Home Remedies for Canker Sores
WARNING: This home remedies site is intended to be archival in nature. The natural remedies here are submitted by numerous people from around the world, and we have no way to test or verify every remedy. As such these home remedies should be used for academic purposes only. Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.
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Canker Sores Home Remedies:
Submitted by Paul at 2007-08-23 23:18:10
I always get Canker sores a few times a year. I have tried to limit it down to certain foods or times of the year but I just can't seem to pin point what is causing them. While I was at the natural food store I ran into a woman who directed me to use Melaleuaca's Mouth wash and tooth paste. I have been doing so since December of 2006 and I have been canker sore free. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who is trying to prevent canker sores. Plus it is also risk free, if it doesn't work you can send it back. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
Paul
rating: 8 (6 votes)
Submitted at 2007-05-30 07:48:11
I have suffered from canker sores my whole life and they are THE WORST!! In my case they are related to stress and eating certain foods (nuts, raw tomatoes) so I try to avoid those. But
the only thing I have found so far that really seems to get RID of them (instead of just numbing the pain) is Kenalog in Orabase(triamcinolone acetonide paste). I found it in South Africa but I think it also exists in the US. It doesn't do anything for the pain but it seems to shrink the things in just a few days (my really bad ones last over a week). You put it on at night. It is as close to a miracle drug as I have found so far! Otherwise, I use Zilactin-B for the pain, which HURTS like the devil when you first put it on but numbs it so you can eat/talk/etc. But try the Kenalog stuff - so far it has kept mine from growing into the beasts they usually become!
Good luck!!
rating: 8 (8 votes)
Submitted by Maureen at 2007-05-31 21:44:52
I get canker sores every now and then, and when I do they can be very painful and take forever to heal. I use over-the-counter remedies, but they seem to only mask the problem and I find it difficult to 'dry' the area before applying the medication. Thankfully an older friend of mine told me that swishing whiskey in your mouth until it gets numb works instantly. I do it and it seems to speed up the healing. I was skeptical at first, but believe me - it really helps (and numbs your mouth for a bit as well.)
rating: 7 (10 votes)
Submitted by Danielle at 2007-06-27 06:22:35
I dont know why nobodys said this..
but i SWEAR on honey. Just dab some honey on your sore and boomb , it'll reduce the pain almost immediately and will heal the canker in as short as a day.
rating: 7 (8 votes)
Submitted at 2006-11-11 23:35:10
To keep those cold sores from reoccuring, dip your toothbrush in peroxide after each use. You will notice a difference. Outbreaks will be few if not non existent.
rating: 7 (1 votes)
Submitted by Jennifer at 2006-06-22 10:55:12
for canker sores treatment may I suggest you try to drink planty of water.. for me I been having kanker sores when I was very young and every time I had one.. the canker sore got very big and last very long... mostly I would bit on my bottom lips every time I stay up late or eating spicy foods...and the canker would start forming (like a half a pies size) .. I had try many home remedy even the one that my family doctor provided it didn't seem to work for me.. but recently I realized maybe because I didn't drink enough water... so I decide to try and see.. wow amazingly! it did work.. my canker it heal a lot faster and now it didn't seem I get that too often..
I hope this would help who's ever out there that are suffering from these nasty canker sores..
rating: 6 (16 votes)
Submitted at 2006-01-22 09:20:33
Take 3 acidophilus pills in the morning and 3 in the evening and they start healing right away.
rating: 6 (9 votes)
Submitted at 2007-11-16 12:04:56
hrrmm... i dont like to spend so much either... but i've always used
1. sugar --- just put some on and let it dissolve there... numbs it pretty well - and doesnt burn like salt... eek! but i guess it's similar to using honey?? but i dont have honey in my house.. hehe
or
2. crush aspirin - i use bayer because it's gives a grainy texture - and just use it like you would in number one
or...
3. just place the soft aspirin on the sore until it dissolves
rating: 6 (4 votes)
Submitted at 2006-04-09 07:33:08
Get any regular salt, like iodized table salt, and mix it with water. Rinse your mouth a few times. It will sooth the pain on the gums. Do this everytime it starts to hurt or feel funky. Just rinse often and the stress spot that caused the canker sore will subside.
rating: 5 (29 votes)
Submitted at 2006-05-09 08:33:31
I eat Beer Salt to heal my ulcers. Same remedy as the salt, but more pleasant way to do it. It tastes much better than straight salt. I just eat a little throughout the day and my ulcers heal alot faster. I'm currently trying the allum theory. We'll see how that works.
