Q: Canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers or aphthous stomatitis, are not contagious and look different from cold sores. They are usually about 5-8 mm across, painful, and also pale or yellow with a red outer ring. These sores are usually inside your mouth. You may notice 1 blister or several in a cluster. If your blister looks like this, it is probably a canker sore.  In most cases, canker sores don't have any other accompanying symptoms. They often heal in about 10 days. While cold sores usually develop on the lips, canker sores develop on the inside of the mouth. Blisters caused by burns can look similar, but with burns, you can typically identify an incident that caused the blister. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with ½ cup of warm water. Take a sip of the mixture, keeping it in your mouth. Swirl it over the area with the canker sore for about a minute and then spit it out.  This will help dry out the blister but it can be painful. If it causes you unbearable pain, try a different treatment. Repeat this process every couple of hours until the blister is gone. As an alternative, eating a popsicle or sipping on cool liquids might help your sore feel better. Put a teaspoon of baking soda in a small bowl and add a few drops of water to create a paste. Use your finger to apply a thin layer of the paste onto the canker sore and let it sit there for a minute. After that, rinse your mouth out with cool water. You can repeat this process daily to help get rid of your canker sore. There are a variety of over-the-counter medications that will protect the blister and will reduce the pain you feel. These medications include benzocaine and hydrogen peroxide rinses. Whichever medication you buy at your pharmacy, follow the directions on the packaging and quit using it if it increases your pain and discomfort. In order to help get rid of your canker sore, it's important to treat it gently. Don't eat anything too spicy, salty, rough, or acidic. Also keep your toothbrush away from your blister while you brush, as you don't want to irritate it.  Acidic, salty, and spicy foods to avoid include, but are not limited to, tomatoes, citrus fruits, chili peppers, potato chips, and fruit juices. Try not to eat rough and crunchy foods, like crusty bread and hard crackers, as they can scratch the blister and cause pain. Eat soft, anti-inflammatory foods. When dealing with a canker sore you still need to eat, but it's important to choose the right things.  Foods that are both soft and anti-inflammatory, such as honey and yogurt, will not irritate the blister and may even aid in healing. For more severe cases, such as if your canker sore becomes very large or it won't heal after a couple of weeks, you should talk to your doctor about it. They are likely to give you an examination and suggest prescription treatments if the canker sore is severe. Medications that may be prescribed include fluocinonide gel (Lidex), anti-inflammatory amlexanox paste (Aphthasol), or chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex) mouthwash.
A: Look at the color and pattern of the blister to determine if it is a canker sore. Gargle with salt water to dry out the blister. Try applying a paste of baking soda to reduce inflammation. Use over-the-counter medications to soothe it. Be cautious when eating or brushing your teeth. Get treated by a doctor if you cannot get rid of your blisters.

Q: Though in recent times, the terms "nerd" and "geek" have been reclaimed as pretty cool, if people still use these words negatively in your school, then you need to realize that your glasses and braces don't have anything to do with who you are as a person. If you don't want to be labeled a geek, then you have to think that you aren't a geek (unless you are, of course -- and that's cool, too!).  People may have an image of what it means to wear braces and glasses -- it's up to you to prove them wrong! If you act like you're cool, then other people are sure to follow. But if you act weak or scared, then you'll leave an opening for people to call you a nerd or a geek. . Stick to your real personality and be confident. No matter what people say to you, you're still the person you always were underneath. If you don't change who you are, how you feel, or how you act, then people won't think twice about your glasses and braces. Wear what you usually wear and keep being your smiling, happy self. If people notice a change in how you act, then they'll know that your glasses and braces are to blame. If you're normally outgoing, don't let your glasses or braces hold you back! Learn to laugh at yourself. If you want to poke fun at yourself for having four eyes or a face full of metal, go for it. Why not beat other people to the punch? If people know that you're comfortable with your quirks, then they'll back off. If you act like you're constantly worried about what people will say about your braces and your glasses, then they'll be more likely to make fun of you.  Be approachable and friendly. If you have a great personality, less and less people are going to notice your mouth of metal. Remember Ugly Betty, who does this successfully. Wearing glasses, whether they are thick black glasses or of the thinner variety, is decidedly in now. Celebrities such as Ryan Gosling, Anne Hathaway, Katy Perry, and Justin Bieber have been seen sporting this trendy accessory. It's cool to wear glasses, and though glasses make some people think of computers and "being nerdy," guess what? Computers, the tech world, and programming are all the rage in this world, so even if that doesn't describe you, wearing glasses will make you more cool, not less cool, by association. Even in the most extreme situations, you won't be wearing your braces for the entirety of your elementary school, middle school, or high school years. We're talking about a year or two of unpleasantness in exchange for a straight pair of pearly whites. You shouldn't have a countdown until the minute your braces come off, but you should remember that soon, your teeth won't be sporting extra metal swag. No matter what age you are, but especially if you're a preteen or a teenager, you will be spending most of your time around people who are really just little balls of stress and insecurity. Everyone at that age has something they don't like about themselves, from their acne to their height, so you can just be happy that all you have to worry about are braces and glasses, and learn to love these aspects of yourself. It'll only take a week or so of wearing glasses for you to take them off for a minute and have people say, "Wow, you look so weird without them!" People will quickly adapt to your new look and will forget that you ever looked any other way. And that includes you. Once you get settled in, you won't even wish you didn't have glasses or braces because you'll be used to the new you. Remember what an amazing person you are -- glasses, braces and all. Don't be afraid to go to parties because you don't like the way you look. Don't fear approaching your crush because you think you can never kiss with braces anyway. Go about your daily life while remembering how amazing you are, and the rest will be as easy as pie. Remember that you love who you are, what you do, and all of the people in your life. If you've always had lower self-confidence, work on addressing your flaws and finding something you're passionate about. If you're happy with yourself, then you'll be happy with your appearance.
A:
Don't think that your braces and glasses make you a nerd. Stay true to your personality Don't take yourself so seriously. Remember that glasses are in now. Know that braces aren't forever. Tell yourself that everyone is self-conscious about something. Know that people will get used to your new look pretty fast. Keep up your confidence.