10 Home Remedies to Get Rid Of Canker Sores

10 Home Remedies to Get Rid Of Canker Sores

Canker sores, also known as Aphthous stomatitis, is a small mouth ulcer that occurs at the base of the gum or inside the mouth. It can be very painful and can even make eating and talking difficult, but it doesn’t cause any lasting damage.  As a matter of fact, many canker sores actually heal by themselves after a few weeks.

Nonetheless, there are several home remedies that can help to hasten the healing process. Considering the pain and the inability to eat well or talk well, these home remedies are your best bet.

• Chamomile Tea Bag 

Chamomile is used naturally to ease pain and heal wounds. Get your Chamomile tea bags HERE  .The two active compounds in it, azulene and levomenol, have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory abilities. These properties help to reduce pain caused by canker sores and also increase the speed of recovery. If you a tea lover then why not try making your own natural tea 8 Wild Teas Every Survivalist Should Know

Directions: put the chamomile tea bag in water for up to a minute and place it directly on the canker sores for 5 to 10 minutes. Do this three times daily for faster pain relief and speedy healing. 

• Coconut Oil

Canker sores are usually caused by bacteria. Coconut oil, on the other hand, have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. These make coconut oil a natural cure of canker sores. Looking to buy some coconut oil Look HERE

Directions: apply coconut oil generously on the sores using a cotton swab or clean hands. Repeat this process daily as many times as you possibly can until the canker sores are healed. 

• Honey

Raw organic honey is known to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which make it very effective in curing the pain of canker sores. Scientific studies have revealed that honey have the ability not only to reduce the pain of canker sores but also their sizes and the redness. However, you must ensure that you are using pure, natural honey. If it is already processed, most of the nutrients in it may have been destroyed by the high heat and this reduces the efficiency of the honey in healing canker sores. Looking for more uses for honey check out this article 16 Uses for Honey You Never Thought Of Trying

Directions: apply the raw honey directly on the surface of the sores about 3 – 4 times daily, after swishing your mouth with warm water. You must make sure that you apply it at night before going to bed, this will increase the efficiency of the honey on the sores because you won’t be bothered with eating and talking during this time.

• DGL Mouthwash

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is an herbal extract of licorice which is considered to be a natural cure for canker sores because of its anti-inflammatory properties. The supplement form of DGL is used to make mouthwash. You can also get it as a mouth patch (which can help in shrinking the canker sores). 

Directions (mouthwash): mix 200 milligrams of DGL capsule in warm water and swish the solution in and around your mouth for 3 minutes before spitting it out.

Directions (mouth patch): apply the DGL patch to the canker sores and leave it on the sores for a minimum of 30 minutes. 

You might have to talk to your doctor to decide which of these two options is good for you and then go for it. 

• Warm Salt Water

Gargling warm salt water or using it to rinse your mouth is a very effective home remedy for curing canker sores, sore throat, and any other mouth sores. It can be quite painful but it does the job well in drying out canker sores. The salt keeps the area around the sore clean while the warm water gives you a sense of soothing relief. 

Directions: add a teaspoon of salt in half a cup of warm water and stir it till the salt dissolves. Swish this solution around your mouth for about 20 seconds before spitting it out. Repeat this process regularly, at least 3 times a day until the sores are gone.

• Baking Soda Rinse

Baking soda is known to restore balance in pH level and reduce inflammation. These are important in curing canker sores. Baking soda has many uses check out this article 15 Ways to Use Baking Soda in Your Garden

Directions: dissolve some baking soda in water and swish the solution in your mouth for about 20 seconds before spitting it out. Do this about 3 times daily. Baking soda is not harmful when swallowed but they are extremely salty, so you should make sure you spit it out. 

• Using Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera gel is known to provide some soothing from sunburns but it also works well for canker sores. It helps to soothe the pain from canker sores and facilitate healing. 

Directions: add aloe vera gel to water and stir it well before swishing the mixture gently over the sores. Do this 3 times daily.

• Vitamin B-12 Supplement

Vitamin B-12 is known to help nervous system and the brain function properly. Moreover, according to a study in 2017, intake of vitamin B-12 helps to reduce the pain caused by canker sores and their rate of outbreak.

• Yoghurt

Canker sores are said to be caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori which can be eradicated by living probiotic cultures like lactobacillus. Yoghurt is known to contain living probiotic cultures; so taking one cup of yogurt every day can help to cure canker sores and can also help prevent them.

• Zinc Lozenges

Zinc helps to boost the immune system. Canker sores, like many other illnesses, will thrive in the absence of a strong immune system. Regular intake of zinc lozenges will help strengthen the immune system to fight off the bacteria that causes canker sores. 

Note that Canker sores are different from Cold sores in that Canker sores do not appear on the lips and they are not contagious. 

Some Tips for Healing Canker Sores

• When you have canker sores, it is best to avoid eating acidic foods. This is because acidic foods can elongate the healing period than it normally should be. 
• You can also experiment with the home remedies we discussed above. Try to combine some of them for greater effectiveness.
• See your doctor: canker sores mostly do not require you to visit your physician. They heal by themselves and the above home remedies surely hasten the healing process. Nevertheless, there are few occasions that may require you to see a doctor. For instance, if you’re feeling extreme pain and fever, if eating and drinking are unbearable, or if the sore is taking too long to heal (more than 2 weeks). In general, once you notice anything out of the ordinary, please ensure you see a doctor.