How to Prevent Canker Sores
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Recurrent canker sores may be the result of nutritional deficiencies. A patient who has regular problems with canker sores should have blood tests to determine possible vitamin deficiencies, and to determine potential problems with food allergies. It may be helpful to keep a “food diary” to determine potential allergies or food irritants.
Other preventive tactics include:
- Avoiding toothpastes and mouthwashes containing SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)
- Including yogurt and other cultured, soured dairy products in your diet.
- Avoiding tobacco, chewing gum, and lozenges.
- Avoiding citrus fruits.
- Eating salads and raw onions.
- Avoiding iron supplements unless prescribed by a doctor.
Diet and canker sores. What food allergies or reactions may cause canker sores?
A study conducted in Turkey suggested that wheat, oranges, tomatoes, chocolate, nuts, eggplant, tea and cola may trigger aphthous ulcers. [Oral Surg. 1984:57, pp.504-507] When food triggers are identified and eliminated from the diet, as many as 50% of those suffering from recurrent canker sores notice dramatic improvement.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that diets high in sugar, citrus, and cereal grains may trigger canker sores. By avoiding these foods, the patient can see for himself whether they may be triggers in his case.
Adequate zinc and folic acid intake are essential for rapid healing. In addition, nutrients such as DGL licorice, goldenseal, and pau d’arco tea have a tradition of helping heal aphthous ulcers.
Canker Sore Causes
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Exactly how canker sores form is unclear. However, it appears that they are caused by a person’s own immune response. Canker sores form when a person’s immune system responds to unidentified chemicals. Lymphocytes (a variety of white blood cell) rush to attack the unidentified “invader”.
The canker sore is the result of our own antibodies ravaging the tender tissues of the gums and cheeks. Several “triggers” may precipitate such attacks:
Toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain SLS.
Research suggests that products containing sodium lauryl sulfate (”SLS”), a foaming agent in toothpastes and mouthwashes, may increase the recurrence rate of canker sores. SLS dries oral tissues, making them vulnerable to irritants.
Several studies show that participants who brush with an SLS-free toothpaste reduce the frequency of canker sore recurrence, in one study by as much as 81%. In this same study some of the participants reported that using SLS-free toothpaste also reduced canker sore severity.
Injury
Injury, often from a self-inflicted bite or irritation caused by braces, often precipitates canker sores. 38% of the participants of one study felt that their canker sores were precipitated by trauma.
Stress
Many people who suffer from canker sores often report that the ulcers coincide with periods of stress.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Some people (although not all) who suffer from canker sores may have a nutritional deficiency. Some of the nutritional deficiencies correlated with the presence of canker sores are:
Vitamins: B1, B2, B6, B12, C
Other nutrients: zinc, folic acid, iron, selenium, calcium
Allergies
Since canker sores are caused by our bodies’ immune response, it makes sense that they can be triggered by food allergies. Any substance that contacts the oral tissues may lead to an overzealous immune response.
Some potential food triggers for canker sore outbreaks are:
Cereal grains: buckwheat, wheat, oats, rye, barley, the gluten protein found in grains
Sugar: Chewing gum and lozenges are especially bad.
Fruits and vegetables: lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, figs, tomatoes, strawberries
Other foods: nuts, chocolate, shellfish, soy, vinegar, French mustard
Drugs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), beta blockers, and chemotherapy may increase the frequency of canker sores
Genetics
One study found that 35% of those persons who get canker sores have at least one parent who suffers from them. Another study found that 91% of identical twins both suffered from canker sores while only 57% of fraternal twins did.
Medical Conditions
Behcet’s disease, neutrophil dysfunction diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases (celiac and Cohn’s), HIV-AIDS, and some other conditions may be correlated with canker sores.
Reference: Quantum Health Products, 2007
What are Canker Sores?
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Canker sores are shallow, painful sores on the inside of the lips, the inside of the cheeks, or on the gums. They begin as small, reddish swellings. Then they burst, and the ruptured sores are covered with a white or yellow membrane. The edges of the sores are still red, and look like a painful red halo. Without treatment, canker sores (medically: aphthous ulcers) heal in 2 to 3 weeks.
Canker sores can be as large as a nickel, or as small as the head of a pin. They appear suddenly, and often disappear just as suddenly. There are several types of aphthous ulcers: technically, canker sores are “recurrent aphthous ulcers” or “recurrent aphthous stomitis”. “Aphthous” is derived from the Greek word “aptha” - which means “ulcer”. “Canker” has a Latin root - from the word “cancer”. Canker sores, however, are not cancerous.
Recurrent canker sores afflict 20% of us. That means 56 million Americans suffer from these small but painful ulcers. Anyone can get canker sores, but teenagers and young adults get them most often, and women are afflicted more frequently than men. The sores may run in families, and experts are uncertain whether they are contagious.
Most people who suffer from canker sores first develop the sores between the ages of 10 and 20. Children as young as 2, however, may get aphthous ulcers. The frequency of canker sore recurrences varies considerably. Although many people have only one or two episodes a year, others may have a continuous series of canker sores.
