Canker Sores in Children: Symptoms, Relief and When to Seek Care
Are you prone to mouth ulcers? Canker sores are the most common cause of mouth ulcers, and are typically present in the inner cheeks, inner lips or gums. They can be painful and make it hard to eat. They frequently appear during an illness, especially if there is a fever. Other reasons include injuries from rough food, toothbrushes, biting or food irritants.
Treatment tips
Here are some tips to help your child heal from canker sores:
For kids 1 year and older, use a liquid Antacid (like Mylanta or Maalox) for pain and discomfort:
- Give 4 times per day as needed, and after a meal if possible.
- Age 1 to 6 years: Put a few drops in the mouth or apply with a cotton swab.
- Age over 6 years: Use 1 teaspoon (5 mL) as a mouth wash. Keep it on the ulcers as long as possible. They can spit it out or swallow it.
- You can also use Ibuprofen or Tylenol for pain relief.
Keep them hydrated
Anything cold is soothing: cold drinks, milk shakes, popsicles, slushes and sherbet are good choices.
Diet recommendations
Avoid foods that need much chewing or citrus, salty or spicy foods. Choose soft foods like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, cereals with milk and ice cream!
Going back to School
Canker sores are not contagious so they cannot be spread to others. It’s all a matter of comfort and how well they are doing with eating and drinking.
The natural course of canker sores
They typically heal in 1 to 2 weeks on their own. Once they occur, no treatment can shorten the duration of the problem, but treatment as mentioned above can help with the pain.
Give us a call
If mouth ulcers are lasting more than 2 weeks, you think your child needs to be seen, or they are not eating and drinking enough and are at risk for dehydration.
References
Canker Sores | Pediatric Patient Education | American Academy of Pediatrics
