Canker sores are painful ulcers found on the inside of the mouth. These non-contagious sores develop on the inside of the cheeks or lips, under the tongue and at the base of the gums. There are many causes of canker sores. These causes include stress, hormones, anemia and allergies. Sodium lauryl sulfate, a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash, has also been linked to canker sores. Helicobacter Pylori, the same bacteria that are believed to cause peptic ulcers, are also thought to be a cause. Read this informative article and find out if you can you get canker sores from Helicobacter Pylori.
What Is Helicobacter Pylori?
Helicobacter Pylori (or H. Pylori for short) is a type of bacteria. This contagious microbe causes gastritis and peptic ulcers. One in every six people who are infected with Helicobacter Pylori develop stomach ulcers. To take it a step further, H. Pylori is also linked to stomach cancer and gastric MALT lymphoma. This rare condition is a cancerous lymphoma of the stomach.
Where Does Helicobacter Pylori Come From?
H. Pylori bacteria are more prevalent in third world countries. However, its presence isn’t limited to underdeveloped areas. More than 50 percent of the population around the globe is thought to have these bacteria, including 30 percent of American adults. Just because you don’t have any stomach ailments doesn’t mean Helicobacter Pylori isn’t present. It can lie dormant in your body for years.
These bacteria are found in contaminated food and water. Cleanliness and proper hygiene are the best weapons against contracting H. Pylori.
Can You Get Canker Sores From Helicobacter Pylori?
Canker sores that appear over and over again have been linked to inflammatory bowel diseases such as Ulcerative Colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. It’s believed that canker sores are precursors to flare-ups of these diseases.
If a person suffers from recurring bouts of canker sores, it would be a good idea to talk to their doctor about the possibility of Helicobacter Pylori bacteria. This is especially important if the patient suffers from frequent stomach problems.
Being tested for H. Pylori is as easy as having a blood test. If found, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics.
Otherwise, if this bacterial aliment is left untreated, it can reside in a person’s body indefinitely.
Sources:
http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Diseases/Canker_Sores.html
http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/131/9/668-a?ck=nck
