Home remedies for canker sores and mouth ulcers

Medically called aphthous ulcers or oral ulcers, canker sores refer to minor painful sores in the mouth. They appear red and sometimes have a red or white coating. Usually, these sores appear inside the lips or cheeks, at the base of the gums or under the tongue. Many times, canker sores are confused with blisters that are commonly found outside the lips or at the corners of the mouth. Canker sores are not a very serious problem but they are quite painful.

Symptoms

(i) A tingling sensation in the area where the canker sores appear.
(ii) A tiny bump in the affected area.
(iii) When they become bigger, they appear reddish or white in color.
(iv) A stinging pain whenever any food particle or water touches the canker sores.

Causes

There is no specific reason for the occurrence of canker sores. It is more common among women up to thirty years of age. Some of the triggering factors of canker sores are as follows:

•    Stress
•    Allergies to specific kinds of food
•    Menstrual changes in women
Home remedies for canker sores
Following are some simple and effective home remedies for canker sores:
•    Mix milk of magnesia and liquid benadryl in equal amount. Put a teaspoonful of this mixture in your mouth. Swirl the mixture in your mouth for around a minute and then spit it out. Repeat it two-three times a day with an interval of about four to six hours. This will relieve you from severe pain in the mouth and also help to heal your canker sores faster.
•    Keeping wet black tea bags on sores also helps them to heal quickly. This is because black tea contains tannin, an alkaloid substance that relieves pain fast.
•    Mix two ounces of hydrogen peroxide and two ounces of water. Put five teaspoonfuls of salt and a teaspoonful of baking soda in the solution. Put the mixture in your mouth and whirl it for a minute. Then spit out the liquid. Follow the same procedure four to five times every day to remove your canker sores quickly.
•    Extract some juice from the aloe vera plant leaves and mix it in water. Use this solution to rinse your mouth 7-8 times daily. Within a few days you will notice that not only the canker sores are gone but the pain in the mouth has also vanished,
•    Apply raw onion on the canker sores. Though you may feel a burning sensation in your mouth, it is a proven effective remedy for canker sores.
•    Sucking or chewing papaya tablets also helps to cure the sores.
•    Rinse your mouth with two tablespoonfuls of fresh plum juice. The severe stinging pain of the canker sores will vanish in a few minutes.
•    Take a cup of warm water. Put one teaspoonful of soda and a pinch of salt in it. Put the mixture in your mouth and swirl it thoroughly. This is a very effective remedy for curing the canker sores.
 
Along with the above mentioned remedies, some changes in your lifestyle will also help you cure the canker sores. Follow the below given tips:

1.    Get your broken teeth, broken fillings or teeth with sharp edges treated from your dentist to prevent accidental sores.
2.    If you have braces, cover the pointed wires and brackets with orthodontic wax.
3.    Brush your teeth gently.
4.    In some cases, certain foods have the ability to develop canker sores. Notice such foods and omit them from your diet.
5.    Maintain a healthy diet. This will minimize the chances of occurrence of canker sores due to nutritional deficiency.
6.    Have a good amount of fluid in your diet.
7.    Avoid foods that can enhance the irritation on the canker sores. Some of the examples are hard or crunchy foods, acidic drinks, such as tomato juice or citrus juices, alcoholic beverages, and spicy or salty foods.
8.    Reduce your mental stress. This is also effective in avoiding canker sores.

It is important to note that canker sores can affect anybody without any specific reason for occurrence.  But they can be prevented and cured by natural remedies and tips that are found to be very effective in curing canker sores. There is no need to take any specific precautions if someone in the house is suffering from canker sores. Of course, the condition must be treated in the patient as soon as possible.

Note: Avoid resorting to any of the above remedies in case you are allergic to them. Consult your doctor in such a case.