Cankersores

[rasiaca]

Oh Man!
I was seriously hoping to find this answer myself. I don't get it either. My mom and I have both had canker sore problems for the past 5-7 yrs or so. On and off. It's totally driving me crazy...I just want to know why. Whatever it is I will gladly stop doing it. I can't think of anything that we are doing differently that would account for it.
Stress/lack of sleep, maybe. I was stressed out for years before without canker sores though, ...did I cross some line or something?
Anyways, if I find anything else out, I will gladly come back and post it.
Anna
PS, thanks for the tips offered thus far....I will also be requesting a blood analysis at my next doc's appt.

[klmarshall]

Howdy All!
I have had canker sores all my life. For around 6 months I had 2-4 every 2 weeks. Not related to any female cycle or lunar cycle or whatnot. I had to go to an island to the south for a month on business - a lot of work outside, and the cankersores went away and have not come back since - it's been 4 months. Now that I think about it, most of my weird skin conditions went away...
Sure I get one once in a while, but not like before. However I do get them now and again on my genitals. I had my OBgyn take a sample and it was negative for herpes. She said it was not a canker sore, but it looked like one, felt like one, and went away with yogurt....for those who haven't tried it, Yogurt rules for getting rid of canker sores - at least the kind I get. I do occasionally use hydrocortizone on the persistant ones. I was told the OTC generic kind is fine for use in the mouth, it is just labeled external use only because of the taste.
Take care -Gabi

[zuzu8]

Sonicspeed and all,
There are several things that seem to trigger outbreaks of canker sores, some of which have been mentioned here.


One of the biggies is, as LAELLIS says, toothpastes and/or mouthwashes... the ones that contain sodium lauryl sulfate.
There has been research done that shows using products that contain "SLS", which is a foaming agent, can cause an increased recurrence rate of canker sores. This is probably due to a drying effect it has on the protective surface of oral tissues. When this protective layer has been dried out or damaged in any way, the tissue underneath is more vulnerable to irritants ...like acidic foods for instance.

Then of course there's mechanical trauma. Irritation from a jagged tooth or ill-fitting dentures or a self-inflicted bite etc.


Psychological stress is also a big factor, which we all know.

And of course there are nutritional deficiencies.
Particularly a deficiency in Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, and C .
Also researchers have found that low levels of zinc, folic acid, iron, selenium, calcium can contribute to chronic mouth ulcers.


Certain allergies or sensitivities to foods and other substances have also been postulated as being a trigger for canker sore breakouts. Sometimes keeping a diary of what you're eating and comparing it to when you have a "break-out" might help you identify a "culprit".
There's been some research that shows the following potential triggers for cankersores:
Cereal grains: buckwheat, wheat, oats, rye, barley, the gluten protein found in grains
Fruits and vegetables: lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, figs, tomatoes, strawberries
Dairy: milk, cheeses
Other foods: nuts, chocolate, shellfish, soy, vinegar, mustard
Additives: cinnamonaldehyde (a flavoring agent), benzoic acid (a preservative)
Other "things" like mints, gums, dental materials, metals, and very importantly certain medications.


There is also in some folks, a genetic predisposition for canker sores.
So go thank Mom and Dad! There was one study that found that 91%(!!) of identical twins both suffered from canker sores whereas only 57% of fraternal twins did.

And yes, certain bacteria or viruses can contribute to these ulcers.

Hope some of this info helps.

Obviously if the canker sores become really frequent and troublesome, a check-up with your doctor wouldn't be a bad idea, to rule out any underlying more serious systemic problem.

zuzu xxx

[sonicspeed]

Thank you zuzu! Your a font of useful information.

Personally, I think it is the sleep factor for me. Just sleeping an extra hour or so per night has helped tremedously.

[Pilky]

For all those with cankersoars.


I use to get them ALL the time, now i never get them.


I can almost gaurentee if you take what i take you will never get em.

1. Biotine toothpaste, i dont use this anymore cause its expensive, but it works.

2. L-Lysine supplement, look in your vitamin section at Brooks/CVS, take one a day and say by by to canker soars.

If you take both these you'l be thanking me later, i know what you guys are goin through... that awful pain in your mouths, try this out and let me know how you do.


Pilk.