Page 48 - Prevention - USA (April 2020)
P. 48
H E A LT H
Problem Solved
Canker Sores
or be a symptom of a more
BY RICHARD L ALIBERTE serious condition such as celiac
disease, Crohn’s disease, or
oral cancer. Here’s how to
keep canker sores at bay and
ew minor health issues what to do if one does develop.
are as pesky as a canker
sore, that open wound (a
Fsmall white ulcer ringed PREVENT IT
by a red halo) that stings and MIND YOUR DIET
aches when you eat, drink, or Not getting enough B vitamins,
just swallow. “The cause of a zinc, and iron may make you
10 to canker sore can be different for more susceptible to canker
sores. Eat plenty of produce
each person,” says Sarah Glass,
14 D.D.S., an assistant professor and whole grains, and load up
on B -rich fish like salmon,
at Virginia Commonwealth
12
The number University School of Dentistry. rainbow trout, and tuna. Limit
of days it Forming on the tongue or spicy and acidic foods, which
typically takes inside the lip or cheek, they’re may trigger sores. “Keep track
a canker sore more common in women than of when sores occur and note
to heal.
in men. They can result from foods that coincide with them
an inadvertent bite or another to eliminate triggers specific
oral trauma, but stress, hor- to you,” says Leena Palomo,
monal fluctuations, allergies, D.D.S., an associate professor at
and nutrient deficiencies can Case Western Reserve Univer-
also bring them on. Though sity School of Dental Medicine.
canker sores seem similar to
cold sores, the two are com- FIND YOUR ZEN
pletely different; cold sores Stress is thought to boost the
are caused by a virus and activity of leukocytes, immune
are contagious, while canker cells linked to inflammation
sores can’t be spread. If an throughout the body, including
ulcer sticks around longer in the mouth, that can trigger
than two weeks, see a doctor: a canker sore. Decompress reg-
It may have become infected ularly with a favorite chill drill
46 PREVENTION.COM • AP R I L 2020
