Risk factors for developing canker sores
What is the one of the main risks for developing a canker sore? Having had a canker sore in the past. Most people that have had a canker sore will get more than one. Once they occur, they pop up from time to time. While it is not exactly clear what causes canker sores, there are a few things that increase the risk of getting one.
- Certain vitamin deficiencies such as iron, folic acid, or certain B vitamins increase the risk
- Deficiency in the immune system
- Exposure to sodium lauryl sulfate (a common detergent) in people that are sensitive
- Exposure to gluten (found in wheat, rye, barley) in people that are sensitive
- Exposure to certain drugs such as alendronate (Fosamax)
- Injury to the tongue or inside of the mouth often serves as a place for one of these mouth sores to show up
- Stopping cigarette smoking
- Stress seems to bring out aphthous ulcers
Preventing canker sores
Avoid injury
While there are few cures for canker sores, if any, there are ways of preventing canker sores that can improve a patient’s quality of life. No one intends to injure their mouth, but most mouth injuries occur when people are thoughtless or careless. If you are prone to developing aphthous ulcers, be cautious when eating sharp foods and avoid biting your tongue or inside of your cheek.
Avoid irritants
If your physician is discussing a new prescription with you, ask her if the drug increases the risk for canker sores. If it does, ask if there is an alternative medication. This same strategy of avoidance can be applied to other causes of canker sores. You might be surprised at how many household products contain sodium lauryl sulfate, yet people that have managed to reduce or eliminate the substance from their home notice a decrease in the number of canker sore flare-ups.
Check your diet
Some medical conditions predispose to canker sores. In people that cannot metabolize gluten (celiac disease), exposure to gluten in the diet is a well known cause of canker sores. Avoiding gluten can prevent canker sores in susceptible people. Likewise, vitamin deficiencies, when corrected, can lower recurrence rates. In fact, these dietary changes may be one of the few cures for canker sores (in select people).
Boost your immune system
People with diseases that depress or suppress the immune system are particularly prone to developing canker sores. Preventing canker sores in these cases is about keeping the immune system as healthy and vibrant as possible. If the immune deficiency is HIV/AIDS, staying on HAART therapy without fail and keeping T cell counts high is important. In Behçet’s syndrome, keeping inflammation to a minimum and the illness under control are reasonable approaches to preventing canker sores.
Manage and eliminate stress
Recent evidence is beginning to unlock some of the biological links between stress and the immune system. Prolonged or severe stress has a direct, negative effect on the immune system. Not surprisingly, periods of stress also bring on canker sore flare-ups. There is no shortage of effective stress management activities, but most people either fail to do them or do them properly. Applied relaxation, meditation, exercise (your choice), Tai chi, and yoga are excellent stress relievers. However if you do not do them routinely, they are of little benefit in preventing canker sores.
