Health
Soothe Those Mouth Sores
Of all of nature's little health nuisances, few are more annoying than mouth ulcers -- those sores that turn mealtime into an utter misery. The problem, says a British expert in alternative medicine, is with food itself, and that's where the cure must begin, with the diet.
Certain foods trigger mouth ulcers, says Dr. John Briffa, and among the worst offenders are dairy products, wheat, oranges and yeast extract. So it follows that "reducing or eliminating these may help control" the problem.
Another potential offender is sodium lauryl sulphate, the foaming agent that is used in many toothpastes, so go for one that does not contain this substance. Or, says Dr. Briffa, mouth ulcers can be related to nutritional deficiencies of zinc, vitamin B12 and folic acid.
He suggests a multivitamin and mineral preparation, such as deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, which has natural soothing properties. Another suggestion is to pierce a vitamin E soft gelatin capsule and smooth some of the contents onto the ulcers as needed.
Certain foods trigger mouth ulcers, says Dr. John Briffa, and among the worst offenders are dairy products, wheat, oranges and yeast extract. So it follows that "reducing or eliminating these may help control" the problem.
Another potential offender is sodium lauryl sulphate, the foaming agent that is used in many toothpastes, so go for one that does not contain this substance. Or, says Dr. Briffa, mouth ulcers can be related to nutritional deficiencies of zinc, vitamin B12 and folic acid.
He suggests a multivitamin and mineral preparation, such as deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, which has natural soothing properties. Another suggestion is to pierce a vitamin E soft gelatin capsule and smooth some of the contents onto the ulcers as needed.
