Canker Sores: What Makes Them Appear And How To Prevent Them

Have some discomfort in your mouth? It could be a canker sore. It’s a form of a mouth ulcer that usually develops in younger people - ages 10 to 20 - and more commonly in women. Simple canker sores are more common and usually disappear in a week while complex canker sores are larger, more painful, and may last for a month.

Do you have a canker sore? Researchers still can’t pinpoint a reason for why they develop but they think viral infection could be involved. It’s the same for recurrent canker sores too. Family history and allergies may be to blame, while in other cases, it could be a result of other problems like inflammatory bowel disease or nutritional deficiencies. Hormonal changes, damage to the mouth lining, drugs, sensitivity to citrus fruits or tomatoes, stress, and a deficiency in iron, zinc, vitamin B12, or folic acid are believed to be factors, but there’s no hard and fast evidence as of yet.

You’ll know it’s a canker sore if you find a round, well-defined sore in your mouth. It’s usually with a white or yellowish center and the area surrounding it is red and inflamed. You’ll typically find it in the front of your mouth, inside your lips, or in your cheeks. In most cases, it’s mildly irritating. In extreme cases, it can cause swollen lymph nodes, fever, and a feeling of sluggishness.

Common canker sores will heal on their own without medical treatment, though if yours keeps on for more than two weeks, you’d better visit the doctor. Tell your dentist about them too, especially if you get them often. There are treatment options that exist to rid yourself of them, though they won’t make them go away any faster. They’ll just provide you relief. In most cases, you won’t have to do a thing although you may want to see about managing your pain through OTCs, prescriptions, or home remedies. Rinsing with warm saltwater seems to help.

Canker Sore Prevention

Preventing them altogether is a more effective solution in an ideal world. However since no one knows exactly why they develop, there’s no clear way to prevent them. Doctors and dentists agree though that you can take steps to prevent them from getting worse by limiting irritants.

They suggest eliminating the following types of foods:

• Anything abrasive like potato chips or popcorn
• Spicy foods
• Acidic foods
• Hot foods and beverages

Be careful when you chew and try to keep stress to a minimum. Additionally, you should take extra care with your oral routine to not aggravate your canker sore. Using the right products in your oral hygiene routine can make a big difference. Try OraMD for a natural way to a healthier mouth!

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.

Reviewed By:    

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.