|
Canker Sores |
| These small but painful ulcers
occur in the mouth. They can develop on the gums, the tongue, inside
the cheek or on the lips. Canker sores have a white center and a red
border, they are contagious and occur most often in females. They
vary in size from as small as a pinhead to the size of a quarter,
and tend to appear quickly lasting for 4 - 21 days.
|
|
Canker sores can be triggered
by a number of things including food allergies, stress, fatigue or
poor dental hygiene. It is also suspected that people who are
deficient of iron, folic acid or vitamin B12 are more prone to
canker sores. |
|
| What Can
Help |
| A Chamomile mouth
wash can soothe these painful ulcers. Place powdered chamomile into
warm water and mix. Rinsing mouth 3 or 4 times daily is suggested.
(see Chamomile in Herb Section for information on safety and
allergic reactions) |
|
| How to Help Avoid Canker
Sores |
 |
Try to reduce stress -
stress is often a major factor to recurrent canker
sores |
|
Avoid eating those
thing that can trigger attacks - chewing gum, sucking
lozenges, chocolate, coffee and smoking are common
culprits |
|
Eat plenty of salads
& onions |
|
Avoid sugar and
processed or refined
foods | |
|
| Supplements Worth Considering |
|
Vitamin B complex,
50mg daily - Improves immune system and aids
healing |
|
Acidophilus - helps
maintain healthy balance of friendly bacteria |
|
Garlic - natural
antibiotic, stimulates immune system |
|
Zinc lozenges, do not
exceed 50mgs daily - improves immune
function | |
|
