CankerSore.net

What Causes a Canker Sore?

Article Sections:

What Causes Canker Sores?

There are many ways to contract a canker sore, and though medical scientists cannot find one definitive root cause, their research has found many possible triggers or indirect causes.

Below is a compiled list of known canker sore triggers:

• Stress, fatigue and illness, resulting in a lowered immune system
• Menstruation and other hormonal changes
• Toothpastes that contain SLS
• Vitamin B deficiencies, particularly B12 and folic acid
• Viruses, including the herpes simplex virus
• Abrasion, laceration or trauma to mouth's tissues
• Food allergies
• Chemotherapy treatment

At the top of the list we see stress, fatigue and illness, which are directly related to a compromised immune system. All three of these conditions lower the immune system of a normally healthy person, thereby increasing their risk of a canker sore. People with immunodeficiency diseases such as HIV are also at higher risk of developing a canker sore. Conversely, it is also believed that an overactive immune system can trigger a canker sore as well. It is believed that when the immune system detects unknown molecules or bacterium, it can trigger an immune response that actually damages tissue and causes the ulcer.

Physical trauma to the mucus membrane is also a major cause of canker sores. Your cheek, tongue or inner lip can be damaged in many ways including; accidental biting; abrasion from dental braces, dentures or retainers; laceration from sharp foods, and; blister damage from hot foods/beverages. Whenever the mucous membrane is compromised, there is an elevated risk of bacteria entering the area which can cause inflammation and ulceration.

Research suggests that products containing sodium lauryl sulfate ("SLS"), a foaming agent in toothpastes and mouthwashes, may increase the recurrence rate of canker sores. SLS dries oral tissues, making them vulnerable to irritants. Several studies show that participants who brush with a SLS-free toothpaste reduce the frequency of canker sore recurrence, in one study by as much as 81%. In this same study some of the participants reported that using SLS-free toothpaste also reduced canker sore severity.

Canker sores by themselves are usually harmless, albeit painful. However, sometimes the underlying cause of canker sores is a more serious condition. Certain diseases causing a lowering of the immune system, chronic fatigue or hormonal changes can be an underlying cause. If you find you are having recurring canker sores, it is best to visit your physician to properly diagnose the sores and to check for any underlying conditions that may have been previously undetected.

Next: Canker Sore Treatments

CankerSore.net

What Causes a Canker Sore?