Canker sore?

My wife sometimes gets a very small white bump on her tongue, sometimes on top or bottom. Is this a canker sore?  she says it hurts then goes away. This isn't herpes is it?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Steve:

It almost certainly is not herpes, whch in its recurrent "cold sore" form is usually outside the mouth, at the lip margin.  Canker sores are actually ulcers.  These bumps your wife gets may be abortive cankers, but if they come and go, I can't think of much that is significant she could have.

Best wishes.

Dr. R