More Natural Remedies

Canker sores, or medically known as apthous ulcers, are small, painful ulcers that develop on the soft tissues inside the mouth, usually inside of the cheeks, areas below the gum line, under the tongue, and the lips area inside the mouth. A canker sore, or oral ulcer, is an open wound that is white or yellow in appearance surrounded by a bright red area. Canker sores are often very painful. Most canker sores are minor and are less than 3/8 “ in diameter.

About 20% of the population develops canker sores at one time or another. Canker sores affect both sexes but generally affect more women than men.

When canker sores occur frequently and in the same general area, the condition may be diagnosed as a disease called Recurrent Apthous stomatitis. A canker sore usually runs its course within 7 to 10 days without medical treatment.

Some people confuse canker sores with cold sores or fever blisters, which are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and are rarely found inside the mouth and usually develop on and around the lips, and sometimes on the nose. Cold sores are very contagious, where as canker sores are not. Canker sores are found almost exclusively in the mouth, and while the herpes simplex virus may be the cause of canker sores, this has not been backed up by research.

No one knows for sure what causes canker sores. However, there are many possible triggers connected to the outbreak of canker sores. One identified trigger of canker sore is stress. A person may be more susceptible to canker sores due to a weakened immune system because of stress.  The sun, or more precisely ultraviolet ray from the sun, can also trigger the onset of canker sores. Another trigger is acidic foods, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, and other tangy food items. Other known canker sore triggers are trauma to oral tissues, hormonal changes in the body, such as menopause, food allergies, and vitamin deficiencies.

While you can’t take a pill that will get rid of canker sores forever, you can avoid the known triggers that could bring on your canker sores. If a canker sore does flare-up and you don’t want to use over-the-counter medication that may have negative side effects, you can try some of the natural remedies as canker sore treatments that are available to stop the pain and discomfort, and to speed healing.

Black Tea – Apply on moisten tea bag directly to the canker core to ease the pain. The tannin acid in the tea is an astringent and will reduce the discomfort of the sore.

Hydrogen peroxide – For some canker sore relief, make a solution using 2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide with 2 ounces of water and rinse four times per day to help reduce the pain from the canker sore, kill the germs in your mouth, and help speed healing. Salt and baking soda can also be used. Mix 4 ounces of water mixed with 1 teaspoon of salt or 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

Baking soda – Another use for baking soda is to use it as canker sore toothpaste when brushing your teeth. Brush with baking soda instead of your regular toothpaste, which contain sodium laurel sulfate and other additives that might alleviate the sore.

Honey – Honey has been used for thousands of years to treat all sorts of ailments. It is one of the most effective natural remedies for treating mouth ulcers. Coat the canker sore with some honey and let sit until it dissolves in your mouth.

Vitamin B12 – People with recurrent canker sores have been found to be deficient in vitamin B12. Among other functions, vitamin B12 is important for maintaining the body’s immune function, and helping the body withstand stress. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include fatigue, shortness of breath, nervousness, diarrhea, and numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes. Increase your intake of vitamin B12 can help strengthen you immune system to worn off canker sore outbreaks.

Coriander – Another effective natural canker sore remedy would be to seep coriander leaves in warm water for about 5 minutes, strain out the leaves and use the liquid as a mouthwash.

Before using any natural canker sore remedies, it’s important to consult with your doctor, especially if canker sores are persistent, as the sores may be symptoms of other potentially fatal medical conditions, such as Behcet’s syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and squamous cell carcinoma – a form of skin cancer.