Mouth sores and cold sores

Canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers or aphthous ulcers, are small superficial wounds that appear on the oral and labial mucosa, the edges of the tongue, the buccal and lingual grooves and the soft palate. They are oval in shape, whitish in the centre and surrounded by a reddened area. Unlike cold sores, canker sores do not appear on the surface of the lips and are not contagious. However, they are often very annoying and cause problems with eating, drinking and even talking. Most canker sores, even without treatment, disappear on their own within a few days.