mouth and dental disorders
Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
Symptoms of RAS
Symptoms usually begin with pain or burning, followed in 1 to 2 days by a canker sore. There is never a blister. Pain is severe—far more so than would be expected from something so small—and lasts 4 to 7 days. The canker sores almost always form on soft, loose tissue such as that on the inside of the lip or cheek, on the tongue, on the floor of the mouth, on the soft palate, or in the throat. Sores appear as shallow, round, or oval spots with a yellow-gray center and a red border. Usually, sores are small, about 1/8 to 3/8 inches (less than 1 centimeter) in diameter, and often appear in clusters of 2 or 3. They usually disappear by themselves within 10 days and do not leave scars. Larger sores, about ½ to 1½ inches (less than 3 centimeters) in diameter, are less common. These larger ulcers are irregularly shaped, can take many weeks to heal, and frequently leave scars. People with a severe outbreak may also have a fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and a generally run-down feeling. 