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Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers, or canker sores, are small sores that develop within the mouth. Nutritional Therapy may be helpful to pinpoint trigger using your medical history & diet analysis. In the meantime, avoiding foods that irritate your mouth can be helpful.


What is a mouth ulcer?


Mouth ulcers, or canker sores, are small sores that develop within the mouth. The cause of mouth ulcers is mysterious however it is known that some injuries, allergies, or food sensitivities may trigger them.

Mouth ulcers are normally small, painful lesions that develop in the mouth or at the base of the gums. They make eating, drinking, and talking feel quite uncomfortable. Mouth ulcers aren’t contagious and usually go away within one to two weeks


Possible causes of mouth ulcers include


Minor mouth injury from dental work, hard brushing, sports injury, or accidental bite

Food sensitivities to acidic foods like strawberries, citrus, and pineapples, and other trigger foods like chocolate and coffee or gluten intolerance

Hormonal changes during menstruation

Lack of essential vitamins, especially B12, zinc, folate, and iron

Mouth bacteria or viral, or fungal infections

Dental braces

Psychological stress

Sleep deprivation


Mouth ulcers also can be a sign of conditions that are more serious


Conditions that may require medical attention include:


Types of mouth ulcers:


Minor canker sores are small round ulcers that heal within one to two weeks with no scarring.

Major canker sores are larger and deeper than minor ones. They have irregular edges and can take up to six weeks to heal. Major mouth ulcers can result in long-term scarring.

Herpetiform canker sores are pinpoint in size, occur in clusters of 10 to 100, and often affect adults. This type of mouth ulcer has irregular edges and will often heal without scarring within one to two weeks.


Please see a doctor if you develop any of the following:


Unusually large mouth ulcers

Sores that persist for more than three weeks

Sores that are painless

Mouth ulcers that extend to the lips

Pain that can’t be controlled with over-the-counter or natural medication

Severe problems eating and drinking

High fever or diarrhoea whenever the canker sores appear


Several treatments can decrease pain and healing time


These include:

Using a rinse of saltwater and baking soda

Covering mouth ulcers with baking soda paste
applying ice to canker sores

Nutritional supplements like folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and zinc

Natural remedies such as chamomile tea, echinacea, myrrh, and liquorice root


How nutritional therapy may help:


In the case of persistent mouth ulcers, nutritional therapy may be helpful to pinpoint trigger using your medical history and diet analysis. In the meantime, avoiding foods that irritate your mouth can be helpful. That includes acidic fruits like pineapple, grapefruit, oranges, or lemon, as well as nuts, or very spicy food. Instead, focus on alkaline (nonacidic) fruits and vegetables, while the ulcer heals.

Lifestyle advice includes reducing stress, getting adequate sleep and rest and maintaining good oral hygiene by using dental floss daily and brushing after meals.

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Disclaimer

Please note that the information contained within this website does not and should not replace medical advice, and is not intended to treat or diagnose. We always recommend you consult with your doctor. Our Nutritional Therapy team is highly trained and we offer one to one Nutritional Therapy Consultations, which are designed to be complementary to any medical treatment from a functional medicine approach, as well as offering a preventative & optimal health focus.