| Canker sores are small, painful ulcers that can appear on the
tongue, the lips, the gums, or the insides of the cheeks. A canker sore
begins as a red, ulcerated spot with a yellowish border. The ulcer then
becomes covered by a coagulated yellowish mixture of fluids, bacteria, and
white blood cells. The development of the sore may be preceded by a
burning and tingling sensation. Canker sores do not form blisters as cold
sores (fever blisters) do. Canker sores range in size from as small as a
pinhead to as large as a quarter. They appear suddenly and often leave
suddenly, usually lasting from 4 to 20 days. Some experts believe that
these painful mouth ulcerations are contagious, but others disagree.
Canker sores occur most often in females. They can be triggered by any of
a number of factors, including poor dental hygiene, irritation from dental
work, food
allergies, nutritional
deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, viral infection, an underlying
immunologic disease, trauma (such as that caused by biting the inside
of the cheek or using a hard-bristled toothbrush),
stress,
and/or
fatigue. They may result from
an abnormal immune response to normal bacteria in the mouth. Canker
sores are occasionally associated with
Crohn's
disease, which affects the bowels. Deficiencies of iron, lysine,
vitamin B12, and folic acid have been linked to this disorder in some
people |