{"id":14181,"date":"2020-03-10T08:14:32","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T08:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=14181"},"modified":"2021-05-05T17:28:22","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T17:28:22","slug":"14-common-causes-of-canker-sores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-causes-of-canker-sores\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Canker Sores"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People commonly mistake a canker sore for a cold sore or fever blister. Cold sores are infections that come from the herpes virus. A cold sore is contagious. A canker sore is not contagious. There are three types of canker sores a person may suffer from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A minor sore is the most common type of canker sore and will last about two weeks. The lesions are quite small. A major sore is deeper than a minor sore and will be larger than 10 mm in size. A major canker sore may take months to heal and may leave a scar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herpetiform sores are large groups of several canker sores. There can be up to 100 ulcers at the same time. This type of canker sore often will heal without any scarring. Multiple factors may lead to a canker sore appearing. Here are 14 common causes of canker sores. 
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1. Injury<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you get hit in your mouth or receive any type of injury <\/a>to your mouth, it may cause a canker sore to appear. You may notice a small canker sore after you have any dental work done. This could include getting dentures or braces placed in your mouth. You may also simply brush your teeth too hard, which could lead to a canker sore developing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you are brushing, make sure that you are gentle, especially around your lips. You should be brushing at least twice each day to make sure that you do not develop any other issues with your teeth. However, if you have a canker sore around your mouth, you may want to switch to a softer bristle brush and be a bit more gentle while brushing. Canker sores caused by a mouth injury will typically be small and should go away within a couple of weeks. 
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2. Acidic Foods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acid can be very hard on your mouth, teeth, and gums. It can also be hard to digest and may cause you to experience acid reflux<\/a>, which is burning throughout the esophagus and digestive system. If you eat a lot of foods that are high in acid, such as citrus fruits, you may be more likely to develop canker sores. The acid from the foods that you are eating may cause the skin around your mouth to become more sensitive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this occurs, the acid may cause a sore to appear. If you are experiencing a canker sore, it is a good idea to remove acidic foods from your diet for a bit. In addition to causing canker sores, acidic food may also burn the sore, which will make it worse. This can cause the sore to last for even longer as it will struggle to heal if you are reinjuring the area with foods high in acid. 
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3. Allergies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people associate allergies <\/a>with symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and possibly a rash. However, if you are allergic to certain types of foods, you may also develop a canker sore as a result of eating that particular food. A person may be allergic to many different types of foods. Some foods that may be more likely to cause a canker sore include chocolates, coffee, and any food that has a high amount of citruses, such as oranges and other fruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice that you develop canker sores more often when you eat certain foods, it could be that you are slightly allergic to that particular food. Try cutting those foods out of your diet to see if the number of canker sores that you develop lessens. You may also want to be tested for different allergens if you find that you often develop canker sores. 
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4. Low Vitamin B<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your diet is low in vitamin B,<\/a> you may experience several symptoms as a result. In order to properly function your body requires vitamin B. Your body needs a certain amount of Vitamin B to function. If you are not getting enough through your diet, you may want to consider a Vitamin B supplement. One of the symptoms of low Vitamin B is the development of canker sores around the mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having a blood test done by your doctor will help determine if you have low amounts of Vitamin B. If your vitamin B levels are low and you are suffering from canker sores, simply adding more of this vitamin to your diet can help you avoid these types of unpleasant sores. Typically, if your doctor finds that your Vitamin B levels are low, they will either prescribe medication or an over the counter supplement. For those who have very low Vitamin B counts, a shot may be given to help boost your levels. 
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5. Low Iron<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Having a low iron <\/a>count is similar to having low levels of Vitamin B. The symptoms of each deficiency are fairly similar. This is a reason why it is important to make sure that you have blood work done by your doctor to determine your blood counts and what your body may be missing. In addition to having to little iron, you may also have too much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be just as dangerous. Keeping your iron in check can go a long way to making you feel better. Exhaustion is one of the top symptoms of a low iron count. Also, people who have low iron are more likely to develop canker sores. An iron supplement may be necessary to boost your iron levels. This should also help decrease the number of canker sores that you get if low iron is the cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Hormones<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hormones <\/a>play an important role throughout the body. Essentially, your hormones regulate everything about you. From your mood to your energy levels, to hair growth, and everything in between, your hormones play a role. If you are a woman and struggling through the symptoms of menopause, you may experience canker sores as a result of an imbalance of hormones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When your hormones are balanced, you feel good and are less likely to develop illnesses and other symptoms. When your body produces too much or too little of any hormone, it can cause symptoms to appear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes the development of canker sores. If you are getting canker sores often, you may want to have your hormones tested to see if they are playing a part in the development of your canker sores. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medication that can help balance your hormones and decrease the symptoms that you are experiencing. 
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7. Emotional Stress<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you are under a lot of stress, it may cause a canker sore<\/a> to appear. Stress wreaks havoc on the body. It can cause a person to experience high blood pressure, chest pains, and all types of overall health issues. If you have been under a lot of emotional stress recently, you may develop canker sores. This is a result of the body trying to protect itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hormones are elevated during high periods of stress, which can cause sores to develop. If you are under emotional stress, calming exercises may help. Yoga and mediation can go a long way when it comes to calming your body. If a canker sore develops as a result of emotional stress, taking time to relax may help it to heal more quickly. Besides, calming exercises can also help the rest of the body heal, which is important. 
