Canker Sores Home Remedies

A canker sore is an ulcer on the soft tissue inside your mouth — the tongue, soft palate, inner lips or inner cheeks. Typically, you notice a burning sensation and round whitish spot surrounded by a red edge or halo.

Despite a great deal of research on the condition, the cause of canker sore remains a mystery. Current thinking suggests that stress or tissue injury may cause their eruption. Some researchers believe certain nutritional deficiencies or food sensitivities may complicate the problem. In addition, some gastrointestinal and immune deficiency disorders have been linked to canker sores, as well as agents such as sodium lauryl sulfate — an ingredient in some brands of toothpaste.

Types

There are two types of canker sore: simple and complex. Simple canker sores may appear three or four times a year and last four to seven days. The first occurrence is usually between the ages of 10 and 40, but also can happen in younger children. As a person reaches adulthood, the sores occur less frequently. Women seem to get them more often than do men, and they seem to run in families.

Complex canker sores are less common but much more of a problem. As old sores heal, new ones appear.

There's no cure for either simple or complex canker sores, and effective treatments are limited. To relieve pain and speed healing:

• Rinse your mouth. Use salt water; baking soda (dissolve 1 teaspoon of soda in 1/2 cup warm water); hydrogen peroxide diluted by half with water; or a mixture of 1 part diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to either 1 part bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto Bismol, others) or 1 part simethicone (Maalox). Be sure to spit out the mixtures after rinsing.
• Cover lesions. Use a paste made of baking soda.
• Try over-the-counter products. Look for ones that contain a numbing agent, such as Ambesol and Orajel.
• Avoid abrasive, acidic, or spicy foods. They can cause further irritation and pain.
• Apply ice to your canker sores. Or allow ice chips to slowly dissolve over the sores.
• Brush your teeth gently. Use a soft brush and toothpaste without foaming agents, such as TheraBreath.
• Try milk of magnesia. Dab a small amount of milk of magnesia on your canker sores a few times a day. This can ease the pain and may help the sore heal more quickly.

In severe cases, your dentist or doctor may recommend a prescription mouthwash, salve or solution. Contact your doctor if you have:

• Significant difficulty eating, or drinking due to canker sores
• High fever with canker sores
• Spreading sores or signs of spreading infection
• Pain that's not controlled with the measures listed above
• Sores that don't heal completely within a week

See your dentist if you have sharp tooth surfaces or dental appliances that are causing sores.