What Causes Canker Sores - Possible Triggers

Are you wondering what causes canker sores?

Canker sores are annoying and seem to hang around forever, even with treatment sometimes, but what causes this ailment in the first place?

A type of mouth ulcer, canker sores are also referred to as "recurrent minor aphthous stomatitis". They are the most common type of oral ulcers. Although researches have yet to be able to determine the underlying cause of canker sores, they believe that it has something to do with a person's immune system.

It is widely believed that canker sores form when a body's immune system finds chemical molecules in its system that are unrecognizable. As a result, the immune system's white cells counter an attack, and canker sores form. There are certain triggers, however, that can make the environment better for canker sores to develop - these are contributing factors to what causes canker sores.

Products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which can be found in a lot of mouthwashes and toothpastes, can increase the risk of canker sores. This could be due to the fact that the SLS dries out the protective tissue and leaves the outer layer compromised, which can make the layer underneath more susceptible to irritants.

Trauma to the gums or the inside of the cheeks can also trigger and contribute to what causes canker sores, too. This might occur if you accidentally bite down on your gum, inner lip, or cheek, or if you eat a piece of food that contains a sharp edge, such as a potato chip.

Emotional stress and diet deficiencies also appear to be triggers in what causes canker sores as well. A lot of people claim that when they experience canker sores, they also have increased stress levels. Deficiencies in required vitamins and minerals can lead to canker sores, too. For that reason, making sure that you are getting the right amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, and C, as well as folic acid, calcium, zinc, and iron, is important.

Certain foods can trigger a canker sore outbreak, or at least make one worse. Foods that contain citrus acid, such as lemons, pineapples, oranges, apples, tomatoes, and strawberries, might lead to canker sores. In a similar fashion, food allergies might cause a canker sore to form as well. Common allergies include reactions to milk, cheeses, buckwheat, barley, nuts, soy, shellfish, vinegar, and chocolate.

Women might find that they are more likely to develop a canker sore during certain parts of their menstrual period. In addition, they might notice a reduction of canker sores during pregnancy. These are both due to hormonal changes, which also contribute to what causes canker sores.

Sometimes, canker sores can be symptoms associated with other diseases, such as Behcet's disease, Crohn's Disease, and HIV-AIDS.

It is commonly believed that canker sores are a form of herpes, but this is not true. Canker sores and cold sores are not the same thing, either. Cold sores are very contagious and are caused by a virus, which is different from what causes canker sores. Cold sores are also more likely to appear on the outside of your mouth, not the inside.

Canker sores usually go away on their own in less than 14 days and treatment is not usually necessary. However, there are a variety of natural remedies that can offer pain relief from canker sores without resorting to visiting your pharmacy.

To learn more, read the other related canker sores articles and pages.

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