What Causes Canker Sores in the Mouth

Doctors call these aphthous ulcers. They are medical mystery in that we do not know what causes canker sores to appear inside the mouth, or how to cure them. They frequently show up after we bite a cheek or eat something sharp that abrades the mucous membranes of our mouth.

But they can also arrive unbidden for no apparent reason. The immune system is clearly involved, as patients with HIV or AIDS can experience devastating bouts of canker sores that make it hard to eat or talk.

Physicians often fell tremendously frustrated when trying to treat canker sores. They have prescribed local anesthetics, antibiotics, steroid creams and gels, and silver nitrate. Results have been mixed.

Normally a garden-variety canker sore will heal in about ten days to 2 weeks. These prescription therapies may improve that by a few days, but physicians rarely report the kind of results our readers claim for their home remedies.

Vitamins

There is some suggestion that people who are low in vitamin B12, folic acid, or iron may be more susceptible to canker sores. A good B-complex supplying 400 to 800 micrograms of folate an 100 micrograms of vitamin B12. The amount of iron in a multivitamin and mineral formula (ranging from 4 to 30 mg) should be ample.

Home Remedies

No home remedies have really been tested in controlled clinical trials, but some people are convinced that the results they can bring are nothing short of miraculous. Trial and error may be the only way for you to find out what works for you personally.

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