Here’s everything you need to know about canker sores, why they happen, and, most importantly, how to get rid of canker sores fast and naturally. Here’s the good news: They aren’t contagious and recurring like cold sores, which are caused by an infection from the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Canker sores also don’t show up on the surface of your lips, meaning that even though they’re often uncomfortable, they’re not typically unsightly or embarrassing. Thank goodness for small favors, right? (If you do have cold sores, here are 21 natural ways to treat them.) “Everything from trauma (biting oneself, getting burned, braces) to nutrient deficiencies to gluten sensitivity can cause canker sores,” says Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., an American Board Family Medicine–certified physician and mbg health expert. “People with celiac disease also tend to get them before they realize they have celiac.” Other causes of canker sores include allergies, sensitivities to food and oral hygiene products, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), menstruation, and even good old-fashioned stress, which compromises the immune system. Even if you don’t technically have a food intolerance or sensitivity, certain foods (especially1 cinnamon, cheese, citrus, figs, and pineapple) are still more likely to trigger canker sores than others.
