Diseases/Conditions
Email Bookmark Feedback
In this factsheet:

Canker Sores

Mouth Ulcers ยท Aphthous Ulcers

The Facts

Canker sores are small sores that appear on the inside of the mouth, especially the cheeks and lips. They're also called aphthous ulcers. Rarely, they may develop on the gums or on the roof of the mouth. Small canker sores disappear within 10 days and don't scar. Large ones are less common, take weeks to heal, and can leave scars. Canker sores aren't contagious.

At any given time, 20% of Canadians will have a canker sore. They're most common in women and in people aged 10 to 40 years. Many people get them regularly, at least once a year. In the most severe cases, people get one after another.

Causes

Doctors don't know exactly what causes canker sores. They may be hereditary, but doctors have not figured out exactly how people inherit the tendency to get them. Researchers think they may be an overreaction to the Streptococcus bacteria, because the bacteria are often found in the canker sore. People with canker sores often have small injuries from dental injections and toothbrushes in the lining of the mouth. Allergies, such as hay fever, are also associated with an increased risk for canker sores.

Canker sores often occur near the time of a menstrual period. They may also be brought on by stress - for example, many students get them during exams. Other possible causes include lack of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), folic acid, or iron. Certain foods may be triggers for canker sores or act as nutrients for the Streptococcus bacteria.

Next Page
Author: MediResource Clinical Team
Reviewer: MediResource Clinical Team
Sources
Print
Rate this article:

We recommend the following articles

Education is power

The more you know about cancer, the better you'll be able to understand what's happening to... >> More
Newsletter
 

Local Health News
Study Shows Families' Financial Strain From Autism
More than half a million U.S. children have autism with costly health care needs that often put an unprecedented financial stra...
>>More
Swiss Approve Pioneering Legal Heroin Program
A pioneering Swiss program to give addicts government-authorized heroin was overwhelmingly approved Sunday by voters who simult...
>>More
Global AIDS Crisis Overblown? Some Dare To Say So
As World AIDS Day is marked on Monday, some experts are growing more outspoken in complaining that AIDS is eating up funding at...
>>More
Toddlers Getting Tested for Sports Gene
Parents obsessed with having their children play sports may now have a test that can help them decide which sport to steer thei...
>>More
FDA Sets Melamine Standard for Baby Formula
Two months ago, federal food regulators said they were unable to set a safety threshold for the industrial chemical melamine in...
>>More

  Advertisement

The contents of this health site are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition.

Site Map | Additional Information | Editorial Policy | Contact Us | About Us


Health On the Net Foundation
Health On the
Net Foundation

© 1996 - 2008 MediResource Inc.