CANKER SORES

Canker Sores, or mouth ulcers, is a very common ailment. Most people just try to ignore them and, sure enough, eventually they go away. But some people are troubled constantly by these small, round sores that appear in the mouth. White in the center with a red, raised border, they can appear alone or in clusters. You can have them on your tongue, gums, or inside your cheeks and they can make chewing, drinking, and even talking uncomfortable.

No one is certain precisely what causes them, but we think that their appearance is due to a malfunctioning of the immune system as well as any trauma to the inside of the mouth. Certain factors can make you more disposed to developing canker sores: children with braces, for example, frequently develop them, as do people who chew the insides of their cheeks.

Two causes of canker sores that can be identified and remedied are nutrient deficiencies and allergies. I’ve had particular success helping people with recurring canker sores when their previously unrecognized allergies are treated. (More about this later.)

Canker sores can be painful and I suggest a few immediate remedies. First, there is an over-the-counter medication that contains carbamide peroxide. This combination of glycerin and peroxide helps soothe and heal the sore by killing the bacteria.

Many of my patients have found zinc applied topically to be extremely helpful. I suggest they take a zinc lozenge and let it dissolve directly on the sore. You can get zinc lozenges at a health food store in 50-mg. strength. Let one dissolve on the sore three times a day. It’s okay to swallow the zinc. In addition, you can dissolve one or two zinc lozenges in hydrogen peroxide and water (half water, half hydrogen peroxide) and gargle four times a day with this solution. (Don’t swallow this preparation.)

Lactobacillus acidophilus-the live bacteria found in yogurt-can also help. Whenever you feel a canker sore coming on, dissolve about ten capsules (they’re available in health food stores) in water, and rinse your mouth out with this solution three times during the day. It’s okay to swallow the solution.

If you have a problem with recurring canker sores, the first probable cause you should investigate is food allergies. I’ve had any number of patients claim that they had no problem with allergies only to remember upon questioning that they did have certain allergies as children or that they were colicky babies. Allergies can disappear and then come back in slightly different forms in later years. If you have a history of allergies in your family, if you had allergies as a child, if you have hay fever, skin allergies, rashes, or hives, you could be suffering from a hidden food allergy that’s causing canker sores. You can investigate food allergies on your own. Also, remember that people with canker sores seem to be most vulnerable to a gluten allergy. Once you determine if you’re having a reaction to a food and what the food is, you’ll find that when the food is eliminated, the symptoms disappear.

Nutritional deficiencies also play a role in predisposing a person to canker sores. One study of 330 people with canker sores found that over half of them were deficient in iron, folate, or vitamin BI2, or some combination of these nutrients. When their diets were supplemented, almost all of them found that their canker sores disappeared. We’ve also found that a Zinc deficiency can cause canker sores. If you have recurring canker sores, you should be sure that you’re taking adequate amounts of iron, folate, vitamin B, and zinc.

A natural compound used in mouth ulcer therapy is a derivative of licorice known as deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, which stimulates the production of mucus to coat and protect the digestive tract. One study involving DGL found that 75 percent of the people studied had a 50 to 75 percent relief from pain within twenty-four hours after gargling with DGL. One man who had suffered from canker sores for ten years was completely symptom-free after two weeks. You can buy DGL in health food stores.

Many people find that continuing stressful situations will stimulate an outbreak. If you suffer from recurring canker sores, you should make a special effort to control the stress in your life.

NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR CANKER SORES:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF:

• Try an over-the-counter remedy containing carbamide peroxide. Apply to the sore according to the package directions.
• Use zinc topically by allowing a 50-mg. Zinc lozenge to dissolve on the sore three times a day.
• Mix one half cup of hydrogen peroxide with a half cup of water, dissolve one or two zinc capsules in it, and gargle four times a day.
  Do not swallow.
• Dissolve ten capsules of acidophilus and gargle with this three times a day. It’s okay to swallow this.

IN ADDITION TO YOUR DAILY SUPPLEMENTS, TAKE:

• Zinc: 50 mg. daily. (If you are dissolving zinc tablets directly on canker sores, don’t take this extra supplement.)
• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids: 1,000 mg. on a regular basis. At the first sensation of a canker sore, take 1,000 mg. three times a day for the first three days.
• B12: 1,000 mcg. Under the tongue (it’s best if absorbed this way) once a day.
• Iron: 60 mg. daily (but only if you’ve had a blood test that indicates that you are iron deficient).
• Folic acid: 800 mcg. daily.
• Vitamin E: 400 I.U. daily.
• DGL: gargle four times daily with 200 mg. of DGL mixed in a glass of water.

FOR PREVENTION:

• Investigate for hidden food allergies if you have recurrent canker sores. Remember that people with chronic canker sores are often reacting to gluten.