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8. Toothpaste<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just as brushing too hard or getting dental work completed may cause canker sores to develop, using a toothpaste <\/a>that contains sodium lauryl sulfate may be the culprit when it comes to the canker sores you are experiencing. If you develop a canker sore and you are not sure what is causing it, check your toothpaste tube. If one of the ingredients is sodium lauryl sulfate, there is a chance that this is the cause of your canker sore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try switching to a natural toothpaste that does not have sodium lauryl sulfate as one of the ingredients. This may be the root of your canker sores, and a simple switch of toothpaste may result in fewer canker sores developing if any at all. If switching your toothpaste does not work, your canker sores may be caused by one of the other items on this list. However, changing your toothpaste is a good place to start. 
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9. Bacterial Allergy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone has bacteria <\/a>in their mouth and throughout their body. Some of these are good bacteria, and some are not. The body does its best to fight off bad bacteria at all times. Your saliva is the first defense your body has when you are eating. The saliva will fight off any bacteria found in your food and begin the process of digestion. At times, the bad bacteria in your mouth will overcome the good. When this occurs, it may cause a canker sore to develop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if the bacteria in your mouth are defensive, some people are simply allergic to some forms of bacteria. This allergic reaction can cause canker sores to develop, as well. Unfortunately, if you are allergic to certain bacteria in the mouth, there is not much that can be done to avoid canker sores. Your doctor may be able to determine if it is the bacteria in your mouth, causing canker sores and prescribe medication such as mouthwash to help alleviate some of the symptoms you may have as a result. 
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9. Smoking<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone has heard how bad smoking <\/a>is for you. It causes lung disease and lung cancer, among many other health issues. Also, if you are a smoker, you are more likely to develop canker sores. The best thing that you can do for your health overall is to try to quit smoking as soon as possible. There are many programs available that can help you quit smoking, and often these programs are free. It is important to note that there are some quit smoking aids such as nicotine gum and lozenges that may cause canker sores as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trying to quit using a natural remedy is often the best option. It is also important to get help to quit because statistics show that quitting cold turkey and without any support can make the chances of starting again much higher. If you have canker sores and you are a smoker, quitting the habit can go a long way in alleviating the symptoms of canker sores. 
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10. Oral Cancer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Oral cancer <\/a>can develop from many different things, including smoking. When you have oral cancer, you often will develop sores in your mouth. In addition, you may experience canker sores. If you have sores in your mouth and canker sores around your mouth that are not healing on their own after a few weeks, it is important to make sure that you see a doctor right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your doctor might have tests done to see if the sores are cancerous. If it is found that you are suffering from oral cancer, treatment should be started by your doctor right away. Oral cancer is common among smokers as well as others. The sooner that it is found and treatment is started, the better your chances of not giving cancer the time to spread to other parts of your body. The treatment provided to you will depend on the type of cancer that you have, as well as how far it has progressed. 
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11. Crohn\u2019s Disease<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Crohn\u2019s disease<\/a> is an inflammation of your digestive tract. It can cause severe diarrhea, weight loss, malnutrition, fatigue, and abdominal pain. Inflammation that causes Crohn\u2019s disease may involve different areas of the digestive tract for different people. This means that some people may experience symptoms in and around their mouths. This disease can be quite painful and even debilitating as your digestive tract is inflamed and uncomfortable for long periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person who has Crohn’s disease may also get canker sores. This may be because people with this disease are often malnourished. When you are malnourished, you may have lower than normal iron, vitamin B, and zinc levels. All of this can cause canker sores to develop. Keeping the inflammation under control and making sure that you are eating nutritious foods, may help alleviate some of the symptoms of Crohn\u2019s disease, including the development of canker sores. 
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12. Celiac Disease<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another disease that might cause a person to develop canker sores is Celiac disease<\/a>. This is an immune reaction to consuming gluten. Gluten is a protein that is in the rye, barley, and wheat. People who are diagnosed with celiac disease should avoid eating foods that contain this protein. If you eat products containing gluten, it can cause damage to the lining of your small intestine over time. The damage to the small intestine will prevent it from being able to absorb certain nutrients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When your body is unable to absorb certain nutrients, you may become malnourished. This means that your body will not be getting enough nutrients to function properly. As mentioned, if you do not get enough iron, vitamin B, or zinc, it may cause canker sores to develop. Anyone that is diagnosed with this disease should do their best to avoid gluten. You may also need to take supplements to help ensure your body has enough important vitamins and nutrients to function at optimal levels. 
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13. Poor Immunity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another possible cause for canker sores is simply poor immunity. People with compromised immunity may experience canker sores more often. When the immune function is compromised in any way, it leaves the body more susceptible to developing many different ailments. While the specific cause of a canker sore is not known, people who have a lower immunity often experience these types of sores around their mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could be because the body simply cannot fight off the infection that is causing the canker sores to appear. In order to help avoid getting canker sores, if you have a lower immunity <\/a>level, you should make sure that you are eating a healthy diet. Proper treatment for the condition causing your suppressed immunity is very important. Staying healthy and making sure you eat nutritious foods will help lower the risk of developing canker sores.\u00a0
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14. Genetics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Genetics <\/a>may not be an exact cause for canker sores, and it is worth mentioning on this list. The reason is that it has been found that getting canker sores is often a condition that seems to run in families. This means that if your mom or dad have canker sores, you might also get them. Your chances of getting canker sores are much higher than someone who does not have other family members who also have canker sores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some studies have reported that around 40 percent of canker sore cases are linked to family history in some form. It is also estimated that children of people who have canker sores are 90 percent more likely to develop the condition as well. When it comes down to it, your canker sores could just be simply something you inherited from a member of your family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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