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted by jons at 2006-06-13 08:41:42
Wrights teething gel, it sounds ridiculus but it works, kills off a mouth ulcer after 2-3 swabs so in a day and a half its almost dead. I believe it does this because it specialises in gum problems to do with teething.
rating: 5 (1 votes)
Submitted at 2007-01-11 12:23:09
Ginger Altoids seem to help with the pain. Hold it against the sore for a few seconds and then just let it slowly disolve in your mouth.
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted at 2008-03-14 12:17:09
This may sound odd but a good friend of mine suggested eating cabbage to help with the healing time of canker sores. IT WORKS!!! Over twenty years ago I had an acute case of canker sores, they were everywhere in my mouth; the roof of my mouth, on my tongue, on every part of the gum line, well you get the picture. After two weeks of being on a liquid and very soft food diet I was willing to try anything. At that time my friend gave me some capsules of concentrated cabbage. After 2-3 days almost every one of the sores were gone.
Now I just buy fresh cabbage and eat a leaf several times a day. You can also make the cabbage into a paste by grinding it up and applying directly to the sores for several minutes. Be sure to swollow it because this helps in the process of healing. It stings, but you'll notice them getting better within the first 24 hours. The best part is this isn't a chemical you are applying to the sores, it's a natural way to get better. I hope you try this, it really is a great way to get rid of canker sores.
rating: 5 (1 votes)
Submitted by Amanda at 2006-01-16 11:50:37
Gargle with Peroxide!
rating: 4 (15 votes)
Submitted by bakyspritz at 2006-01-15 16:28:03
I used to suffer from canker sores quite a bit. As any canker sore suffer knows, they are painful suckers because it's impossible not to keep your mouth immobile (eat, talk, etc.). All the over-the-counter medication never worked because the inside of the mouth is hard to coat. Healing usually took 1 to 2 weeks no matter what I put on it. I got a tip from some website long ago about how canker sores came from your own immune system attacking itself b/c of trauma to the mouth. It suggested not eating potatoe chips because it can nick your mouth tissue. It actually works. AVOID EATING CHIPS AT ALL COST.
rating: 4 (18 votes)
Submitted by Renee at 2005-11-29 03:46:02
Try Kaopectate to coat and soothe after using an OTC mouth rinse recommended by my son's pediatric dentist called, dang I forget but it's like Pedia something or rather (oral antiseptic rinse) in the dental aisle of the drugstore in a white bottle. The rinse is an antiseptic and comes in a white bottle w/blue lettering and usually on lower shelves and to allow the canker sore heal faster. The Kaopectate will coat the open stinging wound when it acts up.
rating: 3 (5 votes)
Submitted by Jeff Haley at 2006-06-02 15:29:03
The best treatment is Cankermelts - All natural adherent discs with natural anti-inflammatory licorice root extract. Go to orahealth.com
Orahealth is now testing a new product to prevent canker sores. If you want to try it (free) go to http://www.orahealth.com/orahealth/Pages/testing.htm
rating: 1 (2 votes)
Submitted by Rennie at 2007-12-13 12:50:59
This is going to sound a bit weird but a few months ago i started getting canker sores, nasty. I could not figure out why. Then a light bulb went off. I usually drink at least one bottle of coke a day...I had stopped (can't remember why) As soon as i started drinking coke again the sores didn't go away, but there was no pain. It must have something to do with the acid in the coke killing the bacteria in the canker sore, it is the bacteria that cause the pain, not the sore. I know it sounds nuts but it works for me, let me know if it works for u.
rating: 1 (2 votes)
Submitted by Harry Dingey at 2007-12-07 15:06:21
Amalgam mercury fillings can be very dangerous.
My name is Harry Dingey, I am a retired Industrial Engineer from Rockwell International and I moved to the Philippines 5 years ago from the USA. About 20 months ago they did a root-canal, filled my teeth with Amalgam mercury fillings and crowned my two back teeth. Then few months later, I start to get a bald spot on the right side of my tongue.
I did some research on the internet and discovered I had what was called Geographic Tongue. Then about 18 months ago a started getting these recurring canker sores (also called aphthous ulcers), they would never completely heal up and was always located on the exact same location as the Geographic Tongue (bald spot).
I was very concerned to say the least because I never had anything like this in my complete life and I was afraid that if I could not get these canker sores to heal up soon, it could turn into cancer.
So, after consulting with many Medical Doctors and completed a lot of different tests (all tests turned out to be negative). All these Doctors told me they could not find anything medically wrong with me and my tongue would heal up eventually.
