Canker sores are small aphthous ulcers in the mouth and on the tongue. At first, these ulcers occur with a white or yellow center, and then they end up bursting and leaving open lesions. These sores can cause pain and discomfort when talking and eating, but they are not a serious oral problem. Most patients report that these sores can be healed on their own or they just last 1- 2 weeks.
- 27 Best Home Remedies For Cold Sores On Lips And In Mouth/ 18 Tips On How To Prevent Cold Sores In Children And Adults
What Causes Canker Sores On Gum And In The Throat
In this article, we want to show you some of the most common causes of canker sores on gum and in the throat. Therefore, if you and other people around you suffer from this oral problem and want to know how to get rid of these sores effectively, you should keep both of your eyes on this article right now.
CONTENTS
I. Types And Symptoms Of Canker Sores
There are 3 types of canker sores and they include:
- Minor canker sores: They are the most common sores and are very small. Generally, they heal within 1- 2 weeks and do not cause any scar.
- Major canker sores: These canker sores are less common and are also larger than a minor canker sore. The average time for healing is about 6 weeks and they do not cause any noticeable scar.
- Herpetiform sores: They are even smaller than minor canker sores, but they can result in many clusters. These sores heal within 1-2 weeks without scarring.
When it comes to signs and symptoms of canker sores, the primary symptoms are visible lesions and pain accompanied with it. You may have some canker sores at a time. Generally, these sores often begin with a tingling or burning feeling. Having cancer sores can make you have trouble in talking or eating. Even, some individuals can also experience fatigue, fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Canker sores may last for 7- 10 days. Some minor canker sores can disappear completely within 1- 3 weeks while you take up to 6 weeks to cure major canker sores. In some cases, you can have another canker sore right after your first sore has gone away. Most of the canker sores will be healed without leaving any scar.
List of 20 Home Remedies For Canker Sores On Tongue, Gums And In Throat will show you some of the natural treatments for canker sores on gums, tongue and in the throat, so check it out!
II. List Of Common Causes Of Canker Sores
If you have ever suffered from a canker sore, you may want to know what causes canker sores and home remedies that can help you prevent them from reoccurring. Researchers have not found the exact causes of these sores. However, some factors have been found to contribute to canker sore outbreaks. These factors include:
1. Nutritional Deficiency
According to some studies, canker sores can occur when there is a deficiency of zinc, folic acid, or iron in the body. Especially, the calcium deficiency can also result in canker sores, and even worsen the situation. Actually, adding healthy foods to your diet plan is the best solution for canker sores caused by nutritional deficiency.
Read on 24 Tips On How To Get Rid Of Canker Sores Inside The Mouth to discover some of the best home remedies for canker sores in the mouth and on the tongue.
2. Vitamin Deficiency
Most of the skin problems and oral problems are caused by vitamin deficiencies. And the deficiency of vitamin B12 is known as one of the main causes of canker sores. Actually, children need to take more vitamins than adults as they are growing and their bodies need more vitamins. Also, children are more likely to lack vitamins when fresh fruits and vegetables are not their favorite foods. If vitamin deficiency is the cause of your canker sores, you should take vitamin capsules or apply the contents taking from vitamin capsules directly to your canker sores in order to give them quick and painless results. This is also one of the most common factors what causes canker sores that people should know and watch out clearly to know how to avoid having this problem naturally at home. Keep reading to know other causes of canker sores and learn how to prevent this issue.
3. Poor Immune System
If you have a poor immune system, you are more likely to develop canker sores as well as other health problems. Although it is difficult to find what exactly in the immunity triggers canker sores, the fact you can notice is that the poor immune system can prevent these sores from healing quickly. Therefore, what causes canker sores must include poor immune system and improving immunity is very important if you want to get rid of canker sores completely.
4. Eating Highly- Acidic Fruits And Vegetables
Some fruits and vegetables are considered to be healthy for those with canker sores. However, according to a study about canker sores [1], eating many citrus fruits that are highly acidic can lead to canker sores. Some fruits such as pineapples, oranges, and lemons can cause canker sores. Especially, when there is some stress in the mouth, your tissues are prone to react to the acidic power of these fruits. Besides, figs, strawberries, apples and tomatoes are some of the foods you should avoid if you are experiencing canker sores.
5. Stress
When it comes to what causes canker sores on gum, you should not look down mental health. Emotional stress such as depression and anxiety may cause a higher risk of canker sores. Similarly, physical stress can also cause an increased risk of developing canker sores. When the sores are small ulcers, they can develop if you have high levels of stress. Therefore, reducing stress is very important if you want to treat these sores effectively.
