$Unique_ID{BRK01070}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{The Readers Speak:  Canker Sores}
$Subject{canker sores sore infection infections mouth treatments treatment
dentists dentist}
$Volume{A-11}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


THE READERS SPEAK:  Canker Sores


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     The mail commenting on a recent answer dealing with canker sores in the
mouth was both voluminous and varied.  As usual a number of possible
treatments were proposed, all based upon personal experiences that were
successful.  Although research in the medical literature was unfruitful in
substantiating some of the claims, they were interesting enough to pass on to
you for your information but certainly without my personal endorsement.  Way
out front in the number of positive comments was L-Lysine, an amino acid sold
in tablet form in health food stores and also through some pharmacies.  The
dosages taken ranged from 1 to 3 capsules or tablets a day to two 500 mg
tablets every 4 hours.  One reader (M.J.Y.) suggests touching the canker sore
with milk of magnesia, while M.M. assures me that Gleem toothpaste is the
answer.  One recommendation to use "alum" ("a pickle spice found in your
grocery store") lost my interest when it was described as painful with a bad
acid taste, but might not be much worse than the silver nitrate sticks some
physicians use as treatment.  To me the most interesting came from Richard
Chace Jr., D.M.D., who prefers a chlorhexidine mouth wash (Peridex) as being
effective even against cankers provoked by viruses.  His admonition that
dentists see more of these cases in a month than most physicians do in a
lifetime is well taken.  His opinion that "dentists are frankly much better
trained to deal with them" certainly makes sense, and then his case for
collaboration between dentist and physician hits the center of the mark.  I'll
remember that in future circumstances when dealing with oral conditions in
this column.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.