8 common causes of recurrent mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers are very common and the oral condition affects around 20% of the normal population. Also known as aphthous ulcers, most of us might have developed mouth ulcers at least once in our lifetime. Although ulcers of the mouth are more common in women, adults and children are also affected with these sores. Knowing the cause of these painful mouth sores may help you in preventing these ulcers from recurring. Here are the top 8 common causes of mouth ulcers that you should be aware of –

Certain foods

Foods such as citrus fruits and vegetables like lemons, tomatoes, oranges, strawberries and figs act as the dietary triggers of mouth ulcers. Other dietary sources that may put you at high risk of mouth ulcers include chocolates, almonds, peanuts, wheat flour and almonds.

Oral hygiene

Factors that cause oral trauma such as chewing hard foods, excessive brushing and ill-fitting dental implants such as braces cause mouth ulcers in most of the people. In some people, use of toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulphate as additive triggers mouth ulcers and also may aggravate the condition. Read about ways to maintain oral hygiene

Stress and anxiety

When you are stressed or depressed, your body releases a host of chemicals that affects the entire body, triggering ulcers in the mouth as well. Hence, people who are always stressed out or suffer from anxiety issues are at a high risk of suffering from mouth ulcers recurrently.

Nutritional deficiencies

The lack of nutrients like vitamin B12, iron and folic acid can cause mouth ulcers in addition to putting you at higher risk of a wide range of disease conditions. To lower your risk of recurrent mouth ulcers consume a diet that is rich in essential vitamins and minerals.

Quitting smoking

People who quit smoking for the first time may develop mouth ulcers quite frequently as compared to normal individuals. This is temporary and normal; as the body is trying to adjust with the chemical change occurred in the body. Read about Yogendra Pranayam 1 — yoga pose to beat the ill-effects of smoking

Hormonal conditions

Mouth ulcers are also caused due to changes in the hormone levels in the body. This is usually seen in some women during their monthly menstrual cycle.

Medical conditions

The clinical conditions that put you at risk of acquiring mouth ulcers include Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, viral infections and reactive arthritis. Also people suffering from impaired immune system (immunodeficiency) and gastrointestinal disorders do develop mouth ulcers in certain cases.

Medications

Occasionally, medications used to treat diseases can cause mouth ulcers in the patients. Some medications that may put you at increased risk of sores in the mouth are painkillers, beta-blockers and drugs used to treat chest pain like nicorandil.



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