Two Year Old with Canker Sores and Chewing on Lips!!

Updated on June 10, 2009
L.J. asks from Syracuse, IN
12 answers

My little ray of sunshine developed one canker sore (inside mouth) then it turned into 3. She also has a cold sore on her lip. It all came about after a couple bad nights sleep for her. Her grandpa is prone to these and I'm thinking she is the same way. The thing is she started chewing on her lip last night to the point of bleeding! I couldn't get her stop. I even took her to a mirror and had her look at it to show her what it was doing to her lip to bite it. She has been good about putting on vasoline and carmex. I have no idea what else to do to treat her. Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated. I can't think of anything else to do to help her. -She doesn't act like it hurts that bad, but it has too. Her lip is really chewed up and I know that will not help her heal any faster.
Oh, she also an A-typical 2 year old....she just loves to disagree with me!

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So What Happened?

I ended up taking her to the Dr. and turns out she has stomatitis! Many of you had said something about this. So greatful to have advice from you ladies and to be enlightened that it may be more than a simple sore. We now have medicine,new toothpaste, and finally slept through the night again. Ahhhhh... so nice. :) Thank you all very much!
L.

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K.C.

answers from Cleveland on

I put vitamin E on my daughters lips to help them heal faster and reapply before I go to bed.

Just an FYI I used to get canker sores ALL the time and since I switched to "Tom's of Maine" toothpaste I haven't had ONE. I don't work for them nor to they pay me but it made a big difference for me and after years of canker sores I was thrilled. They have kids toothpaste in strawberry and my girls love it.

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D.L.

answers from Cleveland on

L.,

I feel for your daughter, as cold sores can be horribly painful, and to have canker sores at the same time must be unbearable. First of all, you must understand that cold sores are highly contagious, caused by a virus that never goes away. She is not "prone" to them; she picked up the virus - likely from grandpa!
You need to seek the help of your pediatrician at this point, for advice on how to manage the problem, and also how to prevent her from spreading the virus to the other kids - and you!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.B.

answers from Muncie on

Just had this problem with my coworkers grandson...take to a pediatric dentist for him to evaluate the problem (not the pediatrician...but might have to get a recommendation) and then have her chew on a cold washcloth (wet, put in baggie, put in freezer, then take out) it will help the pain. Also, canker sores are a form of the herpes virus...contagious....so be aware and be careful.

Good Luck but take her to a pediatric dentist (some on here will disagree because it's just canker sores....or seemingly so...but you never know for sure...so take her)

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G.M.

answers from Columbus on

When my son was young (he's 18 now) he had a lot of canker sores, I had to change his toothpaste and they finally went away. To this day he still cannot use Crest toothpaste and it's the only kind I use. Just something to check into...good luck it's awful to see them have the sores!!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.J.

answers from Dayton on

Dear L.,

Canker sores can come from a variety of sources but you might consider them as a viral infection. Dr. Merkle has some things that really helps and are not harmful. ###-###-####. I suffered with them for years but after a few rounds of monolaurin haven't been bothered. It is worth a try.

God Bless,

S.

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A.S.

answers from Columbus on

You may want to have this checked out. She could have HSV I (typical cold sore virus), stomatitis, or hand/foot/mouth. I know this from first-hand experience because my kids all had stomatitis (like hand/foot/mouth but only was in the mouth and around) at one point. Maybe she's chewing her lip because it itches? Either way, I'd at least call the doctor. This is very uncomfortable for children and can be treated. With the canker sores, do you happen to notice her not eating very well? I assume not since you didn't mention it but if she's not, there's something called "magic mouthwash" prescribed by doctors. It numbs the mouth if it's painful and is especially helpful to get children eating again if they're not due to pain. Yes, it's a topical anesthetic so it needs to be used sparingly and with very young children, instead of them gargling and spitting, you need to "spot treat" the affected areas. I hope I'm not reaching with this, I just know what I've been through and it sounds similar. ...hope I've helped.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.W.

answers from Dayton on

SLS - sodium lauryl sulphate, which is found in most toothpastes, will aggrevate canker sores. the only place to buy toothpaste without it is in a health food store. i and two of my children suffered with them for years until i discovered it was partly the toothpaste. Lysine supplements help a great deal also.

Good luck.

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K.K.

answers from Columbus on

I am also prone to canker sores. I take L-Lysine 500mg as a preventative measure and it works beautifully! However, you should talk to your doctor to see if this is safe for your 2 year old. Good Luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Indianapolis on

I would take her to the dentist. If it's just canker sores/fever blisters they have a prescription they can give you to dry them up. It works pretty quick I can't remember the name, but my daughter used it a couple of years ago. Now we just by an over the counter medicine when she or her brother get one. But they are older their your daughter, so I would see what your dentist suggests.

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K.V.

answers from Columbus on

Is she still using a pacifier or bottle or favortie sippy cup? If so you need to through them out as well as any toothbrush. Good luck.

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D.K.

answers from Indianapolis on

Best to hit it from the root source of the problem - nutritional deficiency. She needs LYSINE (an amino acid) found in cheese, eggs, fish, lima beans, milk, potatoes an soy products.

If you take care of it from a "Prevention standpoint" ...you won't need the stuff to put on the canker sores. Chances are, she won't be biting eiher.

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L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

Lysine should help, but I would take her in since she is chewing and making it worse.

Good Luck!

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