I went back to the internet and did some more research and I found that it seemed no one in the Medical Field knew exactly what caused these aphthous ulcers. I really could not believe what I was reading. All the Medical people in the whole world and no one knew exactly what the real cause of these silly little ulcers on the side of my tongue ?
Then after all these months later, I finally came to realized that all my trouble start about 20 months ago, when they did this root-canal, filled my teeth with Amalgam mercury fillings and crowned my two back teeth. These canker sores always appear in the exact same location every time and would never appear any other place in my mouth.
Then finally I realized the reason why no one in the medical field knew the exact cause of my problem. It was because the problem was so big that the American Government ( FDA ) could never order the removal of Amalgam mercury fillings from the market place because it’s been in use for 100 years and was a very cheap filling and almost every person would be suing every Dentist in America, because Amalgam mercury fillings causes many, many different types of health problems. It would cost BIG Business and Insurance companies millions of dollars.
I recently went back to another Dentist and told him that I wanted every tooth pulled that could possibly contain any Amalgam mercury fillings. MY-PROBLEM-IS-NOW-SOLVED.
rating: 1 (4 votes)
Submitted by shannon at 2006-01-20 12:22:06
For canker sores in the mouth, I have found that Ceprachol mouth wash (yellow) works very fast at reducing healing time and the pain of the sores. This remedy also works for thrush in a babies mouth. If you apply it to a q-tip and swab the babies mouth 3 times a day, the thrush will disappear. (worse case scenario, you get fresh breath!)
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2006-07-16 20:27:39
stop drinking milk. i had had at least 4 sores at any given time during every day of my life after the age of three. when i was 14 i realized i was slighty lactose intolerant (i just cant drink milk, but i can have anything else dairy) and the sores went away (as well as bad breath).
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by Heather at 2007-01-15 11:40:08
I have tried everything on the market for canker sore relief. Some product help protect for a while if it's not where a tooth cuts into it constantly. Then I discovered baking soda. If you mix 1 tsp of baking soda with 1/2 cup water and rinse several times a day ( at least every 2 hours or more often) it when I have thwill heal in 2 or 3 days instead of weeks! I couldn't believe how well it worked. I'm some what of a skeptic but at much pain I'll try anything at least once. Also, a chemical in toothpaste causes about 80% of all canker sores and Rembrant makes a toothpaste without it (for canker sores prevention). It's hard to find in stores so I ordered it online. I get way fewer breakouts now but when I do the baking soda works. I've also started mixing a little baking soda with my toothapaste to help prevention.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2007-02-05 15:05:11
use the throat spray provided by a drug store or you can gargle in salt water and when eating cover the infected area. so it doesnt get infected
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by Shelly at 2007-02-08 15:13:46
One thing I have found that helps alot: Listerine Mouth Wash. When you FIRST start to get one, when it's really small, rinse your mouth with Listerine for 30-60 seconds 2-3 times a day. It will be extremely painful, but it will make the sore go away, instead of getting bigger. I recently did this with 3 sores that were not THAT tiny anymore, and it worked. I only used the mouthwash for 2 or 3 days. After the first day, the sores didn't hurt much anymore.
Be aware however, that for some people, when the sores get a certian size, there's nothing that will really make them go away any faster.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2007-05-22 23:36:49
Apply a powder denture adhesive (Fixodent powder) to the canker soar. It coats the soar so you can go on about your day.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2007-05-08 23:14:07
i apply salt directly to my canker sore right before bed. it burns but by morning its usually gone.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2007-11-25 08:45:39
I suffered from canker sores for years and then switched to a natural toothpaste-Tom's-and now is a canker sore develops it is gone within 24 hours.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2007-10-21 23:29:03
Put salt on it. It may burn a little, but that means its working. Do it right before you go to bed and it should be gone by morning.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by Patty at 2007-10-10 09:55:11
I used to suffer from canker sores alot ever since i was a kid. But in the last year i have recently started to eat organic foods as much as i can and i believe that the toothpaste i switched too probably has something to do with it. I have been using an all natural toothpaste and i have been canker sore free in almost a year now. Unfortunately my daughter seems to still get them, but i think that has to do with all the sugar her dad feeds her. She seems to get them everytime she has a slurpee.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2007-10-02 12:28:16
I had painful canker sores for about 10 years, usually occurring about once a month. Now I've only had one mild one in a year. I found out they can be caused by Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, the ingredient in toothpaste that makes it foam up. I found a toothpaste that doesn't have that and it's called Biotene and is made for dry mouth. I found it at K-Mart and CVS, but haven't seen it at Wal-Mart. The tube costs $7 - $8, but it's sooo worth it not to have canker sores! K-Mart (here) stocks theirs beside denture cream instead of toothpaste. I hope it works for you!
