Identifying the root cause of recurring canker sores is challenging due to the number of potential causes. First, determine you have a canker sore, rather than a cold sore or other malady. Canker sores could be caused by one of the below factors, or it could be several acting together. If you are serious about identifying the root cause of your canker sores, consider employing a journal to track canker sore occurrences.
The following list contains what are believed to be the most common causes of canker sores:
- Oral products containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Removing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate from all oral products is simple and recommended as the first step in preventing canker sores
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Allergies
- Deficiency in vitamins or minerals
- B-12
- Zinc
- Folate
- Iron
- Trauma to the mouth
- Oral trauma caused by events such as biting the inside of the mouth, eating sharp foods, sports injuries, or dental work
- Some individuals will form canker sores as a result of trauma, while others heal without forming a canker sore, therefore oral trauma is likely only the catalyst to canker sore formation, acting in concert with other issues, such as oral bacteria
- Sensitivity to certain food or drink
- chocolate
- coffee
- strawberries
- eggs
- nuts
- cheese
- spicy or acidic foods/drinks
- soda, which is acidic
- Stress
- Helicobater Pylori, the bacteria which causes peptic ulcers
- Consumption of carbohydrate rich food
- There is growing empirical evidence which demonstrates a diet low in carbohydrates lowers the incidence of canker sores
- Excess consumption of sugar and other carbohydrate heavy sources allow canker sore causing bacteria to thrive
- The excretions of these bacteria cause an acidic environment in the mouth, contributing to plaque buildup
- Bacteria fester in cuts and abrasions in the mouth, triggering the formation of a canker sore
- Aliments and diseases
- Crohn’s disease
- Celiac disease
- The immune system attacking healthy cells rather than bacteria or viruses
- HIV/AIDS
- Behcet’s disease, which causes inflammation in the body