For the most part, minor canker sores will go away in a week or two without treatment. But minor aphthous ulcers are only one type of canker sore. In fact, major aphthous ulcers can last for a very long time, cause significant pain, and lead to scarring.
Complications of major aphthous ulcers
Major aphthous ulcers are bigger than the more common minor ones. They are sometimes referred to as Sutton ulcers or periadenitis mucosa necrotica recurrens. Major aphthous ulcers are generally more painful, last longer, and recur more frequently as well. Unfortunately the main complication of major aphthous ulcers is tissue scarring.
Scientists believe that the reason this type of canker sore scars is because of the immune reaction that takes place at the site of the lesion. Remember that immune system cells are the killer cells of the body. They release toxic substances that are meant to destroy foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. When the immune system goes to work in a particular area of the body, these toxic substances sometimes land on the body’s own tissue. If this happens for a long period of time and/or the toxic substances accumulate in high concentrations, the tissues can become damaged. This tissue damage can result in scars.
There are certainly a number of canker sore treatments, including home remedies and alternative treatments. However, because major aphthous ulcers can result in tissue scarring in the mouth due to immune system activity, it might reasonable to discuss drugs that affect the immune system such as corticosteroids or even immunomodulators with your doctor. Other methods can be used to prevent recurrence between flare-ups.
Because these mouth sores are so painful, canker sores can interfere with eating and drinking. Patients may become dehydrated and malnourished because they refuse to eat. This is especially true in infants and small children. Young children often refuse to be fed but also dehydrate faster than older children and adults. In these cases, adequate pain control is essential. The goal should be to numb the mouth, perhaps through the use of anesthetics, so that eating and drinking can be restarted without pain.
Canker sore prognosis
Both minor aphthous ulcers and recurrent herpetiform ulcerations tend to heal without treatment. This assumes, however, that the patient’s immunes system is intact and healthy. Even minor lesions can last a very long time in people with weakened immune systems. HIV/AIDS patients are hard hit by canker sores. Cancer and various autoimmune diseases not only weaken the immune system directly, but the treatment for these illnesses may further weaken it. While prognosis is generally very good for most people, the disease can be quite severe in certain patient populations and recovery times are longer.
