The dislike for pimples is a universal thing. They spring up out of nowhere, forcing you to pop them. They can also be extremely painful, just like canker sores.
Dubbed as pimples for your mouth, canker sores are tiny little ulcers that grow inside your lips, gums, and even your tongue. But can you pop a canker sore to get rid of it? Sadly, no. As pesky as they are, canker sores are not meant to be popped.
Canker sores are, despite the resemblance, not quite like pimples. To find out more about their idiosyncrasies, keep on reading this blog.
What are Canker Sores?
Canker sores are pimple-like ulcers that develop on the pink skin inside your mouth. Usually, they’re found on the inside of your cheeks and lips, but they can grow on the gums too.
Most people tend to confuse canker sores with cold sores, but they’re two entirely different types of ulcers. The easiest way to tell apart canker sores is through their appearance. For instance, canker sores are known to have a white, translucent middle with a red, inflamed lining around it.
What Causes Canker Sores?
Multiple factors can cause canker sores. Whether it’s due to poor oral hygiene or accidentally biting down on your cheek, the options are endless. Nevertheless, mentioned below are some of the common reasons why canker sores appear:
- Accidentally Biting Down on Cheek or Tongue
- Eating Spicy, Acidic, or Greasy Foods
- Genetics
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Side Effects of Stopping Smoking
- Chronic Stress or Anxiety
- Viral Infection
- Vitamin Deficiencies
- Weak Immune System
Can You Pop a Canker Sore?
Unless you want to trigger a serious infection, it’s best to leave your canker sore as is. Do not try to pop it, or it could lead to severe consequences. Not to mention, since canker sores are open wounds, doing anything would just further irritate them.
It doesn’t matter if you want to scrape off the white part of canker sores or try popping a canker sore with a needle; it’s better to leave it alone. Such actions would only cause your cheeks to bleed or injure the soft tissues of your mouth.
Do Canker Sores Have Pus in Them?
A canker sore is no less than a regular blister. However, it’s the type that doesn’t need to be poked or prodded. This is because the top layer of a canker sore is already raw, exposing the white pus pocket underneath. When the pus-filled sac erupts, it could leave behind germs and bacteria to mark their place for future canker sore growths.
Many people wonder what the white stuff in a canker sore is. And the truth is, it’s nothing more than pus, which is made up of dead tissues and white blood cells. And no matter how harmless it appears, it could cause grave circumstances.
Final Takeaway
All in all, if you have a canker sore, do not pop it. No matter tempting, it seems. Instead, it’s best to leave it on its own. However, if you frequently get canker sores, there might be a reason for that. In such a case, reach out to the dentist for further information and diagnoses. Contact Bayside Dental at (979) 330-4113 to schedule an appointment today. You can find our dental office in Bay City, located at 2300 7th street, right by Bay City Food Mart.