Canker sores are mouth ulcers that are open sores found on the mucous membranes on the inside of the lips, cheeks, roof of the mouth, and lower part of the tongue. These painful sores can also be found on the soft palate and tonsil areas. There are many causes for canker sores, and most are preventable.
An injury such as biting the inside of the cheek can develop into a sore sore. An immune system that attacks healthy cells in the mouth rather than viruses and bacteria can also cause these types of mouth ulcers. If you are deficient in vitamins or minerals such as zinc, folic acid, iron, or B12, you can develop mouth ulcers.
Food allergies or certain foods that are very acidic can cause mouth ulcers. These include:
* Chocolate
* Acidic foods, oranges or pineapple
* Strawberries
* Eggs
* Cheese
* Walnuts
* Coffee
Emotional stress and hormonal changes also cause mouth ulcers, as well as some toothpastes and mouthwashes. Bowel disorders, Chrohn’s disease, and other inflammatory bowel diseases can also cause this oral disorder.
Cures for these painful sores include eating three kiwis a day, drinking unpasteurized goat’s milk, or using aloe vera juice as a mouthwash. Sound too exotic? If so, here are a few more remedies that you are more likely to find in your kitchen cupboard.
Rinse your mouth with baking soda or warm salt water. Put some horseradish on the sore, eat raw tomatoes, or drink tomato juice. You can also mix cinnamon and water and then gargle with the mixture.
Onions become your friend when you have canker sores. Apply some raw onion to the sore or place an ice cube on the ulcer site. Apply some cinnamon to your canker sore to help it heal faster.
The remedy my grandmother used on me was Alum, and it always worked. It will burn a bit, but I have not found anything faster to cure canker sores. To effectively use alum (ammonium alum), which can be found in most drug stores, simply dampen the tip of a clean finger, dip it in the powder, and apply a small amount directly to the sore (s). Do this several times a day and you will soon find your mouth clear and clean of those painful canker sores.
You can also make a salt water / baking soda mixture to rinse your mouth by combining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of warm water. You can also make a paste of baking soda and apply it to each sore. Applying a little milk of magnesia to the sore several times a day will help ease the pain and make healing go faster.
Several more exotic home cures will send you to your local health food store. Buy raw carob or tehina honey and apply it to the sore or buy ingredients to make barley tea. Prune juice is said to reduce the pain of canker sores, as is carob juice.
Soak the coriander leaves in warm water, then strain the mixture and use it as a mouthwash. Another effective mouthwash is made by pouring two cups of boiling water over two tablespoons of marjoram. Let it sit for ten minutes and use it to gargle. Coriander leaves can be used in the same way.
A preventive measure to stop the formation of mouth ulcers is not to use toothpaste or mouthwash that contains sodium laurel sulfate. Mouth ulcers are uncomfortable and painful and tend to grow quickly. Without using any remedies or medical treatment, they can take anywhere from a week to 10 days to heal on their own. Use one of the remedies above as soon as you notice a canker sore forming.