Canker Sores & It's Remedies

Canker sores are small, painful ulcers inside the mouth. These tend to occur on the tongue and on the inside linings of the cheeks, throat, and lips. Canker sores are the most common type of oral lesions affecting about 20% of people.

They appear white, grey, or yellow in color with a red border. The cause for canker sores remains unclear, but researchers suspect that a combination of numerous factors contributes to the outbreak. Women get canker sores more often than men.

People with recurrent canker sores may have a family history of the disorder. Potential triggers for canker sores include:

• Toothpaste and mouth rinses that contain sodium lauryl sulfate.

• Minor injury in the mouth from dental procedures

• Spicy foods or an accidental cheek bite

• Diet lacking B-12, folic acid, zinc, and iron

• Emotional stress

• Allergic response to bacteria in the mouth

• Hormonal imbalances during menstruation

• Food sensitivities, mainly coffee, chocolates, strawberries, nuts, eggs, cheese, and highly acidic foods such a pineapple

• Helicobacter pylori, the same bacteria that causes peptic ulcers

• Inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

• Celiac disease, an intestinal disorder caused by a sensitivity to gluten, a protein that is found in most grains

• Faulty immune system that attacks the healthy cells in one's mouth instead of pathogens such as bacteria and viruses

• Behcet's disease, a rare disorder that causes an inflammation throughout the body including the mouth

• HIV/AIDS, that suppresses the immune system In order to relieve pain and speed up healing,

Here are a few tips that can help:

• Cover up the canker sores with a paste made from baking soda and a small amount of water that is just enough to make the paste.

• Rinse your mouth by using salt water, baking soda (dissolve a teaspoon of soda in a ½ cup of warm water). Be sure to spit out the mixture after rinsing.

• Avoid acidic, spicy, and abrasive foods that can cause irritation and pain.

• Apply ice to the canker sores by allowing the ice chips to gradually melt over the sores.

• Brush your teeth gently by using a soft toothbrush and toothpaste that does not contain foaming agents such as ProNamel and Biotene.

• Dab a small quantity of milk of magnesia on your canker sore a few times a day.

• If you have dental appliances like braces, ask your dentist about orthodontic waxes to cover the sharp edges.

• If your canker sores are related to stress, learn and use stress-reduction techniques such as meditation.

• Avoid chewing and talking at the same time.

Your doctor will be able to diagnose a canker sore based on its appearance, and tests may be needed if your canker sores are severe and ongoing to check for other health problems.