For people who suffer from chronic mouth ulcers, figuring out what triggers outbreaks can be difficult.  What can cause mouth ulcers? Often times, there appears to be no rhyme or reason to mouth ulcer outbreaks.  Many people can go for months at a time without a single sore, only to be suddenly stricken by numerous cankers or other sores for no apparent reason.  While some mouth ulcer causes are obvious, such as trauma, more often than not, they seem to appear of their own volition and for no reason at all.  The fact of the matter is that there are a plethora of chemicals, foods and illnesses that can cause mouth ulcers.  The trick is to understand what has the potential to trigger a mouth ulcer, and then to narrow down potential culprits until you have defined your personal trigger(s).

Among the most common known causes of mouth sores is toothpaste.  While seemingly innocuous, your average toothpaste actually has the potential to damage your mucus membrane and contribute to mouth ulcers.  While most people do not associate a product that is intended to be used in the mouth with mouth sores, the fact is that numerous studies have demonstrated the correlation between mouth ulcers and a common toothpaste ingredient, sodium lauryl sulfate.  If you suffer from chronic or recurring mouth ulcer outbreaks, switching to sodium lauryl sulfate free toothpaste can markedly reduce the frequency and/or severity of your mouth ulcer occurrences.

Another common product that can cause mouth sores is artificial sweetener.  Many people consume large amounts of sugarless gum and diet cola.  Pretty much all of these products contain aspartame or other forms of synthetic sugar.  These chemicals have a reputation for causing and/or contributing to the development of mouth ulcers.  While many people find it difficult to stop consuming these products, if you have determined that they are the trigger of your mouth sores, simply cutting them from your diet can be all it takes to promote the healing of current ulcers and to prevent new ones from forming.

Finally, if you have an intolerance to gluten (and many people do), there are several studies to indicate that gluten exposure can actually cause or contribute to mouth ulcers.  While this is not universally agreed upon, it is something to take into consideration; particularly if you have tried to pin down the cause of your mouth ulcers to no avail.  Fortunately, if you do determine that gluten consumption is contributing to your mouth ulcers, there are more gluten-free products available now than ever before.  This can help you to reduce or eliminate your gluten intake.

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