It‘s frustrating that there seems to be no consensus on what causes them - if they can be triggered by bacterial or viral infections, allergic reactions to food or product ingredients (such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate found in toothpaste), a vitamin deficiency, or even if they are contagious.
It appears that different causes may be the trigger for different people. To find an effective treatment, it’s important to identify, if possible, the cause of your mouth sores. If a canker sore is caused by a food allergy, treating it with an anti-bacterial or anti-viral agent will be disappointing. To find relief, or even prevention, you must be tenacious and work down the list of possible solutions to find the answer for your unique body’s chemistry.
Narrow the list of possibilities by paying attention to patterns of occurrence.
VIRAL CLUES
Does your mouth sore occur after a dental procedure, when you are under stress, over tired, or receiving chemo therapy or radiation treatments? In severe attacks, you may also experience fever, physical sluggishness, or swollen lymph nodes. One might consider a virus as the culprit, so look to remedies known for their anti-viral properties.
Propolis
Produced by bees, propolis is used as a construction material in bee hives, comprised of a complex of chemicals (especially flavonoids), which play a role as an antiviral agent. Some individuals have allergic reactions to Propolis, and for them, this would not be a good choice.
Golden Seal Mouth Wash
Golden Seal is an herb. You can make your own golden seal mouth wash by mixing a quarter teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of golden seal powder (contents of one capsule) into a cup of warm water. Be aware that the golden seal powder will not dissolve completely but the mixture will still work just fine as a mouth wash. Rinse your mouth with this mouth wash at least three times a day.
Slippery Elm
Make a paste by mixing this herbal powder and water. Smear the paste directly on your canker sores as often as you feel you need to. This mixture has been found to completely heal canker sores in some people.
Canker Sores Begone®
If you want to eliminate the hit and miss nature of trying one herb or remedy after another, you could try an all in one topical herbal formula such as Canker Sores Begone®. This is a non-toxic formulation that often works when nothing else does. It can be found at selected health food stores, online at www.csbegone.com, or calling the company directly at (888) 877-6315.
FOOD ALLERGIES
If you’ve noticed a canker sore after eating acidic foods such as citrus fruit or a tomato, or other foods such as chocolate, strawberries, certain nuts, peanut butter, cinnamon, sugar, coffee, spicy or salty foods, eggs, wheat, or pork you may be close to solving the puzzle. There are a couple of approaches if you suspect food allergy to be the cause. The first one requires patience and for some, self-discipline. Eliminate the suspected foods for a few weeks, and then reintroduce them one at a time to see which one triggers a canker.
The second approach which some individuals might find easier than food elimination is through nutritional supplementation. “Take 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of buffered vitamin C daily to help reduce the level of histamines in your body,” says Jennifer Brett, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at the Wilton Naturopathic Center in Stratford, Connecticut. “To enhance the effectiveness of the vitamin C, take 1,000 milligrams of quercetin or 100 milligrams of grapeseed extract daily as a preventive,” she says. “These are both bioflavonoids, compounds that inhibit histamine release, reduce inflammation, and speed healing.”
VITAMIN DEFICIENCY
Thiamin
Research shows that a deficiency of thiamin can lead to recurrent mouth ulcers. Dr. Brett recommends taking 100 milligrams of thiamin daily as a preventive.
A High-Potency Multivitamin May Be the Answer
“If purchased at a health food store, it should give you the nutrients that are necessary to prevent recurrent canker sores,” says Dr. Brett. “Take 500 to 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12, 10 milligrams of iron, 800 micrograms of folic acid, and 15 to 20 milligrams of zinc,” she says. “If your multivitamin doesn’t include all you need, simply add separate supplements to make up the difference.”
COULD IT BE YOUR TOOTHPASTE?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, also known as SLS, is a foaming agent found in most commercial toothpastes. Certain individuals have found that switching to toothpastes without this ingredient has helped to reduce or eliminate canker sores. Two toothpastes you can try – Biotene found in drugstores and Rembrandt in selected drugstores and supermarkets. They’re also available online such as www.drugstore.com and www.walgreens.com.
STILL NOT SURE?
Many canker sore sufferers swear by these remedies:
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)
This is a form of the herb known as licorice. It has anti-inflammatory properties, speeds the healing process, and soothes the discomfort of canker sores. Take two 200-milligram tablets 20 minutes before meals, or chew one or two tablets two or three times a day. While chewing, use your tongue to position the tablet residue on the sore to promote even speedier healing. You should use DGL until the sore heals. In addition, you can empty the powder from a capsule into 1⁄2 cup of lukewarm water, dissolve the DGL, and swish the solution around in your mouth. Repeat this at least two or three times a day until the sore has healed.
Alum
The preservative alum can be put on the canker. It will probably burn like crazy for a few minutes and taste terrible, but it will relieve the pain and help clear the sore up quickly. Rinse with water after a few minutes. Repeat once or twice a day, as needed. Alum can be found in the spice section of your grocery store.
Tea Bag
Tannin from tea may relieve the pain almost instantly. Hold a used tea bag against the sore for a few minutes.
Don’t despair if one remedy doesn’t work after giving it a chance, and move on to the next remedy you have not yet tried. For many, solving this problem requires patience and persistence, so be willing to invest it.
The herbs and vitamin supplements mentioned in this article are available in health food stores, and at most nutritional online retailers, such as www.vitacost.com (800-381-0759), www.clubnatural.com (800-570-8840), and www.iherb.com (orders must be placed online, but questions can be answered at toll free 866-328-1171).