Cold Sore Symptoms Occur in Stages
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The first cold sore symptoms a person typically notices are tingling or itching sensations in the area from which the blister will eventually emerge–this is referred to as the “prodrome,” or tingling stage. Left untreated, the blister will usually form on the second or third day. There may only be one fluid-filled blister, or there could be a cluster of smaller blisters that are raw and painful. Eventually, the blister will crack open and the fluid will drain. This weeping stage typically occurs on the fourth day of the outbreak, and is followed by the crusting stage during days five through eight, when an unsightly yellow or brown crust can covers the area. During the ninth through twelfth days of the outbreak, a series of scabs grow over the area and are shed as it progresses through the healing. This happens continuously until the blister totally heals.
What are the stages of a cold sore?
Cold sores, untreated, can last up 14 days. Beginning treatment at the first sign of tingling can reduce the time to as little as 2-4 days. Beginning treatment after the blister appears can also significantly reduce the time and degree of pain.
Day 1: Prodrome (tingle) stage - Before a blister appears, one usually feels a tingling, itching or burning sensation beneath the skin, usually around the mouth or the base of the nose. This is the best time to start treatment. (1)
Days 2 to 3: The blister(s) appear.
Day 4: Ulcer or weeping stage. This is when the blister opens up revealing a reddish area. One is most contagious and in the most pain. (2)
Days 5 to 8: Crusting stage. The blisters dry up and a crust forms which is yellow or brown in color. Do not pick at this crust. (3)
Days 9 to 14: Healing stage. A series scabs will form over the sore, each smaller than the previous one until the cold sore is completely healed.
Cold Sore Symptoms
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A cold sore is a blister. Its symptoms are extremely trying, especially when the cold sore is located in a sensitive area, such as the corner of your mouth or right under your nose. Often, a cold sore accompanies a cold or the flu, which means that when the blister is located around the nose area, it is constantly being aggravated every time the person blows their nose. The pain of a cold sore symptom alone is challenging, but when you take into consideration external factors, it can be even worse. If the sore is inside your mouth, then it may be a canker sore.
Letting Go
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Today one of my clients made the following comment (with contentment), ?The more I let go the idea of needing to find my ideal mate - the more anxious men are to date me. Whereas before, when I felt a desperate need to date ? I was totally dissatisfied with the type of men I was dating.?
A light bulb had switched on for her and she allowed herself to experience the rewards of ?Giving up the need for control in her life in order to gain more satisfaction and (ironically) more control.?
Is Homeopathy Safe and Effective?
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The active ingredients are given in highly diluted forms to avoid toxicity. By virtue of their infinite dilution, homeopathic medications are completely safe and non-addictive, with no unwanted side-effects, even for babies, children, nursing mothers and during pregnancy. The success of homeopathic medicine clinically has been demonstrated by its international adoption and effectiveness in treatment of millions of people world-wide. Homeopathic medicine with its use of natural substances in minute doses, absence of harmful side effects, and holistic person oriented approach is attracting an ever-widening public.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), homeopathic medicine is the second most widely used system of medicine in the world and the fastest growing. Today, many well-known personalities subscribe to the safety and effectiveness of homeopathic medications, the most prominent being the British Royal Family.
Dr. Alex Mostovoy
Is Homeopathy a New Medicine?
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Homeopathy is not a new type of medicine. It actually precedes allopathic medicine. Known to the Greek people in the fifth century, homeopathy was introduced in the nineteenth century by the German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, as a safe alternative form of medicine. By the turn of the twentieth century, homeopathy had gained widespread support and was practiced by doctors in more than fifty countries throughout the world. In the early 20th century, North America had no less than 22 homeopathic colleges and 100 homeopathic hospitals. The Royal Families of Europe and India have always preferred homeopathic treatment to other forms of treatment. The British Royal Family’s interests in Homeopathy continue to this day. Homeopathic medicine is now rapidly being embraced throughout the world as an increasing number of people are rediscovering its benefits.
Dr. Alex Mostovoy
How Does Homeopathy Work?
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Homeopathy is essentially a natural healing process in which the medications assist the patient to regain health by stimulating the body’s natural healing forces. Homeopathy, therefore, is concerned with the whole person rather than treating the patient simply as a “bearer” of disease.
Homeopathic medicine is successful in treating a wide range of conditions, often after conventional medicine has failed. Prescribing is based on all aspects of a patient’s condition. Homeopathic doctors work in the same way as their conventional colleagues. History taking, examination and investigation are all important in establishing the diagnosis (understanding just what is wrong). However, homeopathic doctors consider a wider range of aspects of the patient’s condition, such as personality traits, physical features, the effects of a variety of environmental influences, patterns of disease within families, and family and social relationships.
Homeopathic medicine integrates well with conventional medicine.
Dr. Alex Mostovoy
Achieving Your Goals
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I am constantly asked to help my clients to achieve their goals, be it personal, career, health, spiritual, etc. Some don?t know how and where to begin; while others prefer to do the work together to expedite the process. One of the first things I do to help them achieve them is start them on ?Mantras?. Mantras are simple phrases that help to keep their minds focused. They can also help to remind them they are on the right path, even if they are having a challenging day.
One of my favorite mantras is: ?Stay focused, determined, and persistent?. Time and time again, I have seen success come to those who stay focused on their goals and act with determination no matter what obstacles they are faced with.
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