Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers, also known as aphthous stomatitis, are small sores that develop inside the mouth or the lips. The sores can be red or white and vary in size depending on their severity. They develop over a few days and heal within two weeks but can re-occur over time.
B vitamin deficiency is one of the main causes of mouth ulcers. Low levels of B vitamins trigger an immune response that causes the body to release histamine, which irritates the lining of the mouth and causes ulcers to develop. In addition, B vitamins are essential to cell metabolism, so if levels are low enough, other body parts could also begin to experience symptoms such as muscle weakness and numbness in the arms or legs.
Mouth ulcers can also be caused by physical trauma, stress, oral herpes infections, fungal infections, and autoimmune disorders, among other things. However, vitamin B deficiency is one of the most common reasons for mouth ulcers and is easily treatable with supplements or diet changes. Unfortunately, vitamin B deficiency isn’t always easy to identify because it doesn’t have any specific symptoms until an ulcer develops—you may feel weak or tired without realizing it’s a symptom of an underlying condition.
