Everyone has suffered from canker sores, which are trickier than serious illnesses! The sore makes you struggle with intense pain when you talk, chew or swallow food. What are the causes of canker sores? Keep reading to know more!

Causes of canker sores

Canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers, are a kind of common recurring mouth sores developing on soft tissues of the oral cavity. When lesions appear on the mucosa of the oral cavity, the body will develop inflammatory responses. If the lesion is infected with bacteria, a canker sore will form. It is mainly caused by:

Mouth injury: Accidental cheek bites or rough and hard food can inflict small injuries inside the oral cavity, triggering canker sores;

Autoimmune diseases: Some people’s immune system will attack their normal tissues due to some conditions, leading to ulcers such as canker sores;

Endocrine changes: Some women may develop canker sores during menstruation or pregnancy due to hormonal changes;

Stress: Many people develop canker sores when they suffer from stress, anxiety and inadequate sleep;

Drugs: Asthma patients should rinse their mouths after taking inhaled steroids, otherwise the drug may increase the risk of canker sores;

Gastrointestinal diseases: e.g., inflammatory bowel disease;

Lack of vitamins or minerals: For example, insufficient vitamins B-12 and C, zinc, iron or folic acid increase the risk of mucosa damage in the oral cavity, leading to canker sores;

Heredity: People with recurrent canker sores often have a family history of the disorder;

Other factors: Unsuitable dentures, uneven teeth, teeth grinding, overzealous brushing, etc.

A typical canker sore is circular or oval in shape with a smooth or concave surface. It is usually around the size of 1 to 2 mm, but may grow to 5 mm in severe cases. Canker sores often develop on soft tissues of the oral cavity including lips, tongue, the inside of the cheek, gum or throat.

To speed up recovery from canker sores, you can adjust your diet, keep your oral cavity clean, maintain adequate sleep, etc. They will usually heal in 8 to 10 days.

Sometimes the sores appear white, which means that they are infected with bacteria and become small ulcers. They will have red edges when swollen with blood. They are usually shallow lesions and are less likely to trigger oral cancer. Nevertheless, if your condition recurs at the same site and does not heal for over a month, you should seek professional medical help to identify the cause and receive further examinations.