Canker Sore Causes and Remedy
Painful sores or blisters of the mouth are known as canker sores. Aphthous stamotitis or canker sores occur largely during adolescence or early youth. They rarely occur in older adults.
Canker sore causes
The exact causes of canker sores are unclear. It is believed that the sores might develop from an adverse reaction of the immune system. Side effects of certain drugs, such as anti-inflammatory medicines and beta-blockers, might be responsible for these mouth ulcers.
They might also be signs of food allergies. People sensitive to chocolates, nuts, tomatoes and acidic fruits can get canker sores. If you are sensitive to sodium lauryl sulfate, which is present in some toothpaste, you can get canker sores. Deficiency of certain nutrients including folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron can be responsible for mouth ulcers.
Canker sores can also develop from stress. According to some studies, occurrence of canker sores, especially recurrent canker sores, could be associated with inflammatory bowel diseases. Intolerance of gluten, a protein present in wheat, rye and barley, resulting from celiac, can cause canker sores. Canker sores might also be a hereditary disease.
Canker sores symptoms
Canker sores occur only in the internal part of the mouth, except the hard palate and the gums. Minor canker sores are between 2 to 10mm wide. They are oval with a white center. It takes 3 to 14 days to cure these ulcers. Major canker sores are over 1cm in diameter. It might take three to six weeks to cure major canker sores. Unlike minor canker sores, major canker sores leave scars after healing. Herpetiform is another type of canker sore. It consists of clusters of small shallow pinhead sized lesions. It takes one week to ten days to cure herpetiform canker cores.
If you are prone to canker sores, regularly rinse your mouth with saline water. You can also rinse your mouth with aloe vera juice.
Since nutritional deficiency is a probable cause of canker sores, increase intake of foods rich in iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid in your daily diet.
Add quarter teaspoon of turmeric paste to a teaspoon of honey, and apply this mixture on your sores. This mixture helps to heal the sores.
