Vegeterian Diets --Let Me Count The Ways There are several types of vegeterians: Lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat plant foods, milk, milk products and eggs, but avoid flesh foods (meat, poultry and fish). Lacto-vegetarians eat plant foods, milk and milk products, but avoid eggs and flesh foods. Ovo-vegetarians eat plant foods and eggs, but avoid milk, milk products and flesh foods. Pesco/pollo-vegetarians eat meats like seafood and chicken, but do not eat other meats, such as beef, lamb, and pork. Total vegetarians, also called vegans, eat plant foods only. Read the Source Article |
Tongue Sore-- Causes and Top 10
Natural Remedies
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July 21, 2010
By Louise Carr, Contributing Columnist
Tongue sores can appear as small bumps, red lumps or raised areas of
the tongue. In whatever form a tongue sore appears, it can cause you
considerable pain, especially as it’s almost impossible to stop using
your tongue to help the sores heal. What causes tongue sores? Are
there any natural remedies for tongue sores? What foods should you
avoid eating if you have a tongue sore?
Your attack of tongue sore may be caused by the oral herpes simplex
virus infection, otherwise known as cold sores, which affects
approximately 65 percent of us by the time we reach age 40,
according to a 2010 study by Dr. Rahul Sharma of Cornell University.
This common condition can be a real pain, causing small blisters or
sores on the lips, mouth and tongue. It’s also contagious. You may
recognize a cold sore’s approach a day or two before the sore
appears, as a tingle or pain in the mouth.
Tongue sores can also appear as small bumps on the tongue. These
tongue sores are usually harmless but an unexplained bump,
particularly if it is painless, may be an indication of oral cancer. Most
oral cancers grow on the sides of the tongue or the floor of the mouth
and hardly ever appear on the top of the tongue. According to the
National Cancer Institute, oral cancer is rare, with 28,900 cases
occurring annually.
Tongue sores are also called canker sores, painful sores under your
tongue or on the inside of your lips or cheeks. According to Michael C
Plewa, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Lucas County
Emergency Physicians, Inc, and Mercy Saint Vincent Medical Center,
canker sores affect around 20 percent of the general population.
Canker sores are not contagious. They are more commonly found in
women than in men. One interesting fact found in a 1988 study from
the University of Buenos Aires is that children from higher incomed
households suffer more from canker sores than children who are
lower-incomed. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine,
you are more at risk of canker sores if you have a family history of
sores, if you have a weakened immune system, if you are under stress
or if you suffer from food allergies.
While there is no cure for canker sores and other tongue sores, the
following natural remedies can help ease the pain while they heal.
1. Topical Creams As A Tongue Sore Remedy
Acyclovir (Zovirax) is a popular cream for treating cold sores. Zilactin,
Blistex, Kaopectate with Benadryl, and Hydrocortisone are used to
treat canker sores, as are Anbesol and Orabase or Orajel. These
treatments are especially effective if applied as soon as you notice a
tongue sore occurring. Specially-made topical preparations are
preferred by physicians because they limit the amount of active
medication delivered to the sore which cuts down the risk of side
effects (corticosteroids can increase the risk of candidiasis and other
secondary infections).
2. Lysine Treats Tongue Sores
Some experts suggest that lysine supplements can help prevent cold
sore outbreaks and sores on the tongue but other studies have found
little benefit from taking this essential amino acid as a supplement.
One 1987 study from the Indiana University School of Medicine
looked at 52 patients with a history of cold sore flare-ups. After
receiving 3g of lysine every day for six months, the treatment group
experienced an average of 2.4 fewer flare-ups than the placebo group
and their sores healed faster.
The virus that causes cold sores hides in nerve cells and can re-
emerge in times of stress. Lysine is believed to fight the virus by
blocking the amino acid, arginine, which the virus needs to function. In
this case, lysine would be most effective when used in combination
with a low-arginine diet.
3. Vitamin B12 Can Help Treat Tongue Sores
A 2009 study from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found a
nightly dose of Vitamin B12 prevented canker sores by as much as 25
percent. The researchers tested Vitamin B12 on 58 randomly selected
patients who suffered from tongue sores, who received either a dose
of 1,000 mcg of Vitamin B12 or a placebo, and were tested monthly
for six months. Approximately 74 percent of the patients of the treated
group and only 32 percent of the control group achieved remission at
the end of the study and the treated patients reported less pain and
shorter outbreaks of tongue sores.