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by tums at 2007-07-05 04:14:20
Tums seem to feel good when crushed + a lil water then put on the sore worked for me hope this helps
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by ss at 2007-07-19 12:37:00
i've tried almost everything (except the honey one) and nothing helped at all. after the 5th day of agonizing pain, many dollars spent on worthless over the counter medicines and countless hours searching for a remedy on the internet i came upon this. equal parts milk of magnesia and childrens benedryl (sp?) about 1 tablespoon of each. swish around over the sore about 3 times a day. OMG! after the first application, the pain was reduced by 60%. by morning, my 3rd application, the swelling has significantly reduced and the pain is about 80% gone. i can actually run my tongue over the sore without my eyes watering. please be careful though, i made the mistake of swishing the mixture throughout my mouth about 60 seconds and my tongue and cheeks were swollen, numb and dry, i was actually gagging and a little scared thinking maybe this remedy was a bad joke. the second time, i tried to keep the mixture concentrated on the affected area making sure to keep it off my tongue and it worked 100% better. i bet by the end of today i'll be healed :)
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2008-01-13 15:30:36
I also use hot water mixed with salt it does sting for a few second, but it does relieve the tension and the pain, I break out bad like every 7 years, its weird, but when I do I can barley talk.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by RCENTRELLA at 2008-02-02 07:31:04
TEA BAGS
I GET MOUTH SORES FROM CHEMO
TANNIN FROM TEA WILL RELIEVE THE PAIN ALMOST INSTANTLY. HOLD THE USED TEA BAG ON THE SORE. SWISHING THE TEA ALSO LESSENS PAIN.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2008-02-19 23:29:29
allum powder: I spend at least half of my time with at least one horrible canker in my mouth. They get enormous and rarely heal in less than two weeks. I have tried medications and toothpastes even from other countries trying to get rid of these things. However, the thing that I have been trying lately is something that my grandmother told me when I was a kid. You put allum powder on the canker sore and it will really help it heal. If I use the allum powder when the canker is just starting it doesn't seem to help a whole lot, but if I wait until the 3rd or 4th day of the canker, then coat the canker in alum powder before I go to bed (mind you this burns like nothing I have ever felt before). In the morning if I have gotten it completely covered the night before then there is no indentation left and the white will have black spots. After about an hour or so I can just peel the white covering on the canker off and then there is nice pink flesh underneath. If I keep the canker clean after that, it is usually healed in another couple of days. For me this is at least 1 to 2 weeks quicker than normal stuff. If you try this please be careful because the alum powder is some powerful stuff. I hope that it won't give me cancer or something. The other night I got too much and I had some blisters on the area around my canker. If you prefer to use alum rocks then just break off a couple of chunks and tuck them next to the canker and the next day the miracle will be starting.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2008-03-23 22:08:24
A remedy that sometimes works for me when dealing with canker sores is to apply a vitamin C tablet and allow it to dissolve on the sore. It stings a little bit at first, but just keep applying it and after a few seconds the pain starts to go away. I think this helps with the quickness of healing.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by Michael G at 2008-04-10 15:22:05
I agree with the peroxide treatment posting but use Colgate's Peroxydol, not only for rinsing but use the liquid as the toothpaste. I have suffered since I was 5 years old with large and frequent outbreaks, usually once a month and sometimes 2 and 3 at a time. It used to be, bite my lip get a sore. Now if I have a gum injury, I double up on the rinses and brushings...and no sores. I have actually kept track and have had 1-2 sores per year for the last 5, and tey are 50-75% less painful. I tried everything and this is the only remedy I would recommend for the serious sufferer.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2008-04-18 14:44:02
I've had an old family remedy of baking soda mixed with a little water to make a paste. Just dab a bit on and although it might sting for a minute, it shrinks and gets rid of the sore within 2 days.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2008-04-20 18:25:04
Take an Omega 3 or Omega 3-6-9. Nordic Naturals brand is great.
You can get them at Whole Foods.
I have had canker sores for as long as I can remember (~25 years). I always seem to have one or more brewing.
After starting to take Omega 3 vitamins for general health, I noticed my canker sores cleared up. I've even experimeted. If I stop taking the vitamins for several days.... the canker sores come back.
It's been working for me for over a year now.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
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