my teeth. Plus, canker sores come and go. If your teeth are sensitive they are normally always sensitive (assuming toothpaste or other products do not help). I am sorry you are having such problems.

I use Sensodyne Pronamel. It's for sensitive teeth and is SLS free. But the more I read about sensitive teeth even after using it I should bump up my dentist appt.

The internet is really good at making you think you have serious diseases that are super rare! LOL

Freebird, my teeth had been sealed as a teen that was like 10 years ago though. I feel the sensitivity between the molars only on the top. I may just take an appt next week to have this resolved it SUCKS, but whatever he suggests I will not use if it has SLS I whole heartedly believe that is what is triggering my canker outbreaks.

 

[Kaleigh]

My teeth became super sensitive after I had veneers put on. My dentist prescribed a special toothpaste, forget the name of it. But I would try getting your dentist to prescribe some for you. I use Crest toothpast for sensitive teeth, and it works fine.

I had canker sores as a kid, they hurt like the dickens!!!! Remember Campho Phenique?? (SP?) I don't know whether that stuff helped or made them worse, LOL.

 

[dragonfly411]

Ahhhhh my grandma used to make me use that!!!!

 

[monarch64]

Neither! Get yourself a bottle of alum (available in the spice aisle) and drop about a 16th of a teaspoon onto your canker sores. Dries them up and you won't have any further trouble.



ETA: sugar...I have no idea how to alleviate that issue. Brush with baking soda, perhaps? Hope you find relief soon, tooth pain is no fun, I'm sorry you're in pain!

 

[Imdanny]

Neither. If you think the sugar is causing it I'd advise you to cut the sugar out of your diet.

I use SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) free toothpaste (I quoted you ) toothpaste. It's kind of expensive but to be honest I can't stand chemical saturated stuff like Crest.

Good luck!

 

[gemgirl]

Davi - Thanks for the history. I'd say consult a doctor or dentist. You shouldn't have to live without treats, but you also shouldn't live in pain from the sores.

Yeah those herpes simplex viruses suck!!! Thanks for the sympathy

I used to get canker sores as a kid and I've gotten fever sores a few times as an adult. If you take 500 mg. of Lysine everyday for a couple of months, you will likely get rid of the canker sores for much longer periods of time. Lysine is specifically for the oral herpes virus. My husband takes it too because he's even more sensitive than I am to developing canker sores. Any prolonged stress for him creates what we call a Vesuvius! (an eruption)

 

[Tacori E-ring]

That's a tough one. I have sensitive teeth which I hate. I have never really had canker sores but if those are just once in awhile I guess I would pick that vs. everyday pain.

 

[luv2sparkle]

I am going to try SLS free toothpaste! I recently,(mid January) cut out all sugar from my diet, and the change is amazing! If that is
something you have to do to get rid of the sensitive teeth problem, I think it is a blessing in disguise!

 

[ksinger]

Davi - Thanks for the history. I'd say consult a doctor or dentist. You shouldn't have to live without treats, but you also shouldn't live in pain from the sores.

Yeah those herpes simplex viruses suck!!! Thanks for the sympathy

I used to get canker sores as a kid and I've gotten fever sores a few times as an adult. If you take 500 mg. of Lysine everyday for a couple of months, you will likely get rid of the canker sores for much longer periods of time. Lysine is specifically for the oral herpes virus. My husband takes it too because he's even more sensitive than I am to developing canker sores. Any prolonged stress for him creates what we call a Vesuvius! (an eruption)

Except that canker sores are not caused by herpes. Cold sores, yes. Canker sores on the inner linings of the gums and mouth, no. People frequently think that, but it isn't so.

I'd rather have sensitive teeth. I've had the canker sore thing, and it can be pretty ghastly.

This from The Mayo Clinic on canker sores:

The precise cause of canker sores remains unclear, though researchers suspect that a combination of several factors contributes to outbreaks, even in a single individual. These factors include:

■A minor injury to your mouth from dental work, overzealous brushing, sports mishaps, spicy or acidic foods, or an accidental cheek bite
■Food sensitivities, particularly to chocolate, coffee, strawberries, eggs, nuts, cheese and highly acidic foods, such as pineapple
■Food allergies
■A diet lacking in vitamin B-12, zinc, folate (folic acid) or iron
■An allergic response to certain bacteria in your mouth
■Helicobacter pylori, the same bacteria that cause peptic ulcers
■Celiac disease, a serious intestinal disorder caused by a sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in most grains
■Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
■Behcet's disease, a rare disorder that causes inflammation throughout the body, including the mouth
■A faulty immune system that attacks healthy cells in your mouth instead of pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria
■HIV/AIDS, which suppresses the immune system
■Hormonal shifts during menstruation
■Emotional stress
■Toothpastes and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate

Unlike cold sores, canker sores are not associated with herpes virus infections.

 

[shihtzulover]

Yup, cold sores (lesions on and around the lips, that start as blisters and then progress into crusted sores) are caused by the herpes simplex virus, but canker sores are not. The only time a person will have a herpes simplex outbreak in their mouth is during the primary outbreak (when they are first infected) - all recurrences (when the virus reactivates) will occur outside of the mouth. Because of this, the antivirals that work for cold sores will unfortunately not work for canker sores.

I suffer from canker sores, and they are soooo bad. They grow very large, and sometimes they hurt so bad that I can't even move my mouth to smile. They are also usually accompanied by swollen glands under my jaw, on the same side as the sore. I have gotten them since I was a kid, and I cannot find anything that will get rid of them completely.

Canker sores seem to have many causes, so there is no one cure. For me, stress seems to play a major role. I never really thought about the correlation, but I just recently left a horrible job; the stress was out of this world, and I was constantly at my wit's end. I realized that I got three horrible canker sores in the course of three months there, and before that, I was getting one or two a year.

Biotene mouthwash seems to help mine a lot. I don't know if it totally prevents them, but they don't seem to get as severe as often (except when I had that job, I guess). I don't know if it would work for everyone, but it has helped me out a ton.

Also, putting crushed up aspirin on them (mixed with water, to make a paste) seems to help ease the pain when they are really bad. I'm not sure that it's recommended, but when I'm in that much pain, I'm desperate.

Good luck!