Mouth ulcer / Canker sore

What is a canker sore?

Symptoms of canker sores

Causes of canker sores

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for canker sores

References

What is a canker sore?

A mouth ulcer (also known as canker sore or aphthous stomatitis) is a small, painful, open sore in the mouth. They usually appear on the insides of the cheeks and lips, tongue, soft palate, and the base of the gums. They have a white / grey / yellow shallow pit surrounded by a red border. Cankers are usually the size of a pin head or match head, but can be up to 10mm (0.4 inch) or more in severe cases. They can occur on their own, or in groups.

People get mouth ulcers at any age, but they usually first appear between the ages of 10 and 40. They affect women more often than men, and tend to run in families. Aphthous stomatitis affects between 5% and 66% of all people, depending on how you measure the severity and symptoms. This makes it the most common disease of the oral mucosa. (4) Aphthous stomatitis occurs worldwide, but is more common in developed countries. (3)

The smallest ulcers can heal in a day or two, larger in 1 - 3 weeks. They often return and those prone to ulcers can suffer 3 - 6 episodes per year.

A canker sore is not the same as a cold sore. A herpes cold sore typically begins as several small blisters that grow into one large sore. In contrast, a canker sore forms individually. Herpes sores are caused by a herpes viral infection and are highly contagious.

Mouth ulcers are non-contagious, non-infectious, and not sexually transmissible.

Symptoms of canker sores

• The first signs may be a tingling, itching, burning or stinging. Within hours or overnight a painful lesion may appear.
• The pain of a tiny mouth ulcer is often out of proportion to the extent of the ulceration. They are really painful for such a tiny pit. (1)
• The pain is heightened by physical contact, especially with certain foods and drinks which are acidic or abrasive.
• Pain is worst in the hours or days immediately following the initial formation of the ulcer, and then recedes as healing progresses.
• If there are lesions on the tongue, speaking and chewing can be uncomfortable. Ulcers on the soft palate, back of the throat, or esophagus can cause painful swallowing. (1)

Causes of canker sores

• Toxic overload, often related to acid-forming foods. Note what foods you have eaten in the hours and days before the ulcer appears. Did you eat a large quantity of one kind of food? Possibilities include synthetic supplements (especially orange-coloured vitamin C), raw tomato, hot spices, refined (processed) salt, astringent foods.
• Food allergies. Possible allergens include chocolate, coffee, strawberries, eggs, nuts, tomatoes, cheese, citrus fruits and other acidic foods, benzoate food additives, toothpaste and mouthwashes. When dietary allergens are responsible mouth ulcers usually develop 12-24 hours after exposure. (2)
• Damage to the mucous membranes in the mouth. This most often occurs from acidic foods, chemical additives to foods, or the chemicals in personal care products like mouthwash or toothpaste. (4)
• Weakened immune system, sometimes caused by emotional stress or autoimmune conditions.
• Dietary deficiencies (especially silicon, folic acid, or vitamin B-12).
• Injury such as biting the cheek, tongue or lips, dental work, or aggressive tooth cleaning (important - please continue to properly clean your teeth with floss and a brush).
• Viral or bacterial infection.
• Hormonal changes, menstrual periods.

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for canker sores

• Apple Cider Vinegar. ACV helps restore the normal acidic pH in the stomach and normalise pH in different parts of the body. Upset acidity is one contributing factor to canker sores. ACV has alkalne minerals which also restore health.
• Alum is a simple sulphur-containing compound commonly made with sodium, potassium or ammonia. It was mined in various spots around the world, and was used in ancient Egypt for dyeing and medicine. Today most alum is synthesised. The small crystals are usually sold in the spice section of a shop. Alum is a bitter tasting remedy which soothes canker sores quickly. You may want to rinse the taste out of your mouth, but be sure to keep the alum on the sore for at least 2-3 minutes for best results.
• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate or bicarb) may be mixed with a little water into a paste and then applied directly to the canker sore. Leave it on for 2-3 minutes and then rinse. Baking soda cleanses the sore and relieves pain.
• Aspirin. Take one adult or baby aspirin tablet, and crush it with a spoon or pestle. Coated aspirin should not be used. Apply the powder to the canker sore and let it slowly dissolve. Leave it on the lesion for at least 5 minutes. You can also apply a piece of the aspirin tablet to the canker sore. Some visitors applied aspirin powder to their canker sore just before retiring at night and found this to be very effective.
• L-Lysine is an amino acid. You can take a capsule at the very earliest hint of a cold sore to stop it. You can take one or two 1000 mg tablets per day if the ulcer has already formed. Some people find that L-Lysine works brilliantly.

If you use any remedies from Grow Youthful, please come back next week (or whenever you have an outcome) and let us know about your experience. Please leave a comment as many people are interested.

See details of remedies recommended by Grow Youthful visitors, and their experience with them.

References

1. Treister JM, Bruch NS. Clinical oral medicine and pathology. (2010). New York: Humana Press. pp. 53-56. ISBN 978-1-60327-519-4.

2. Millet D, Welbury R. Clinical problem solving in orthodontics and paediatric dentistry. (2004). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. pp. 143-44. ISBN 978-0-443-07265-9.

3. Neville BW, Damm DD, Allen CM, Bouquot JE. Oral & maxillofacial pathology (3rd ed.) (2008). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. pp. 331-36. ISBN 978-1-4160-3435-3.

4. Cawson RA, Odell EW, Porter S. Cawson's essentials of oral pathology and oral medicine (8th ed.). (2008). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. pp. 220-24. ISBN 978-0-443-10125-0.