If you want to talk about painful sores, canker sores are some of the most painful and irritating there are. To make matters worse, the cause of these sores isn’t known so finding a cure or treatment for them is rather difficult. There are all kinds of theories and ideas surrounding where canker sores come from. Many make perfectly logical sense, but until the findings come out beyond a shadow of doubt we are left to shoot blindly at the problem. Some of the common theories about the cause of canker sores include:

• Bacterial infections
• Trauma
• Heredity

To be perfectly clear, canker sores are not directly caused by bacterial infections. There has been some evidence that suggests the sores are related to the bacteria that causes peptic ulcers. So far no conclusive evidence has been found. As a further piece of information about these sores, canker sores have also been found to potentially be effected by the same bacteria that is present when bowel diseases flair up. This theory certainly bears paying attention to. If the cause were found, the treatment course would be easier to plot.

Any type of mouth trauma has been connected to the appearance of canker sores. Have you ever bitten the inside of your cheek accidentally and later discover the appearance of a canker sore? For a once again unknown reason, any damage done to the delicate, thin tissue of the inside mouth seems to encourage the production of these sores. Canker sores are also sometimes connected to food allergies. Foods that are rich in acid like the citrus fruits and pineapple could be culprits in canker sores. Some people who have a problem with ingesting gluten may have a problem as well.

Look at that. Just one more way mom and dad found to stick it to you. Some research suggests the canker sores run in families. If your parents or siblings are prone to these sores, canker sores may be a part of your genetic makeup. That doesn’t mean you should suffer in silence. Continuing to find information about canker sore symptoms and treatment for the pain and avoid getting them in the first place is still a good plan.