What Causes Canker Sores? (Common Causes, Poor Oral Hygiene Regime, Emotional Stress, Dietary Pattern, Food Allergies, Underlying General Health Conditions, Dental Care Products and Appliances)
Canker sores still remain the most mysterious medical phenomenon, as they appear and disappear unexpectedly, seemingly on their own, with no particular treatment actions taken. This dental condition brings a lot more discomfort, than the actual danger, as each aphthous ulcer, located in a patient's mouth, appearing on the inside of his lip, cheek, on his gum or even under his tongue, causes intolerable pain, when eating food or just talking.
And, what is even more mysterious about this dental condition, sometimes even the most experienced dental care professionals fail to determine what causes canker sores. Still, the modern dental science has a couple of general theories on what factors can trigger the aphthous ulcers development.
What Causes Canker Sores Most Commonly?
Nobody knows what causes canker sores with a 100% guarantee. Anything, starting from bacteria, viruses of fungus, which start the active breeding due to the poor oral hygiene, stress, or mouth injuries, to some food supplements and vitamins deficiency, can trigger the disease.
Among the possible answers on what causes canker sores dental care professionals also name the numerous food allergies. Sharp hormonal changes are also likely to trigger the canker sores arrival. That is why female patients get more prone to them a few days before and during their menstrual cycle. Also children and teens are in the high-risk group. Such poor lifestyle habits as smoking and drinking can also trigger the disease, as they dry out the mouth. In some cases the key to the aphthous ulcers development are food and medications allergies, and also poorly fitting dental appliances.
But the most often an underlying health condition is what causes canker sores. That is why it is worth visiting your dentist to examine any canker sore, which lasts longer than 7-10 days. Let's look through these and some other canker sores causes more thoroughly.
How Does Poor Oral Hygiene Regime Cause Canker Sores?
By following the adequate oral hygiene rules, which are, basically, the regular teeth brushing and flossing, you can successfully remove all the food residues and dental plaque away from your teeth.
But then, what causes canker sores? If you do your mouth and teeth cleaning not regularly or not thoroughly enough, the dental plaque gets accumulated on your teeth and in your mouth (on the tongue, gum line, cheek, lip), creating the perfect environment for the bacteria, viruses of fungus, breeding, which are known to often trigger the aphthous ulcers development.
How Does Emotional Stress Cause Canker Sores?
The scientists all over the world put the emotional stress on the top list of what causes canker sores. The thing is that this emotional state is associated not only with sleeping disorders, anxiety and deep prolonged depression, but also with a lowered immune system barriers and vitamin deficiency, which are known to trigger the canker sores arrival.
How Dietary Pattern and Food Allergies Can Cause Canker Sores?
First of all, a human body needs a wide spectrum and vitamins everyday to support the proper functional pattern. Unfortunately, an average modern American diet sharply lacks the folic acid and vitamin B12, which is a direct answer to the question on what causes canker sores, when it comes to a dietary pattern.
Also note that some kinds of food also trigger the aphthous ulcers development. This way, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, peanuts, cashews, chips, soda and acidic drinks, coffee, and beer are on the list of what causes canker sores among the foods and beverages due to the irritation they cause to the mouth tissue. In addition, you may develop aphthous ulcers due to the mouth burns in the result of too hot food or drink intake.
And finally, when it comes to what causes canker sores, it is highly important to note that all the above-mentioned foods and drinks, and also the ones, which contain artificial ingredients and emulsifying agents, are likely to cause the allergic reaction that will then trigger the aphthous ulcers in the mouth. These canker sores causes are especially relevant for children.
What Underlying General Health Conditions Can Cause Canker Sores?
Among the group of the diseases that trigger the aphthous ulcers are the ones associated with the impaired immune system (AIDS, Behcet's disease, etc.) and some gastrointestinal tract system (inflammatory bowel disease) conditions. Apart from that, the list of what causes canker sores among the general health conditions is also celiac disease, associated with the gluten contribution to the canker sores condition.
How Dental Care Products and Appliances Can Cause Canker Sores?
Dental care products and appliances is the last point on the list of what causes canker sores to be discussed today. To start with, poorly fitting dental appliances can trigger canker sores in the places of the constant friction with the mouth soft tissues. The aphthous ulcers development might also result from the acute allergic reaction to nickel, used in the dental brackets, braces, and dentures structures. These symptoms require the immediate consultation with your orthodontist. In addition, sodium lauryl sulfate, which is a common active agent for many commercial dental care products, is also thought to trigger canker sources.
Still, often, it is still hardly possible to tell exactly what causes canker sores in your particular case. But you should not panic, as the disease can still be successfully managed even without the underlying cause determination. Be healthy and wealthy!
