What Causes Canker Sores?

There are many causes for canker sores, but there are a few in general that are the most common. Understanding what causes canker sores in your mouth is important so that you can properly take steps to prevent them from forming in the first place. Thankfully, many of these causes can be avoided by a few simple changes in your daily routine.

SLS Toothpaste

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a common additive in many oral care products that causes canker sores and mouth ulcers for lots of people. SLS found primarily toothpastes and mouthwashes is one of the most common causes of canker sores. SLS dries out the tissue in your mouth, which makes it much more susceptible to any irritants [1].

A recent study has shown that those who brush with SLS free toothpaste have an 81% decreased risk of recurrent mouth ulcers. Finding an SLS free toothpaste and mouthwash is absolutely essential for preventing canker sore outbreaks.

Stress

Stress is one of the leading causes of canker sores because of the effect that it has on your body. Long term stress can cause your immune system to be weakened, which makes your body very vulnerable to infections [2].

Since canker sore are infected sores in your mouth, this means that they can occur more often and last longer when you are stressed and your immune system is not working at full capacity. Individuals with compromised immune systems commonly struggle with recurrent canker sores.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Vitamin deficiencies are also a common cause of canker sores. If your vitamin levels are down, it will put you at an increased risk of canker sore outbreaks. Studies have shown that a lack of zinc, vitamin b12, and folate commonly lead to frequent canker sore outbreaks [3]. Because of this, it is essential to get high levels of these vitamins either through the foods you eat or proper supplementation. In addition, the amino acid lysine is important in order to prevent canker sores given its role in repairing tissue.

Vitamin Recommendations

2,000 mg of lysine per day.
1,000 mcg of vitamin b12 per day.
400 mcg of folic acid per day.

Foods You Eat

The foods that you eat can often cause canker sores. Consuming spicy and acidic foods and drinks can lead to irritation in your mouth which causes canker sores. Below are some of the foods and drinks that most commonly give people mouth ulcers due to food sensitivities. If you frequently eat or drink some of the below foods, try to cut them out to test whether they are causing you problems.

Spicy foods, such as hot sauce, curries, and hot peppers.
Alcohol, coffee, and chocolate
Acidic fruits and vegetables (pineapple, tomatoes, lemons, oranges)
Certain nuts (walnuts, cashews, peanuts, and almonds)
Sugary candy and desserts

Changes in Hormones

Canker sores can be triggered by a shift in hormones, especially during menstration. Hormones are responsible for providing gum tissue with blood supply as well as reacting to mouth toxins and bacteria [4]. Many women find that they get canker sores in the day leading up to their period or during their period. Typically they go away once it is over.

Mouth Irritation

It is common for canker sores to form after biting your lip or cheek, brushing too hard, or after a dental procedure. These abrasions can cause the spot of the abrasion to become infected which produces a canker sore. This is also common for those with braces as they can be rough on the surrounding areas.

Autoimmune Diseases

In rare cases, canker sores can be caused by an autoimmune disease. Below is a list of some of these diseases that most commonly result in recurrent mouth ulcer outbreaks. If you have other symptoms that accompany your canker sores, you will want to talk to your doctor.

Lupus – an autoimmune condition that leads your body to break down its own tissues and organs.
Behct’s disease – a disease that causes severe inflammation in the body and mouth.
Celiac disease – a serious disorder in the intestines that is a result of gluten intolerance.
Inflammatory bowel diseases – diseases that cause inflammation in the digestive tract.

Find An Effective Treatment

While it is important for you to identify what might be causing your canker sores, it can often be difficult and time consuming to get to the bottom of it. Because of that, it is important to have an effective product on hand that you can rely on when outbreaks occur. Canker Shield is the #1 natural treatment for canker sores due to its ability to rapidly soothe and heal canker sores as well as to prevent them in the future. To learn more, click here, and be sure to check out the testimonials from some of our thousands of customers who rely on Canker Shield to make their lives easier.

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