How To Heal Mouth Sores

Canker sores are painful, plain, and simple.  Whether they are developed as a result of stress, hereditary links, hormonal issues, or a number of other related factors, canker sores often cause pain so intense you want to give up eating and drinking altogether.

Even though canker sores can come from a number of sources, there are also many things you can do to ease the pain and heal the sores.

Alter Your Diet

For the short term, the easiest way to soothe the pain associated with mouth sores is to stay from foods that are spicy, have a high salt content, or are acidic.  Substitute cream sauces for tomato bases and apple juice for orange.

Soft foods, such as pudding, Jell-O, mashed potatoes, cooked vegetables, cereal, melons, or berries can also create less irritation to the area.   Yogurt is not only soft but, when held against the sore yogurt helps to heal the sore with its beneficial bacterial cultures.

Cold foods can also create a soothing effect, as long as you stick to something smooth.

You should also be aware that canker sores may be caused by allergies.  If you are experiencing allergic reactions, you may want to do some research to be sure you aren’t eating something that is causing these sores.

Mixes that Heal

Now that you how to create the soothing sensations with a slight alteration of your diet, you should try using some of the following mixes to speed healing/recovery time.

1. Rinse your mouth with ½ t. salt dissolved in 8 oz. of water.
2. Swish 1 t. baking soda with warm water multiple times a day.
3. Make a paste out of baking soda and warm water by using less water and apply the paste directly to the sore.
4. Tea tree oil mixed with water can be used as another daily rinse solution.
5. Use sage to make sage tea and rinse your mouth several times a day.
6. Sugar with lemon or lime. Put sugar, lemon or lime, and warm water on the stove and mix until melted. Apply when warm (not hot) to the sore for immediate relief.

Daily Vitamins & Other Remedies

There are also some vitamins that you can amp upon during times when you have canker sores.  These vitamins have been proven as a remedy for canker sores and can significantly speed healing time.

• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Milk of Magnesia
• Vitamin B12
• L-lysine works if the sore is in the beginning stages.

If vitamins just aren’t enough to take care of the sore, try these other easy fixes.

• Plum Juice – while this isn’t technically a vitamin, swishing plum juice can help heal the sore.
• Apply Alum and then rinse. (May cause a temporary burning sensation) You can also substitute pickle juice.
• Place a used tea bag against the sore for an extended period of time.
• Sorrel – press a piece against the sore until it becomes soggy.
• Raw onion held against the sore is also supposed to heal it more quickly.
• Try over the counter numbing agents for pain reduction.
• Let the ice melt over the sore.
• Use toothpaste that doesn’t include a foaming agent or has special canker sore healing ingredients.
• Getting enough sleep could also dramatically improve your sore in a shorter amount of time. Rest allows your stress to wane and your body to heal properly.

If nothing is working, you may have to turn to the dentist for prescription and over-the-counter suggestions.