Home Remedies For Canker Sores

Canker sores are a type of most commonly occurring type of mouth ulcer (aphthous ulcers). Canker sores are different than oral herpes. Canker sores are on the inside of the mouth, whereas the oral herpes are usually on the corners of the mouth. Canker sores are formed on the loose tissues of the mouth at the skin inside the lips and cheeks, the lower part of the mouth, under the tongue and the tonsil area.

Canker sores can last anywhere from ten days to two weeks. And, while canker sores can be very painful, they are not contagious.

About one in every five people will get canker sores in their lives. For some, canker sores are a rare, even one-time, thing. For others, canker sores are a recurring condition.

To relieve the pain and trigger the healing process, one can go for antacid formulas like Mylanta, milk of magnesia or aluminium hydroxide. It is a common remedy for canker sores.

Another best remedy includes usage of baking soda. The baking soda can either be used as powder directly on the soda or can made the paste or then applied on the affected area. This is one of the effective home remedies for canker sores.

One of the old remedies for canker sore is copper sulphate. It has been in use since 19 th century. This is having an astringent property and was also known as ‘Lunar Caustic’.

Application of preservative alum can also be a very good remedy.

Mix 1 tsp honey with 1/4 tsp turmeric. Use a cotton swab to dab it on the canker sores.

Mix some salt with vinegar. Use the solution to rinse the canker sores, three times a day.

Moisten a regular tea bag and place it directly on the canker sores. It helps in drying out the sores.

One of the major reasons for canker sores is stress. So, if you are prone to the problem, try to take your mind off tensions and relax.

Baking soda is another important remedy. It can either be used as a powder directly on the sore or can be made into a paste and applied. It has to be used several times daily.

The extract of grapefruit seed is a great remedy. Use five or six drops in a glass of water and use as a mouthwash once daily. It is an excellent disinfectant.

Recurrent canker sores are often associated with zinc deficiency, so sucking on zinc lozenges daily can prevent canker sores. Other home remedies include rinsing your mouth with a licorice tincture (2 dropper fulls in 4-6 oz. of water) and applying probiotic powder (lactobacillus acidophilus live cultures) to the sores.

Check out your diet. One old wives' tale blames canker sores on tomatoes. Experts admit some sort of allergic reaction to foods may be to blame, but others point out that food allergies can cause lesions that resemble canker sores. If you're plagued with frequent canker sores, pay attention to whether an outbreak seems to be linked with any particular food. Likely offenders include nuts, shellfish, chocolate, and tomatoes. If you discover a connection, avoid the offending food.

Learn to handle stress. That's the best advice for preventing canker sores. Try to find some method of relieving or coping with stress. Examples that you might try include engaging in a hobby, an exercise program, yoga, or meditation.