Canker Sores, Explained by the Science
Not home remedies. Not medical disclaimers. Mechanisms, evidence levels, and honest answers — written by someone who's read every study so you don't have to.
Every claim is sourced. Every treatment is evidence-rated.
Core Guides
The five pages every canker sore sufferer should read.
What Are Canker Sores? The Complete Guide to Aphthous Ulcers
Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are painful oral lesions affecting 20% of the population. Here's the actual science on what they are, their three types, and what makes them distinct from cold sores.
Read guide →What Causes Canker Sores? — Mechanisms, Not Just Triggers
Canker sores are immune-mediated, not viral. Here's the actual mechanism — why immune dysregulation, nutritional deficits, SLS, stress, and genetics all converge to destroy the oral epithelium.
Read guide →Best Supplements for Canker Sore Prevention — Evidence-Graded Review
L-lysine, B12, zinc, iron, folate — which supplements actually reduce canker sore frequency? We grade the evidence for each and recommend specific products.
Read guide →Do Home Remedies for Canker Sores Actually Work? — An Honest Evidence Review
Salt water, honey, baking soda, ACV, aloe — we grade every popular home remedy by what the actual evidence shows. Some work. Most don't. A few are actively harmful.
Read guide →How to Get Rid of a Canker Sore Fast — Evidence-Ranked Treatments
OTC treatments, prescription options, laser therapy — ranked by what actually reduces healing time versus what just numbs the pain. What to do right now if you have one.
Read guide →Get the Trigger Tracker
Free PDF: a structured tool for identifying your personal canker sore triggers — based on the research on dietary, stress, and hormonal factors.
Recent Research Notes
All articles →Canker Sore vs. Cold Sore — How to Tell Them Apart
Canker sores and cold sores are completely different conditions — one is immune-mediated, the other is viral. Here's how to tell them apart clinically and why the treatment difference matters.
Read →Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Canker Sores — The RCT Evidence
A placebo-controlled RCT found 1000mcg sublingual B12 nightly reduced canker sore frequency regardless of baseline B12 levels. Here's the mechanism and what it means for chronic sufferers.
Read →SLS-Free Toothpaste and Canker Sores — What the RCT Actually Showed
A 1994 double-blind crossover RCT found that switching from SLS to SLS-free toothpaste reduced aphthous ulcer frequency by ~50%. Here's what the study showed and why the mechanism makes sense.
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