Canker sores are mouth lesions that are typically white or yellow in the center, surrounded by an inflamed red ring. These ulcers more commonly occur in women than in men.
Cause of Canker Sores
Unlike cold sores (caused by herpes virus) or a syphilis cancre (caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum), common canker sores are not directly caused by an infectious agent and are not contagious, but their appearance has been shown to be associated with viral infections, and a predisposition to develop canker sores tends to run in families.
In addition to viral triggers and genetics, canker sores may be associated with problems in immune function, emotional stress, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, and food allergies. Bottom line, there does not appear to be one particular cause of these mouth ulcers, but their development seems to be triggered by a number of interacting factors.
