How to Treat Canker Sores

Everyone is familiar with the very painful and irritating mouth ulcers that literally disable you and eating becomes very difficult. Even though these are small in size, they can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. They are also known as canker sores and appear in the soft parts inside the mouth as shallow lesions. They appear in the inner lips, inner cheeks, gums or sublingual areas of the mouth. There are a number of ways in which these sores can be treated. Canker sores treatment would also depend upon the cause and severity of the sore. Let's have a look at the various causes and ways to treat canker sores.

Causes of Canker Sores

The causes of canker sores range from the use of toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate to conditions like stress, tension, trauma, hormonal changes during menstruation and menopause, bacterial infections and heredity. Other causes include dietary deficiency, consumption of certain anti-inflammatory drugs and beta-blockers, consumption of extremely spicy food, accidentally chewing onto one of the sensitive areas of the mouth, food allergy, lack of dental hygiene and iron deficiency. Some people suffer from canker sores just once or twice a year, while some may experience recurrent sores. Mild sores may take about a weak to cure, whereas severe ones may take over two weeks to heal completely.

How to Treat a Canker Sore

The methods adopted to treat these sores mainly focus on the reduction of pain along with reduction and healing of the ulcers. The treatment may include over-the-counter medicines and certain effective home remedies.

Medicines

To reduce the pain associated with canker sores, painkillers like ibuprofen can be taken. In case of severe, large or multiple canker sores, prescription medications such as tetracycline (liquid) and an antiviral like zovirax may be needed. Cortisoid steroids like dexamethasone can be prescribed for quick healing of multiple sores. Topical medications like oracort can also be prescribed for application on the mouth ulcers. Medicines like oragel and anbesol are effective in treating canker sores.

Natural Home Remedies

• For pain relief, apply some ice cubes to the canker sore. This will numb the area and reduce the pain.
• Consume a lot of cool yogurt, thrice a day. Yogurt helps control the bacteria from multiplying, thus preventing the formation of more canker sores.
• You can make a homemade mouth rinse by mixing 1 part hydrogen peroxide and one part water. Use this to rinse the mouth, twice a day.
• Mouth can also be rinsed with a salt water solution frequently, to help cure the sores quickly.
• Consume vitamin B supplements along with vitamin C and folic acid supplements to cure canker sores.
• To protect the canker sore during the process of healing, cot it with a tincture of benzoin.
• Baking soda mixed with water can be used as a paste to coat the canker sore.
• Milk of magnesia can be dabbed onto the canker sore to help relieve pain as well as cure the sore.
• Milk of magnesia can also be mixed with diphenhydramine and dabbed on the sore, thrice a day, to relieve the pain caused by sores.
• Hold a used tea bag to the canker sore for a minute. The tannic acid released from the tea bag can help cure mouth ulcers and reduces the pain due to its astringent properties.

Tips to Prevent Canker Sores

• Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush, floss and use an antibacterial mouthwash, at least twice a day. This is also essential for good dental health.
• Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid injury to the gums which can result in a canker sore.
• Avoid the use of toothpastes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate. Check for the toothpaste ingredients before you purchase one.
• Consuming zinc, vitamin C, folic acid and probiotic acidophilus supplements can help reduce the frequency of sores.
• Avoid the regular consumption of spicy and hot foodstuffs.
• Consult a doctor before consuming anti-inflammatory drugs to know of its effects on canker sores.

Knowing how to treat canker sores will help to prevent and get rid of these painful phenomena. If the sores do not go away in a week or two, consult the doctor for further treatment.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, intend to replace the advice of a medical expert.