Mouth ulcers are the most irritating of ailments. It can take up to two weeks to heal one, and during that time, the discomfort can be intense. Canker sores, known technically as aphthous ulcers, make eating, drinking and speaking difficult and painful. They are usually white or yellowish and surrounded by red, inflamed soft tissue. Many people (as many as 20 percent of us) suffer from them – sometimes experiencing the first one by age ten. In some cases the following symptoms may also be present:
swollen lymph nodes, fever, and not feeling well. Although is not clear what exactly causes mouth ulcers and why some people seem more susceptible to them than others, there are things you can do to help prevent outbreaks.
First, avoid certain foods. Some foods are known to trigger the eruption of mouth ulcers. Some of these are more obvious because of their acidic nature. These include lemons/limes, tomatoes, apples, pineapples, and vinegar. Others, such as barley, flour, buckwheat, whole wheat, cheese and milk, soy, chocolate, and some mustards are linked to mouth ulcers. Foods that are hard to chew or crunchy can also irritate tender oral tissues, so you might avoid pretzels, corn chips, and the like as well.
Second, stress and stressful habits can also lead to this problem. When the body reacts to outside stresses, the chances of an ulcer forming increase. Habits triggered by stress, such as biting the inside of your lips, cheeks, and tongue can also cause ulcers to appear.
Third, the way you brush your teeth can actually have an adverse effect on the inside of your mouth and may result in ulcers. Using a hard toothbrush or simply brushing too hard can damage the insides of your cheeks and lips and allow ulcers to form. If you wear a mouth guard, night guard, bleaching trays or retainer, it’s important to brush those appliance inside and out between uses.
Finally, many people notice a significant reduction in the number of mouth ulcers they experience when they switch to a brand of toothpaste that doesn’t contain SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate). This detergent is used in many types of soaps and cleaners has been linked to the changes in the mouth that make you more likely to develop mouth ulcers. Ask us for the names of toothpastes that don’t contain this ingredient.
Although the top four things linked to aphthous ulcers are listed above, other causative factors that have been linked to canker sores:
• viral infection
• hormonal fluctuations
• food allergies
• menstrual cycle
• vitamin or mineral deficiencies
• immune system problems
If you find that you’ve having to deal with painful mouth ulcers on a regular basis, talk to us. We can help find the solution to your problem and relieve the pain that mouth ulcers cause.
