Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are small, white and out-of-sight swelling that eventually develop into ulcers. They can appear on your tongue, on your soft palate, inside your cheeks or lips, and on the gums.

What makes canker sores different then cold sores is that they occur on the internal soft tissues of the mouth and are not contagious. The opposite is true of cold sores. They regularly start surfacing on the lips and rarely spread to the soft tissues of your mouth. Aside from that, cold sores are extremely contagious because they are caused by a form of the herpes virus.

Canker sores are common in many people and can occur at any age but most times, they first appear between the ages of 10 and 40.

In most cases, treatment is unnecessary for canker sores as they typically heal within a week to a month’s time. Pain also usually decreases after several days. Occasionally canker sores can develop that are larger than 1 centimeter in diameter or last longer than two weeks.

Signs and symptoms typical of canker sores may include:

• Painful sore or sores inside the mouth or other areas affected
  
  
• Tingling or burning sensation prior to appearance of the sores
  
  
• Round, white sores with a red edge

The cause of most canker sores is still unknown but many experts believe that stress or tissue injury may play a large role in the development of them. A minor injury caused by biting the inside of your mouth may also produce a canker sore. Other causes may include:

• Dysfunction within the Immune System
  
  
• Nutritional Deficiencies
  
  
• A Disease of the Gastrointestinal Tract
  
  
• Food Allergies
  
  
• Menstrual Periods
  
  
• Poor Dental Hygiene
  
  
• Hormone Imbalances
  
  
• Fatigue
  
  
• Viral Infection

Canker sores can be treated naturally and safely with the following:

Acidophilus (take as directed on label) - helps maintain healthy balance of "friendly" bacteria.

L-Lysine (500 mg 3 times daily on an empty stomach with water or juice but never milk) - helps combat canker sore outbreaks.

Vitamin B Complex (50 mg of each major B vitamin 3 times daily) - All B vitamins aid in immune function and healing.

Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (3,000 - 8,000 mg daily in divided doses) Combats infection and boosts the immune system.

Garlic (3 capsules 3 times daily) - This is nature’s antibiotic.

Multivitamin and Mineral Complex (take as directed on label) - Maintains proper balance of minerals.

Vitamin A with Mixed Carotenoids (50,000 IU daily for 10 days) - Speeds healing of the mucous membranes.

Alfalfa, Calendula, Capsicum, Comfrey and Peppermint - Great sources of treatment for canker sores.

Red Raspberry Tea - Contains important bioflavanoids and is very helpful.

Onions - Contain sulfur and have healing properties.

Avoid sugar, citrus fruits as well as processed & refined foods.

Avoid foods containing animal protein for at least 2 weeks. These types of foods increase acidity in the body which slows healing.