Canker sores are sores in the mouth that can heal by themselves within 7 to 14 days. Although it can heal on its own, canker sores can also cause pain and discomfort, especially if they recur frequently. Everyone must have experienced what is called canker sores in the mouth, gums, and also the tongue. In the medical world, this canker sore is known as Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis or SAR. This one wound can appear small or even large in size and feel very painful. About half of people with canker sores can experience canker sores again within 3 months.
Thrush itself is more common in women. This is presumably because women experience more frequent hormonal changes than men. Until now, the cause of canker sores is not known with certainty. However, many factors trigger canker sores. The trigger factors for canker sores can come from within the body or from outside the body. In this article, we will discuss more about the reasons why canker sores often arise?
Various Causes Why Often Sprue
Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, canker sores are usually oval or caterpillar in shape. In the middle it will generally be white or yellowish. While on the edges are reddish. Although not contagious, the pain can make it difficult for sufferers to eat and talk. The appearance of this canker sores can only be in one part or several fruits at once. Unlike herpes, thrush is not a type of contagious disease and tends to be easy to treat.
Generally, a person will experience canker sores due to accidentally biting the tongue or cheek. However, it turns out that there are many things that without us knowing it can also cause canker sores. The following are some of the frequent causes of canker sores that need to be understood, including:
1. Brushing Teeth Too Hard
Maybe many of us feel that the more we exert energy to brush our teeth, the more clean and white the result will be guaranteed. Even though in reality, brushing your teeth too hard can actually cause the gums and also the soft tissue in the mouth to hurt until they can also bleed. As a result, this is what later becomes one of the reasons why frequent canker sores. It is important for us to understand that the oral cavity is composed of thin soft tissues. That is why, friction and also hard impacts that are exposed to the mouth are very likely to cause sores or canker sores.
Keep in mind, we are strongly encouraged to brush our teeth diligently. However, make sure that we use the right tooth brushing technique. No need to rush and be too hard when brushing your teeth. Brush your teeth slowly and gently. Besides teeth and gums are always healthy, we will also avoid the risk of getting canker sores.
2. After Installing Braces or Braces
Every medical procedure will definitely have its own side effects. One of the side effects of installing braces that usually occurs is canker sores. Generally, canker sores will appear in the first week of use or after the braces are tightened. Friction between the wire or bracket and the inside of the gums, cheek, tongue or lips can cause injury. That wound is one of the causes of canker sores. Pain due to canker sores due to using stirrup can be reduced by gargling cold water. In addition, compressing ice cubes in the problematic part of the mouth can also reduce pain and inflammation in the mouth.
3. Dry Mouth
We may never think that apart from causing bad breath, dry mouth can also be one of the causes of canker sores. When our mouth is dry, it is easier for bacteria and germs to grow and develop in the mouth. It is the uncontrolled growth of bacteria and germs that can make us more susceptible to inflammation or infection in the mouth. To prevent dry mouth, make sure to drink lots of water every day. There is no specific measure of how much water we should drink. Basically, drink water whenever we feel thirsty.
4. Lack of Vitamins
Do you often experience canker sores for no reason? This could be the cause because you lack vitamin B. This is because low intake of vitamin B-3 (niacin), vitamin B-9 (folic acid), and also vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) can be one of the reasons you often ulcer. Several studies have also shown that low zinc, calcium, and iron intake can trigger or even exacerbate canker sores. In principle, when you don’t get enough nutrition, the function of the immune response will decrease. That’s what can make you more susceptible to canker sores. Therefore, it is important to always meet nutritional needs and daily nutrition properly. Also make sure to always eat foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals every day.
5. Food Allergies
Try to remember, the food you eat in a week. Perhaps, you eat foods that accidentally trigger allergies. Not only can it make your whole body itchy, food allergies can also be one of the frequent causes of canker sores. In addition, food allergies can also occur when the body’s immune system responds to foods that are actually harmless. There are many types of food. However, milk, chocolate, eggs, and also seafood are types of food that often trigger allergies. Avoiding allergy-triggering foods is the best way to prevent thrush.
6. Irritation in the Mouth
Do you have sour and spicy food? If so, then you have to be careful. Because these two types of food can be one of the reasons why frequent canker sores. In fact, all sour and spicy foods can also exacerbate the symptoms of canker sores that you experience. Why is that? Because in fact, foods that are too sour and spicy can irritate the soft tissues in the mouth. That’s what can trigger sores or trauma in the mouth.
Apparently, not only food is the cause. Mouth irritation can also be caused because you often chew tobacco. Using toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulfate can also cause canker sores. Therefore, try to be more careful in choosing the toothpaste that you use every day. For some people, the content of sodium lauryl sulfate in toothpaste can cause irritation which eventually causes canker sores.
7. Hormonal changes
Did you know that women are more susceptible to canker sores than men? Without us realizing it, the hormonal changes experienced by women during monthly menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can also be one of the reasons you often experience canker sores. Changes or imbalances in the hormone progesterone during these times can affect blood circulation in the mouth area. This will cause the soft tissue in the mouth to become more sensitive. In fact, not only can it be a cause of canker sores, hormonal changes during menstrual periods can also make women more susceptible to various oral problems. Like the gums are inflamed, bleeding, and also swollen.
