I'm not sure if you guys are able to answer medical questions- but
maybe you can tell me what these are symptoms for. Sores are in the
corners of my mouth, if my mouth is opened wide enough severe pain is
induced. It isn't dry skin, it's an open sore. The tongue, near the
tip, is sore, sensitive and rough. The tongue feels like it has been
burned, but I have not had any hot drinks for that to happen. Certain
foods such as tomatoes, soda pop; pretty much acidic foods, irritate
the sores even more. Drinks that are warm seem to help temporarily,
smooth foods are easier to handle. There are no indigestion problems,
this only deals with the whole mouth area. Please, I need as much help
as possible, any explanation/cause of this, what so ever, will be
helpful!!!!! Could this possibly be herpes?

Hello,

It COULD be herpes, but most probably isn't. What you seem to be
describing are canker sores.

From the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research:

"Recurrent canker sores afflict about 20 percent of the general
population. The medical term for the sores is aphthous stomatitis.

Canker sores are usually found on the movable parts of the mouth such
as the tongue or the inside linings of the lips and cheeks. They begin
as small oval or round reddish swellings, which usually burst within a
day. The ruptured sores are covered by a thin white or yellow membrane
and edged by a red halo. Generally, they heal within 2 weeks. Canker
sores range in size from an eighth of an inch wide in mild cases to
more than an inch wide in severe cases. Severe canker sores may leave
scars. Fever is rare, and the sores are rarely associated with other
diseases. Usually a person will have only one or a few canker sores at
a time."

So what's causing these sores to open up? From the same page:

"The cause of canker sores is not well understood. More than one cause
is likely, even for individual patients. Canker sores do not appear to
be caused by viruses or bacteria... emotional stress and injury to the
mouth can trigger outbreaks of canker sores, but these factors
probably do not cause the disorder."

What can be done is little to speed up the healing, since the cause of
canker sores is for the mostpart unknown. Only treatment of pain
and/or topical anesthetics such as Ambesol. If you ask your dentist,
I've gotten perscription antibiotics to put on to ensure that
infection will not occur and delay healing, and more potent
anesthetics to help ease pain. You could also ask about tetracycline
from your dentist (same NIDCR page):

"Mouthrinses containing the antibiotic tetracycline may reduce the
unpleasant symptoms of canker sores and speed healing by preventing
bacterial infections in the sores. Clinical studies at the National
Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research have shown that rinsing
the mouth with tetracycline several times a day usually relieves pain
in 24 hours and allows complete healing in 5 to 7 days."

Now if any of these sores come coupled with fevers or other
afflictions, it's time to see a doctor or dentist to take a closer
look at them, perhaps it is a symptom of something more serious, maybe
herpes related. Mind you there are two strains of the herpes virus
that people aren't commonly aware of which aren't sexually transmitted
and aren't nearly as harmful as the "herpes" virus. These are these
herpes simplex virus. I've included a link or two about herpes simplex
at the bottom, but won't go into detail about it.

One last thing, although I wouldn't recommend this to everybody, some
people such as myself have treated canker sores by putting salt
directly on the sore (it hurts like the dickens) for 30 seconds and
then rinsing the mouth out. If you can't stand this, and I wouldn't
recommend it unless you have a high pain threshhold, then mix a high
salt/water solution and swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds or
until you can't stand the pain. You'll find after the initial pain,
your canker sore takes on a different color and the oozy-pussy
covering is destroyed, and the canker sore becomes painless for a
couple hours.


Search Strategy:

canker sores on google:
://www.google.com/search?q=canker+sores

"canker sore" treatment on google:
://www.google.com/search?q=%22canker+sore%22+treatment


Additional Links:

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research page on Canker
Sores:
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/fever-blister/fever-canker.html

Animated-teech.com canker sore page:
http://www.animated-teeth.com/canker_sores/t1_canker_sores.htm

Canker sore picture gallery (yuck!):
http://www.jixby-phillips.com/canker/

Herpes simplex info:
http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/herpes.html


Thank you for the opportunity to answer your question, if you require
more information, please clarify the question, or if you find this
answer satisfactory, please feel free to rate it. Thank you!

skermit-ga

saradee,

While it's possible that what you are experiencing is harmless and
will go away on its own, it's also possible that it is a symptom of
something more serious that requires treatment. Only your doctor can
tell you for sure. They can ask you questions and perform the tests to
determine what you may have, and whether you need treatment. I
strongly recommend that you call your doctor and request an emergency
appointment, both to resolve your medical problem and to set your mind
at ease.

Best wishes!

aceresearcher

Good advice by aceresearcher-ga. The disclaimer at the bottom reads:

"Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general
information, and are not intended to substitute for informed
professional medical..."

and the advice that I gave was info that I had on hand from the last
canker sore outbreak I had. It seemed to me like that is what it was,
but I am not a medical professional. The advice I gave may/may not
help you in your particular case, but check with a doctor/dentist just
in case.

skermit-ga

Although no one but a physician can tell you what these sores are,
they sound like canker sores.  My grandmother was fond of putting alum
directly on a canker sore.  Youch. But it worked.  She also used a
salt mouthwash (as skermit-ga suggested) in conjuction with the alum
treatment.

Holistic Online suggests "Canker sores often pop up when you're under
stress or after you've eaten an irritating food (pineapple, nuts and
chocolate are common culprits)."  My grandmother used to say they came
from an acidic stomach, like from eating too many tomatoes or citrus
fruits.

Vitamin deficiencies may also be the culprit.  "Nutritional
deficiencies: Although a number of nutrient deficiencies can lead to
canker sores, thiamine deficiency appears to be the most significant. 
Deficiencies of iron, lysine, vitamin B12, and folic acid also can
lead to canker sores. Several studies showed that nutrient
deficiencies are common among recurrent canker sore sufferers than in
the general population. A study of 330 patients with recurrent canker
sores showed that forty-seven (14.2 percent) were deficient in iron,
folate, vitamin B12, or a combination of these nutrients. When these
patients' deficiencies were corrected, the majority had complete
remission. Other studies have shown similar deficiency rates for the
same nutrients and equally good response to supplementation."

Canker Sores
http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/Canker/canker_introduction.htm

vitamin deficiencies, particularly involving some of the B vitamins,
can cause the symptoms you describe. As has been said, no online
advice will replace a visit to your doctor