Should You Pop a Canker Sore?
No, you should never attempt to pop, lance, or puncture a canker sore (aphthous ulcer). These lesions are not fluid-filled blisters or pustules that can be drained—they are inflammatory ulcerations of the oral mucosa that will only worsen with physical trauma 1, 2.
Why You Cannot and Should Not Pop a Canker Sore
Canker sores are ulcers, not blisters. They represent a breakdown of the mucosal lining with exposed underlying tissue, not a collection of fluid that can be released 3, 4.
Physical trauma triggers and worsens aphthous ulcers. Local mechanical injury is a known precipitating factor for these lesions in susceptible individuals, so attempting to manipulate them will likely enlarge the ulcer, increase pain, and delay healing 5, 4.
Manipulation increases infection risk. Introducing bacteria through trauma to an already compromised mucosal surface can lead to secondary bacterial infection and potentially convert a minor ulcer into a major one 3.
What You Should Do Instead: Evidence-Based Treatment
First-Line Topical Therapy (Start Immediately)
Apply topical corticosteroids directly to the dried ulcer 2-4 times daily. Use clobetasol 0.05% gel or ointment for localized, accessible ulcers, or triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% paste as an alternative 1, 2.
For multiple ulcers, use betamethasone sodium phosphate 0.5 mg dissolved in 10 mL water as a rinse-and-spit solution 4 times daily 1, 2.
Pain Management
Apply viscous lidocaine 2% topically 3-4 times daily, especially before meals to allow comfortable eating 1, 2.
Use benzydamine hydrochloride rinse or spray every 3 hours, particularly before eating, for additional pain relief 1, 2.
Supportive Care
Rinse with warm saline mouthwashes daily to reduce bacterial colonization and promote healing 1, 2.
Use 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate mouthwash twice daily as an antiseptic rinse 1, 2.
Apply mucoprotectant mouthwashes (Gelclair or Gengigel) 3 times daily to create a protective barrier over the ulcerated tissue 1, 2.
When to Escalate Treatment
If the ulcer persists beyond 2 weeks or doesn't respond to 1-2 weeks of topical treatment, you must see a specialist for evaluation and possible biopsy to rule out malignancy 1, 2.
For recurrent aphthous stomatitis (≥4 episodes per year), systemic therapy with colchicine is the preferred first-line treatment 1, 2, 6.
Critical Pitfall to Avoid
The most common mistake is attempting any form of physical manipulation—popping, squeezing, or lancing—which will invariably worsen the condition and prolong healing 5, 4. The second most common error is ignoring ulcers that persist beyond 2 weeks, as chronic solitary ulcers require biopsy to exclude squamous cell carcinoma 3.