Mouth Sores
(Page 2)
See your doctor to sort out the cause of and best treatment for
your tongue sores; there are simple and readily available tests to
determine whether you have a deficiency in folic acid, iron or
vitamin B12. In addition, your doctor can review any other symptoms
you have and perform a physical examination that could suggest one
of the conditions above that can cause oral ulcers.
However, if you have the most common form of canker sores, a
vitamin or mineral deficiency is unlikely to explain them and they
will not improve by taking vitamins. If that's the case, the best
treatment of all may be the passage of time.
Robert Shmerling, M.D., is associate physician and clinical
chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and
an associate professor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is
an active teacher in the Internal Medicine Residency Program,
serving as the Robinson Firm Chief. He is also a teacher in the
Rheumatology Fellowship Program and has been a practicing
rheumatologist for over 25 years.
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Source: from the Harvard Health Publications Family Health Guide, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.
Used with permission of StayWell.
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