The short answer to the question, "Are canker sores contagious?" is No... They are not. Mouth ulcers are not spread by germs the way colds and viruses are. If they were, scientists would be right on top of that fact and in a better position to help prevent their spread. However...
...the fact of the matter is that even scientists do not know what causes them.
So if the answer to the question, Are canker sores contagious, is no, what causes them?
There is some agreement among scientists that damage to oral tissue is a major contributing factor.
How does oral tissue get damaged?
Well, if you chew on your lips or interior cheeks, the damage you cause to the tissue may allow bacteria to enter and help create a mouth ulcer. Biting your lip, cheek, or tongue, accidentally, even a single time, is all it takes to start an outbreak.
Dental appliances can also damage oral tissue.
Another source of damage is that needle your dentist sticks you with to numb your cheeks and gums. Throughout my life, I've noticed a strong correlation between visits to the dentist to have work done and canker sore outbreaks in the vicinity of the injection site.
Your toothpaste may also contribute to your canker sore outbreaks. Most commercial toothpastes contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Toothpaste manufacturers use it for its surfactant properties, to help mix water-based and oil-based ingredients. They also use it for the foam it creates when you brush, to make sure you feel like something good is happening when you brush your teeth. Unfortunately, because SLS is a soap, it can dry out your oral tissue. This drying may damage skin cells and lead to the formation of mouth ulcers. At the very least, the drying action of SLS will give you bad breath.
Some of the other contributing factors are stress, a malfunctioning immune system, and nutritional deficiencies. Food allergies are also recognized as a possible cause, as are viral infections. Hormonal changes, especially those resulting from menstrual periods, have also been cited as a cause.
Finally,mouth ulcers seem to be inherited. If other members of your family get them, there's a good chance that you'll get them, too.
As you can see none of the suspected causes or contributing factors can be passed from one person to another by means of microbial carriers. So the answer to the question, "Are canker sores contagious?" has to be NO.
Whatever you do do not confuse mouth ulcers, which occur inside your mouth, with cold sores, which occur around the outside of your mouth. Cold sores are definitely contagious and easily passed along.
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