Canker sores are painful, small ulcers in the mouth or on the inner lips caused by an assortment of viruses. Doctors call this condition aphthous stomatitis or aphthous ulcers. Canker sores are usually white or yellow in color surrounded by red halos. They can appear on the tongue, the lips, the gums, or the insides of the cheeks. The first sign of a canker sore may be a tingling, burning sensation inside the mouth, followed shortly by the appearance of a white or yellowish spot edged by a red halo. Canker sores do not form blisters as cold sores (fever blisters) do. The cold sore, commonly confused with the canker sore, is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. The canker sore, on the other hand, is an inflammation, rather than an infection. Canker sores may range in size from the size of a pinhead to as large as a quarter. They are usually about an eighth of an inch in diameter-the size of a pencil eraser. They appear suddenly and often leave suddenly, usually lasting from four to twenty days.
Canker sores often pop up when you're under stress or after you've eaten an irritating food (pineapple, nuts and chocolate are common culprits). They usually clear up by themselves within a week or so, but they often recur, sometimes in the form of multiple sores. Some believe canker sores are contagious. But most think it is not. A susceptibility to canker sores tends to run in families. No successful conventional treatment is available. The natural remedies may help relieve the symptoms of canker sores or may prevent sores from recurring.
Causes of Canker Sores
Canker sores can be triggered by any of a number of factors, including:
Poor dental hygiene: If you get recurrent canker sores, your toothpaste may be the culprit. Try a toothpaste that does not contain the detergent sodium lauryl sulfate. This is a detergent that may cause the mucous surfaces in the mouth to dry out, leaving them vulnerable to attack from acidic foods. Do not use the same toothbrush for longer than one month. When canker sores on the gum are healing, it is best to use a very soft toothbrush.
Irritation from dental work: Using a rough, hard-bristled toothbrush, or pressing unduly hard while brushing the teeth. This can irritate the mucous membranes and create a canker sore.
Food allergies (especially milk and gluten sensitivity): It has been clearly demonstrated that allergic mechanisms are responsible for producing canker sores in many cases. There is considerable evidence that sensitivity to gluten (a protein found in grains) is the primary cause of recurrent canker sores in many cases. The frequency of recurrent canker sores is increased in patients with celiac disease, a condition characterized by diarrhea and malabsorption due to a sensitivity to gluten. Withdrawing gluten from the diet results in complete remission of recurrent canker sores in patients with celiac disease and some improvement in the rest of the patients.
Non-food allergens: Allergens that commonly induce canker sores include preservatives such as benzoic acid, methylparaben, dichromate, and sorbic acid. Elimination of allergens usually brings complete resolution or significant improvement in people with recurrent canker sores.
Nutritional deficiencies: Although a number of nutrient deficiencies can lead to canker sores, thiamine deficiency appears to be the most significant.
Deficiencies of iron, lysine, vitamin B12, and folic acid also can lead to canker sores. Several studies showed that nutrient deficiencies are common among recurrent canker sore sufferers than in the general population. A study of 330 patients with recurrent canker sores showed that forty-seven (14.2 percent) were deficient in iron, folate, vitamin B12, or a combination of these nutrients. When these patients' deficiencies were corrected, the majority had complete remission. Other studies have shown similar deficiency rates for the same nutrients and equally good response to supplementation.
Biting the cheek: Some people bite the delicate tissues in their cheeks or lips during sleep, or while chewing or talking. This is true especially for people who are suffering from TMJ or whose bite is uneven. This can result in lacerations and canker sores.
From ayurvedic point of view, people with high pitta in their saliva will have sharp teeth because the crown of the tooth becomes eroded. This can lead to repeated sores.
Foods: When you eat sharp, dried, or hard foods, such as popcorn, corn chips, crackers, or dried bread, it can hurt the oral mucous membrane resulting in canker sores.
Hormonal imbalances
Viral infection
An underlying immunologic disease (such as HIV infection)
Trauma (such as that caused by biting the inside of the cheek or using a hard- bristled toothbrush)
Stress: Stress is often a precipitating factor in recurrent canker sores, suggesting a breakdown in normal immune function and/or integrity of the mucosal lining
Fatigue
Abnormal immune response to normal bacteria in the mouth
Canker sores are occasionally associated with Crohn's disease
I had them all the time when I was a kid. I hated them. They had to burn them out. Now the dentist actually has something that you put on that gets "gummy" when it mixes with your saliva and it does not burn and it makes your canker sore go away pretty quickly.
2006-11-26 14:21:34
·
answer #1
·
answered by Stephanie F 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
1
2016-04-18 14:45:21
·
answer #2
·
answered by ? 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
2
2016-09-03 01:44:30
·
answer #3
·
answered by ? 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
Recurring Canker Sores
2016-09-30 13:01:35
·
answer #4
·
answered by ? 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
I got clinically diagnosed with the herpes simplex virus (type 2) about 7 years ago, when I was still attending college and had a silly one-night stand. I realize lots of girls will say this, but I swear I had certainly not done that sort of thing before. I just made a huge mistake that one time and suddenly it seemed like I was going to have to live with the consequences for the rest of my life. The worst part was feeling I could never date men again. After all, who wants to go out with someone who has sores around her private parts? But since a friend shared this movie https://tr.im/3xOCY everything changed.
Not only was I able to eliminate all traces of the herpes simplex virus from my system in less than 21 days, but I was also able to start dating again. I even met the man of my dreams and I'm so lucky to write that just last week, in front of everybody in a packed restaurant, he got down on one knee and proposed to me! This system gave me back the opportunity to be happy and experience true love. Now I want to enable you too by sharing this with the whole World.
2015-04-30 21:35:52
·
answer #5
·
answered by Avigdor 1
·
0⤊
0⤋
Salt intake...salt "sits" on taste buds and causes a canker sore.
Go to your drug store and purchase Alum....hold on the canker sore and within 24 hrs it will disappear...it tastes nasty but that is it.
2006-11-26 14:20:58
·
answer #6
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
It is a virus infection that ones you get it, it will stay in your body forever. If your immune system is weakend, or you are under stress it causes the virus to come out. You can not really do anything about, just take some meds or apply something topical around that area. Ask your dentist for a prescription.
2006-11-26 14:22:33
·
answer #7
·
answered by alchem 1
·
1⤊
2⤋
By gargling your mouth with salt water,
the mouth ulcers will heal quickly.
I found the homeremedies at
http://aches.in/mouthulcer.html...... useful
2006-11-27 03:03:01
·
answer #8
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
Recurrent ho-like activity.
2006-11-26 14:22:13
·
answer #9
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
4⤋
That's a good point
2016-08-08 20:11:20
·
answer #10
·
answered by ? 3
·
0⤊
0⤋