How Did I Get This Canker Sore In The Mouth?

What Causes A Canker Sore in the Mouth? If I could give you an exact answer to that question, I'd be a wealthy man. The truth is no one really knows for sure. Scientists do seem to agree, however, that damaged oral tissue is where the problem begins. Oral tissue may become damaged in a variety of ways such as physical injury, oral application of chemicals, and the body's reactions to various situations. No matter how you get a canker sore in the mouth or how severe it is or isn't, there's no question about how painful and annoying it can be.

As I mentioned above, one answer to the question, "What causes a canker sore in the mouth?", is physical injury to oral tissue. Those who chew on their lips or interior cheeks, may cause sufficient cell damage to allow bacteria to enter, reulting in a mouth ulcer. It isn't necessary to chew on it regularly or consistently either in order for an ulcer to form. A single careless bite on your lip, cheek, or tongue is all it takes to one or more canjer siores in the mouth. Dental appliances such as braces, bridges, and crowns can also damage oral tissue.

Another source of damage is the syringe your dentist uses to numb your cheeks and gums. Ever since I was a child, any visit to the dentist that has involved anesthetizing has resulted in the eruption of sores in the area surrounding the injection site. I'm just thankful that as I've grown older, visits to the dentist as well as the frequency of canker sores has decreased greatly.

Another answer to the question, "What causes a canker sore in the mouth?", is the oral application of certain chemicals. For most of you reading this, your toothpaste may very well be to blame. Most commercial toothpastes contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or one of its cousins. SLS is a detergent foaming agent. Toothpaste manufacturers use it to help mix water-based and oil-based ingredients, and this is probably true to some degree. But I think the real reason they use it is for the foaming action. Without it you wouldn't get that foamy, bubbling sensation that makes you feel like something good is happening when you brush your teeth. And because SLS is a detergent, it's very good at breaking down the resistance of cell membranes. When this happens to the cells in the mouth, it can lead to the formation of sores.

The body's reactions to various situations may also result in the formation of canker sores in the mouth. Some of these are stress, a malfunctioning immune system, or nutritional deficiencies. Food allergies are also recognized as a possible cause as are viral infections. Hormonal changes, especially those resulting from menstrual periods, have also been cited as a cause



In closing, I need to share one more tidbit of bad news... Canker sores appear to be inherited. If your parents and siblings get them, it's likely that you will get them, too.

The good news, though, is that you don't have to go on suffering from mouth ulcers. If you hate the thought of having another canker sore in the mouth, read this informative article on causes, treatment, and prevention and consider using TheraBreath products, designed to help you prevent bad breath as well as canker sores in the mouth. You may even want to take advantage of this FREE Trial Offer from TheraBreath.

Now I know what causes a canker sore in the mouth.
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