4. Increase Your Vitamin Intake to Prevent Tongue Sores
You can make your mouth a lot healthier mouth by increasing your
intake of vitamins. A deficiency in vitamins and minerals such as iron,
folic acid and Vitamin B12 can increase the risk of tongue sores,
according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
A 2009 study from Baskent University in Turkey found that diminished
antioxidant activity (vitamin E and selenium)can increase your risk
for recurrent tongue sores.
One 2010 study from the University of Connecticut School of Dental
Medicine led by Dr. S. Kozlak discovered that as many as 20 percent
of patients with recurrent canker sores also had a deficiency in iron,
folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12.
5. Herbal Remedies for Tongue Sores
One 1990 study by a research team from the University of Oslo used
a product containing vitamins and minerals as well as the herbs
paprika, rosemary, peppermint, milfoil, hawthorn, and pumpkin seed
to treat various mouth-related conditions and found it significantly
reduced the frequency of mouth sores).
The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests rinsing the
mouth with herbal mouthwash that contains sage and chamomile.
A small study in 1998 tested the effectiveness of a chemically-altered
form of licorice and found it made canker sores disappear more
quickly (Das SK, Das V, Gulati AK, et al ‘Deglycyrrhizinated liquorice in
aphthous ulcers’, 1989).
Another 2008 study used a licorice herbal extract patch to reduce the
size of ulcers compared to a placebo (Martin MD, Sherman J, van der
Ven P, et al ‘A controlled trial of a dissolving oral patch concerning
glycyrrhiza (licorice) herbal extract for the treatment of aphthous
ulcers’, 2008).
Another herbal solution could be aloe vera. According to a 2005 report
by Richard L. Wynn, PhD, in General Dentistry, the Academy of
General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical journal, aloe vera taken as a gel or
a juice can treat many oral health problems including tongue sores. It
was reported to speed up healing and reduce pain.
6. Reduce Stress To Prevent Tongue Sores
Stress increases your risk of developing canker sores. A 2009 study
from The University of Sao Paulo found that people with canker sores
have higher than average anxiety scores when compared with the
general population.
Yoga, deep breathing and eating foods that help you reduce stress
can help lower your outbreaks of tongue sores.
7. Change Your Toothpaste To Heal Tongue Sores
Canker sores are often be caused by a seemingly harmless everyday
product -- toothpaste. Certain toothpastes contain a chemical called
"sodium lauryl sulfate", which is the agent that causes the paste to
foam in the mouth. A 1996 study from the University of Oslo found
that this chemical can cause minute damage to the tissues in your
mouth, including the tongue, causing canker sores or making them
worse.
Check the label on your toothpaste. If necessary, change your brand of
toothpaste to one that does not contain this chemical to cut down
tongue sore outbreaks.
8. Prevent Trauma To The Tongue
Taking care of the tongue and protecting it from burns and bites can
prevent tongue sores. Make sure you gently brush your teeth and use
a soft-bristled brush.
Good mouth hygiene significantly reduces not only the number of
tongue sore outbreaks but also their severity, according to a 2005
study from the Tblisi State Medical Academy.
Avoid crunchy or hard foods if you have a tongue sore you want to go
away and don’t talk with your mouth full --- you increase the risk of
minor bites and cuts to the tongue.
9. Food Allergies Can Cause Tongue Sores
Foods can cause tongue sores. Many foods can trigger an outbreak of
tongue sores including cinnamon, gluten, cow’s milk as well as coffee,
potatoes, cheese, chocolate, nuts, citrus fruits and figs. A 2009 study
from the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia discovered that
all of these foods can trigger a outbreak of tongue sores.
Your best bet is to avoid certain foods if they seem to affect your
tongue, or carry out an allergy test if your symptoms are severe and
you’re not sure which particular food is causing your flare-ups.
10. Avoid These Chemicals To Cut Down Tongue Sores
High levels of nitrates in drinking water have been associated with
increased canker sores. Several studies have confirmed this
connection, including a 1999 study from SMS Medical College in
Jaipur, India.
According to a 1999 study by a research team from Kuwait
University, using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can
also trigger tongue sores.
Learn other causes of swelling: Swollen Lymph Nodes-Causes and
Remedies / Swollen Ankles-Causes and Cures /Tight Bras and Briefs-
Health Dangers /Swollen Hands-Causes and Cures/Night Cramps/
Night Sweats
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