Sore, painful and makes them miserable
Mouth sores such as ulcers and cold sores are not often serious and will go away by themselves with little or no medical intervention. However they are painful and can cause other problems like broken sleep and sometimes can indicate underlying conditions.
What Causes Mouth Sores?
• An injury to the mouth
• Certain viruses and illnesses
• Stress
• Certain medications
What Are the Symptoms of Mouth Sores?
Canker sores are the most common type of mouth sore. They are usually white with red borders. Other types of mouth sores can be white, red, or yellow. Your child may have a single sore or more than one at the same time. Mouth sore symptoms can include:
• Drooling
• Pain
• Swelling
• Soreness
• Fever
• Irritability
• Redness and inflammation
How Are Mouth Sores Diagnosed?
A mouth sore is diagnosed by how it looks. To get more information, the doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. The doctor will also examine your child. You will be told if any tests are needed.
How Are Mouth Sores Treated?
• Mouth sores generally go away within 7 to 14 days with no treatment.
• You can do the following at home to relieve your child’s symptoms:
• Give your child over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to treat pain and fever. Do not give ibuprofen to infants 6 months of age or less or to a child who is dehydrated or constantly vomiting. Do not give aspirin to a child. This can put your child at risk of a serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
• Cold liquids, ice, or frozen juice bars may help soothe mouth pain. Avoid giving your child spicy or acidic foods.
• Liquid antacid 4 times a day may help relieve the pain. For children over 4, a teaspoon (5 mL) as a mouthwash may be given after meals. Younger children should have half a teaspoon (2.5 mL) rubbed over the front of the mouth.
• Use the following treatments only if your child is over the age of 4:
• Apply a small amount of numbing gel to mouth sores to relieve pain. The gel can cause a brief sting when applied.
• Have your child rinse his or her mouth with saltwater or with baking soda and warm water then spit. The mouth rinse should not be swallowed.
Call the doctor if your child has any of the following:
• A mouth sore that doesn’t go away within 14 days
• Increased mouth pain
• Trouble swallowing
• Signs of infection around a mouth sore (pus, drainage, or swelling)
• Signs of dehydration (very dark or little urine, excessive thirst, dry mouth, dizziness)
• In an infant under 3 months old, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
• In a child of any age who has a repeated temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher
• A fever that lasts more than 24-hours in a child under 2 years old, or for 3 days in a child 2 years or old
