Canker Sore Treatment

There are many things you can do for canker sore treatment with self-care at home. The first step is to continue with your oral hygiene routine, although you might need to be a little gentler.

These mouth ulcers can be extremely painful. Most treatments are directed at relieving the pain. The recommendation to continue with regular flossing and brushing is to reduce the risk of infection.

Fever or swelling of the lymph nodes may accompany an infection. If it does not clear up within a few days, medical attention and oral antibiotics may be necessary.

You can take any over-the-count analgesic, such as aspirin or ibuprofen to help relieve the pain. Rinsing with a saltwater solution two or three times per day helps with pain relief and may help prevent infection. Use 1/2 teaspoon of regular table salt dissolved in 8 ounces of water. Rinse as you would with mouthwash, spitting out the solution after a few minutes.

At the pharmacy, you will find compounds containing benzocaine, which is a numbing agent. Brand names include Oragel and Anbesol.

Ointments containing licorice root extract are also available. Sometimes, the licorice is combined with the amino acid lysine. These ointments reduce pain and may speed healing.

Vitamin B12 is sometimes recommended as a natural canker sore treatment. If you can find a 1mg tablet, place it under your tongue and allow it to dissolve. A daily B12 supplement may reduce the risk of recurrence, but does not seem to be an effective treatment.

Another rinse includes items that you may already have in your medicine cabinet. It consists of liquid Maalox and liquid Benadryl.

Maalox is an over-the-counter remedy for upset stomach, heartburn and indigestion. Milk of Magnesia is a similar product and can also be used to soothe mouth ulcers.Liquid Benadryl is an allergy medication. It relieves itching and stinging.

To make a canker sore treatment, combine 1/2 tablespoon of Benadryl or a generic alternative, with 1-2 tablespoons of Maalox or Milk of magnesia. As with the saltwater solution, swish the solution around in your mouth for a few minutes and then spit it out. Use about a teaspoonful three or four times a day.

Doctors rarely prescribe prescription medications unless the ulcer is severe or reoccurs on a frequent basis. They may check for a nutritional deficiency, as that could be the underlying problem. Insufficient intake of B12, folic acid, vitamin C or iron is sometimes to blame.

Baking soda is another canker sore treatment that some people find helpful. Oregano and aspirin placed directly on the sore are others. As long as the ingredient is safe to put in your mouth, you can give it a try.

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