What We Treat
  • Allergies
  • Antibiotics
  • Asthma
  • High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
  • Online Prescriptions
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Other conditions we treat
Telehealth
  • Primary Care
  • Manage Your Condition
  • Women's Health
  • Children's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Senior Health
  • Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
  • Sexual Health
  • Mental & Behavioral Health
  • Travel Medicine
  • Urgent Care
  • See all
About Us
  • Who We Are
  • Why Trust Us
  • Newsroom
  • Blog
  • Support
  • Contact
Features & Pricing
For Organizations
Log in
Book a video appointment
Book now
  • What We Treat

    • Allergies
    • Antibiotics
    • Asthma
    • High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
    • Online Prescriptions
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Other conditions we treat
  • Telehealth

    • Primary Care
    • Manage Your Condition
    • Women's Health
    • Children's Health
    • Men's Health
    • Senior Health
    • Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
    • Sexual Health
    • Mental & Behavioral Health
    • Travel Medicine
    • Urgent Care
    • See all
  • About Us

    • Who We Are
    • Why Trust Us
    • Newsroom
    • Blog
    • Support
    • Contact
  • Features & Pricing
  • For Organizations
Log in to HealthTap
HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
Overview
Symptoms
Medications
Other treatments
Tests
Risk factors
Related questions
HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
Conditions
Sore
Canker sores

Canker sores

Share

Link copied

Small, shallow, and painful lesions on the tongue, inner cheek, or at the base of the gums, usually with a white or yellow center surrounded by redness. They may occur spontaneously or after a minor injury such as a cheek bite. They usually heal in one to two weeks, but larger sores may persist for one to two months.

Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge reviewed this

39 year experience in Internal Medicine

Is a type of:

Mouth disorders • Stomatitis • Sore

How long it usually lasts:

Short-term (lasts days to weeks)

How common it is:

Very common
Baby
0-2
Rare
Preteen
6-13
Very common
Teenager
14-18
Very common
Young adult
19-40
Very common
Middle-aged adult
41-60
Very common

How it can usually be treated?

Can be managed without a doctor visit

How is it usually diagnosed?

Self-diagnosable

Body locations

Head, Mouth

Symptoms

White patches inside mouth
Mouth ulcers
Mouth pain
Soreness or burning inside of mouth
Blisters in the mouth
Load more

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Canker sores
Viscous lidocaine
3.3
71 reviews
Magic mouthwash
3.2
64 reviews
Benzocaine
3.0
64 reviews
Benadryl mylanta and carafate
2.8
67 reviews
Amlexanox
2.7
54 reviews
Load more

Other treatments

Mouthwash
Load more

Tests

Ferritin
Complete blood count
Wound or tissue culture
Load more

Risk factors

Personal

Stress

Related questions

A 56-year old female asked:

My canker sores wont go?

2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 20-year old female asked:

What causes canker sores?

3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old asked:

Are canker sores permanent?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old asked:

What is best for canker sores?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 18-year old asked:

How do you treat canker sores?

4 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old male asked:

Why canker sores grow in size?

3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A 45-year old asked:

Can kisses cause canker sores?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 18-year old female asked:

Can citrus cause canker sores?

4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

What's causing my canker sores?

3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 43-year old asked:

How to know it is canker sores?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old asked:

What makes canker sores better?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old asked:

So how do you heal canker sores?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 30-year old asked:

How to remove canker sores fast?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 38-year old female asked about a male:

Are Canker sores urgent to treat?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 46-year old asked:

Why do I get canker sores easily?

2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old asked:

Do canker sores heal on their own?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 31-year old asked:

Any good remedies for canker sores?

2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old asked:

How can I quickly cure canker sores?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 19-year old female asked:

Why do I get reoccuring canker sores?

3 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in

A 48-year old asked:

I was wondering are canker sores hard?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 25-year old asked:

I get canker sores often. What is causing this?

4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

I have 6 painful canker sores! what should I do?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 48-year old asked:

Please suggest tips on dealing with canker sores?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 47-year old asked:

What are canker sores and when will they go away?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 49-year old asked:

Can people who get canker sores count as disabled?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old asked:

What are possible causes of recurrent canker sores?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 41-year old asked:

Why do I get canker sores ever since I was a child?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old asked:

Should i be taking bampho phenique for canker sores?

2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: canker sores?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

Could canker sores be caused from eating too many sweets?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified

Patient Care

Online Primary CareOur ServiceFAQSupport Center

Partner With Us

For Organizations

HealthTap

About UsBlogNewsroomContact Us

Join Us

For DoctorsJobs
Member App

Get the HealthTap app

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

1-888-974-2651support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryOur Specialties
Copyright 2025 HealthTap, Inc.