Health Care

By Helen Hecker

If you currently have a canker sore or a few in your mouth you may be wondering what causes canker sores in the mouth. Perhaps you have had these annoying red, inflamed sores many times before. Canker sores are also called aphthous ulcers in the medical field, but I'll keep this simple.

A canker sore is a painful open sore in the mouth. It can be yellow or white and is usually surrounded by an inflamed reddened area. A canker sore is never a malignant (cancerous) sore. It is benign, meaning it is not cancer. It is also not a herpes sore (herpes simplex).

For some reason they seem to happen in females or women more than they do in males or men. It doesn't matter how old you are you can get them at any age. They often crop up when kids are in elementary school.

You can find canker sores on the inside of the cheeks, on the inside of the lips, on the palate and tongue and at the bottom of the gums.

It's well known that canker sores can run in families. One of the reasons for this is because whatever is causing this ulcer may have some genetic cause or reason. I've found that people who have gluten intolerance and/or have celiac disease have canker sores until they stop eating gluten. This could be one genetic connection, since celiac disease is genetic and passed on in the genes although the genes still need to be triggered by something unknown. One can carry the gene but not have full-blown celiac disease yet or ever.

Some experts think it's associated with the body's immune system. Here again it could also relate back to celiac disease because gluten flattens the villi in the small intestine and nutrients can't be absorbed so the immune system suffers and its defenses are broken down. So nutritional deficiencies could play a part.

Even if one doesn't have celiac disease or is not gluten intolerant, they may be eating a bad diet. The standard American diet is lacking in a lot of good phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals and we don't know what we're missing that could cause canker sores. It's thought that deficiencies in iron, folic acid, or Vitamin B-12 could play a part in developing canker sores.

The canker sores often crop up after a mouth injury due to dental work, getting braces doing aggressive tooth cleaning, or biting of the tongue or cheek.

Canker sores can also appear during emotional stress, during menstrual periods and when there are hormonal changes. Food allergies could play a part too. Then there is exposure in the mouth to various chemicals, irritating the sensitive tissues.

These are the most common causes of canker sores but there are many causes. There is much you can do to get rid of canker sores and stop them from ever appearing with the right treatments and remedies. There are many ways to get to the cause and find the best natural cure for canker sores.

For my secrets and natural canker sore treatment go to a nurse's website http://www.best-skin-care-tips.com/How_To_Get_Rid_of_Canker_Sores.html specializing in canker sores and skin care for skin conditions with tips and advice for women, men, teens and babies, including info on the best natural products

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by: Taylor Clarke

Nearly everyone has experienced the discomfort of canker sores at some point in their life and understand how these little sores can be a source of great pain. While doctors and dentists remain puzzled over the exact cause of canker sores it is commonly believed they are brought about by a vitamin deficiency, stress or allergies.

Despite their miniature size, they can produce a lot of pain. Here are a few facts on canker sores:

1) They commonly appear on the inside of the mouth including on the cheeks, the inside of the lips and under the tongue.

2) While typically small red sores, they may appear with a white coating over the entire sore.

3) Some medical professionals believe the susceptibility of canker sores may be inherited, but research indicates they are not contagious.

4) They cannot be passed along by drinking from the same glass or by kissing.

There are three distinct types of canker sores including minor sores that generally last three to 14 days and deep ulcer canker sores that can last from three to six weeks. Both types will usually heal on their own once they have run their course. Possibly the worst type is the herpetiform sores which appear as small cuts close together. They are not a sign of, nor a prelude to herpes. With this type of canker sore a visit to the doctor or dentist may be needed for confirmation and treatment.

About the only thing a person can do to deal with the sores while they heal is practice good dental hygiene, including using a toothpaste containing only natural ingredients. Many types of toothpaste include irritants such as sodium lauryl sulfate that can irritate existing cankers as well as damage the lining of the mouth, increasing the possibility of them appearing.

Supplements of vitamin C and the B complex have also been shown to help in the healing process and if caused by vitamin deficiency may help prevent canker sores from forming. For severe pain, topical treatments, usually used on infants during teething can offer short-term relief from the pain. With more severe outbreaks, a doctor may also prescribe medications to help heal and prevent the spread of the sores. Be sure to follow the directions as some of these medications are formulated to be swallowed and others should be spit out once rinsing is complete.

When the mouth is afflicted with canker sores, it is advised to avoid certain foods that can irritate the lesions. Crunchy foods such as raw vegetables and chips can further aggravate the ulcer-like formations and spicy foods can also cause unnecessary irritation during periods of canker sore outbreaks. If a person chews gum frequently, it is only a matter of time that they will inadvertently bite the inside of their cheek and if it happens to hit a canker sore, the pain will be dramatic.

The best course of action for canker sores is taking steps to prevent them from forming. Using all natural dental products such as ones containing baking soda with good dental hygiene can help keep the mouth clean and avoiding certain foods. While there is no guarantee that sores will not reappear, practicing prevention may reduce the chances of the canker sores from appearing.

About the Author:

Taylor Clarke writes natural health and dental articles. For the best Canker Sore, and Gum Disease products, please visit www.OraMD.com

Article Source: www.iSnare.com