8. Immune System Disorders
Children, the elderly, and also people who are known to have HIV/AIDS are more susceptible to developing thrush than healthy people. So do cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment. This happens because they have a weak immune system or are weakened by the disease they are suffering from. A weak immune system usually makes it easier for you to experience various kinds of health problems. One of them is the cause of canker sores.
9. Other Diseases
Thrush that doesn’t go away can be caused because you have certain diseases. For example, anemia or other blood disorders. Skin problems and also the digestive system can also be a cause of canker sores. Other diseases such as Bechet, lupus, Celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease can also be one of the reasons you often experience canker sores. In serious cases, oral cancer can also be one of the reasons you often experience canker sores. The most characteristic sign of oral cancer is canker sores that suddenly appear for no apparent reason. So, if you experience canker sores that don’t heal for several weeks, then immediately consult and see a doctor.
Natural thrush medicine to be free from pain and pain
Canker sores often make it difficult for sufferers to eat and drink. When the condition is urgent and you haven’t found a cure for canker sores, you can use natural canker sores. There are several natural canker sores that can be used to treat pain and speed up the healing of canker sores. Treatment of thrush itself depends on the cause. If the canker sores that you experience are caused by an infection, the doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics, antifungals, or drugs to relieve canker sores. You can apply an ointment that contains benzocaine. However, if you haven’t had time to see a doctor, you can use natural remedies to relieve canker sores, including:
1. Salt Solution
Gargling using a salt solution is considered effective for relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and can also speed up the healing process of gum tissue, lips, or mouth affected by canker sores. You can mix 1 teaspoon of salt in half a cup of warm water, then gargle with the solution for 15 to 30 seconds. Apart from using salt, you can also use baking soda as a thrush remedy.
2. Chamomile tea
This chamomile tea contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic compounds, namely azulene and levomenol, which are believed to relieve and speed up the healing process of canker sores. To treat canker sores, you can soak a chamomile tea bag in warm water. Then, compress the canker sores using the tea bag for about 5 minutes 3 to 4 times a day.
3. Honey
Apart from chamomile tea, honey also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. So it is good to use as a natural thrush remedy. You can apply honey to canker sores 3 to 4 times a day until the canker sores heal. The type of honey that is good for treating canker sores is a type of pure honey that has not gone through the pasteurization process.
4. Vegetables and Fruits
So that canker sores can heal quickly, you are also advised to meet nutritional needs, such as B vitamins, zinc, vitamin C, iron, and folate. We can get these nutrients from vegetables and fruits. Not only vegetables and fruits, various nutrients to deal with canker sores can also be obtained from additional supplements. Do not forget to meet the needs of water in the body. This is because canker sores can cause dry mouth and increase the risk of dehydration. Therefore, drink lots of water so that the canker sores you experience get better quickly.
Drug Options To Treat Thrush
In some conditions, canker sores can be quite large and occur continuously and can cause annoying pain. So that it can make it difficult for you to eat, drink, and also talk. To speed up the healing process of canker sores, you can use several types of drugs below according to a doctor’s prescription.
1. Pain Reliever Drugs
As a pain reliever due to canker sores, you can use paracetamol which is easy to get at stalls or pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription. Paracetamol tends to be safe for consumption, both for children, adults, and the elderly. For a stronger effect, ibuprofen can also be used to relieve pain while reducing inflammation due to canker sores. In taking ibuprofen, it would be better for you to first look at the recommendations for use or follow the doctor’s prescription first. Especially if ibuprofen is used to treat canker sores in children.
2. Antiviral drugs
If the canker sores that you experience are caused by a virus, then the doctor may prescribe effective drugs to fight the virus. One of the viruses that can cause canker sores is the herpes simplex virus-1.
3. Corticosteroid drugs
This drug is usually used to treat canker sores which are generally available in topical form, lozenges, and also drink. These corticosteroids work by reducing pain and reducing swelling. Before taking this medicine, you need to understand first what causes canker sores that you experience. Consult with your doctor first to understand the causes and also the right type of treatment to treat canker sores that you experience.
4. Antifungal Drugs
Canker sores in the mouth and gums can be caused by Candida Albicans fungal infections. To speed up the healing process of canker sores, you can take antifungal drugs according to a doctor’s prescription.
5. Antibiotic Drugs
This method is used to treat canker sores caused by a bacterial infection. Consumption of antibiotics should not be done haphazardly and it would be better if it was adjusted first with a doctor’s prescription.
6. Mouthwash
Apart from natural mouthwashes as explained above, you can also use certain mouthwashes. However, not all types of mouthwash can be used as a thrush remedy. Most mouthwash products on the market can only be used to treat mild and superficial canker sores. For example, due to scratched food or bitten when chewing. Certain types of canker sores caused by bacterial infections are also included. Therefore, you can choose a mouthwash containing antiseptic, antihistamines, antifungals, and corticosteroids to treat canker sores.
This is an explanation of the causes of frequent canker sores and how to overcome them. If you experience canker sores that don’t go away even though you’ve been treated repeatedly, then immediately see a doctor to make sure it’s related to how to treat it.