Canker sores are a common disorder of the mouth and are often very painful. Occurring only inside the mouth, canker sores are found on the tongue, lips, the inside linings of the cheek, and in the throat. Interestingly, canker sores are not a recent occurrence; canker sores have plagued mankind for thousands of years. Canker sores currently cause discomfort and annoyance to millions of Americans.
Recurrent canker sores afflict about 20 percent of the American population. The medical term for canker sores is aphthous stomatitis.
Canker sores begin as small oval or round reddish swellings, and then the canker sores usually burst within a day. The ruptured canker sores are covered by a thin white or yellow membrane and edged by a red halo. Generally, the canker sore area heals within 2 weeks. Canker sores often range in size. One canker sore may be an eighth of an inch wide in mild cases, while another canker sore can be more than an inch wide in severe cases. Severe canker sores may leave scars.
Most people have their first bout with canker sores between the ages of 10 and 20. Children as young as 2, however, may develop a canker sore. The frequency of canker sore recurrences varies considerably. Some people have only one or two flare ups from a canker sore a year, while others may have a continuous series of canker sores.
The cause of canker sores is not well understood. Usually, there is more than one cause that triggers a canker sore. Canker sores do not appear to be caused by viruses or bacteria, although an allergy to a type of bacterium commonly found in the mouth may trigger them in some people. It is also suspected that food allergies may be a cause of many canker sores. In addition, there is recent research suggesting that canker sores may be caused by a weakened immune system that uses the body's defenses against disease to attack and destroy the normal cells of the mouth or tongue, the result being a canker sore.
Nutritional deficiencies are another possible cause of canker sores. Deficiencies in iron, zinc, B12, and folate (folic acid) have been speculated to contribute to canker sores.
Unfortunately, at this time, doctors don't know of any drugs that prevent canker sores from forming. If you get canker sores often, or if the canker sores are very painful, talk to a health professional for possible all natural canker sore remedies.