To know some of the best natural remedies for stress that you can apply with ease at home, read on Top 48 Best Home Remedies For Stress Relief And Removal
6. Injuries
Many people experience injuries from dental equipment or using harsh mouthwashes or other oral products. These products can cause damages to the outermost layer of the mouth, resulting in canker sores. Besides, poorly fitted dentures, not keeping the mouth clean, or brushing too roughly can also lead to injury of the tissues and cause canker sores.
Addition to this, chemical injuries may be caused by excessive tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. This kind of injury is also a result of injuries of the mucosal lining because of consuming excessively hot foods or beverages.
7. Celiac Disease
Although doctors do not know exactly what causes canker sores in the throat, celiac disease may be a factor contributing to the development of this oral problem. Actually, celiac disease is an intestinal disorder that appears due to sensitivity to gluten, which is found in most of the grains. And, canker sores are known as a hallmark of this disorder.
If you want to know some easy yet healthy recipes that people with celiac disease should try making at home, read on Top 23 Easy Yet Healthy Gluten Free Recipes You Should Try
8. Behcet’s Disease
Patients with Behcet’s disease can experience inflammation in some of their body’s parts, including the mouth. Canker sores are a common symptom of this disease. These sores start with round lesions, and then gradually develop into painful ulcers. The healing time may take 1-3 weeks, and then sufferers may experience recurrent sores as well.
9. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Canker sores can be a common symptom of inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They generally occur during severe flare-ups, but they may subside when the condition is controlled.
There are some other contributing factors to canker sores in this article. So, if you want to know what causes canker sores in the throat and on gum, keep reading this article and then consult your doctor for the best treatments as soon as possible.
10. HIV/AIDS
If you are looking for what causes canker sores in the throat, you should not look down this disease. For patients with HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus will attack their immune system and cause some oral problems as well as other consequences. This could result in the occurrence of canker sores and other signs and symptoms like tooth decay, dry mouth and gum disease.
11. Hormonal Fluctuations
If you want to know what causes canker sores on gum, hormonal fluctuations may be one of the common causes of these sores. According to a research about hormones and oral health [2], people with hormonal fluctuations have higher risk of developing canker sores. Women who often experience premenstrual tension during their menstrual periods may have hormonal changes, resulting in the development of canker sores. The causes for that are unknown.
12. Using Products That Contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Currently, sodium lauryl sulfate is found in many toothpastes and mouthwash and this using these products can cause canker sores in the mouth. Therefore, it is very important to use SLS free products. Actually, this is known as one of the common causes of aphthous ulcers, so you should not look down it if you are looking for what causes canker sores in the throat.
13. Smoking
According to a research [3], excessive tobacco use can contribute to the development of canker sores. Besides, the smokeless tobacco use has been related to a decreased risk of canker sores. Using nicotine-containing tablets or e-cigarettes can also help control the development of canker sores.
14. Oral Exposure To Certain Drugs
Nicorandil used in cardiac disease and anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. can produce ulcers that resemble canker sores. When you suspect that your canker sores are caused by taking these drugs, consult your doctor about changing your drugs first.
15. Environmental Factors
When it comes to what causes canker sores on gum, environmental factors are what you should pay attention to. Some environmental factors such as very cold or hot climatic conditions can cause the canker sores or even boost their occurrence.
16. Food Allergies
According to a study about canker sores [4], some people have canker sores after eating or being exposed to foods allergies. Eating these foods makes their bodies react by producing the large number of histamines and other defensive chemicals, which are responsible for the occurrence of skin rashes as well as canker sores. Some common foods that are associated with higher risk of developing canker sores include eggplants, chocolate, coffee, gluten, tomatoes, strawberries, spicy foods, and excessive salted nuts.
17. Hereditary
Some cases of canker sores result from inherited genes; therefore, you should not look down it if you are looking for what causes canker sores in the throat. Some studies have shown that about 30% of people with recurring canker sores get a shared family history. The fact is that the inherited genes of poor immunities mean that these individuals are prone to recurrent canker sores and infections. However, these sores cannot spread from one person to another by contact.
Some natural treatments for canker sores:
- Keep the mouth clean by brushing it regularly. This can help eliminate any bacteria [5] causing the sores.
- Regularly rinse off the mouth with salty water in order to kill any bacteria in the mouth and boost up the healing process.
- Apply antiseptic gels to the canker sores to boost the healing process and prevent further infections.
- Take pain- relieving medication in order to help reduce the pain.
Although canker sores seem harmless, they need to be cured as soon as possible. Knowing what causes canker sores can help you and my other readers of Healthy Guide make changes to prevent these oral ulcers from occurring. Also, this will help you treat these ulcers early and heal them faster.
We hope that you find this article informative. Again, if you have any questions or know what causes cancer sores apart from those as I mentioned above, please to share them with other readers by leaving your comments below.
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