My husband is convinced he needs an emergency dentist for a canker sore. He thinks he has cancer. Is there anything I can do to calm him down?
Meg A. – New Jersey
Meg,
A lot of that will depend on how long he’s had the canker sore. Often they heal within two weeks. Much past that and it may actually be a sign of something more serious. Then, the sooner he sees the dentist, the better. It could also be a virus or cancer (as your husband fears).
Canker sores are developed for many different reasons—biting one’s cheek, friction from a dental appliance, injury, stress, and even allergies. There are several remedies which could give him some relief. There are oral pain relievers. They’re not extraordinarily strong, but they can give him some temporary relief while he eats. At least this way he gets the nourishment he needs. You can also find pads to cover the sore, but you can imagine how well that works in an environment like your mouth.
If your husband regularly sees the dentist, it’s probably just a canker sore. Dentists do a check for oral cancer during your check-ups, so he’d have seen any early warning signs. This should bring your husband some comfort. If it does turn out to be more than a canker sore or virus, be assured when they’re caught early the prognosis is generally very good.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.