Home Remedies For Canker Sores

Canker Sores are painfully small, craterlike ulcers. They are gray-based with red rims. They usually develop on the insides of the cheeks, the inner lips, and the loose parts of the gums, mouth, and lips. Less commonly, they can affect the esophagus and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract. Home remedies for canker sores can help reduce pain and speed up healing. Small ulcers that occur in the lining of the mouth are known as Canker sores. These are often painful and sensitive. Canker sores are the most common cause of mouth sores. They are also known as Aphthous Stomatitis. They cause discomfort while eating and talking. They are not contagious and occur on the internal soft tissues of the mouth. They can occur at any age and may reoccur once healed. Canker sores are the most commonly occurring type of all sores or ulcers in the mouth. Canker sores typically appear as whitish oval or round ulcers of around a centimeter or less and have a reddish border. These ulcers or sores develop on mucus membranes in the mouth and could develop on the sides of the mouth or even on the tongue. The occurrence of canker sores is so high that it is believed that at almost any given time at least twenty percent of our population is afflicted with the problem.

Canker sores can affect almost anyone irrespective of age, but they generally tend to occur more often in women and teenagers. This may have some connection with hormonal changes and in some cases, the problem may also be hereditary. Individuals with a family history of canker sores may not necessarily suffer frequent outbreaks but are definitely a lot more susceptible. There is usually a burning and tingling sensation starting twenty-four hours before the ulcers actually form, and it is most helpful to start treatment as soon as this is felt. Canker sores can be so painful that they interfere with speaking, eating, and nutrition. The best alternative for healing canker sores is to use home remedies.

If they are less than one centimeter (about one-half inch) in diameter, they are called minor aphthous ulcers. These usually heal by themselves within a week or two. If they are greater than 3 centimeters in diameter, they are classified as major aphthous ulcers, and it often takes six weeks for them to finally heal. When they do, they leave scars. Both small and large ulcers often return, either singly or in crops.

Canker sores are the most common disorder to affect the oral mucous membranes, with between 20 and 50 percent of Americans affected. Women are more likely to be affected than men, usually starting in their twenties or thirties. Some people seem to have an inherited tendency to form canker sores. These people should always use home remedies to treat canker sores to avoid the constant use of hash drugs.

Canker sores may be infectious, resulting from a local bacterial or viral infection. They commonly have one or more triggers, including food allergies, acidic mouth conditions, minor injury to the tissues of the mouth, smoking, vitamin deficiencies, stress, extreme heat, fever, and premenstrual and postmenopausal hormonal changes. People with poorly functioning immune systems are also very susceptible to canker sores. The exact cause of most canker sores is unknown. Stress or tissue injury is thought to be the cause of simple canker sores. Certain foods – including citrus or acidic fruits and vegetables (such as lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, figs, tomatoes, and strawberries) – can trigger a canker sore or make the problem worse. Sometimes a sharp tooth surface or dental appliances, such as braces or ill-fitting dentures, might also trigger canker sores. Some cases of complex canker sores are caused by an underlying health condition, such as an impaired immune system; nutritional problems, such as vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron deficiency; and gastrointestinal tract diseases, such as Celiac disease and Crohn’s disease.

Home Remedies For Canker Sores

1. There are a number of canker sore home remedies that you can try in order to get some relief from the pain that is often brought on when they develop. Perhaps the most basic remedy does not involve taking any type of medication, nor does it involve applying some type of ointment. Instead, the most simplistic canker sore remedy is a change in your dieting habits. You can reduce the risk of experiencing canker sores if you simply eliminate highly acidic foods from your diet or at least reduce the level of intake of them. Consuming a lot of acidic foods such as tomatoes, oranges, pineapples, or others can increase the risk of developing canker sores.
2. Canker sores may be due to a deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid, zinc, the amino acid lysine, or iron, so these nutrients may need to be supplemented aggressively. The following supplements are recommended for people with canker sores:
3. Vitamin B12. Take 1,000 micrograms daily. Also take a vitamin-B complex with 100 milligrams of most of the major B vitamins three times a day, with meals.
4. If you’re looking for a canker sore home remedy, then there are a number of things that you can try. One home remedy that is often times very effective in fighting off canker sores is the milk of magnesia. Milk of magnesia contains high amounts of magnesium hydroxide and can be used to reduce the symptoms caused by canker sores. Dip a cotton swab or cue tip into the milk of magnesia and dab it onto the sore at least three or four times a day. Doing so will help speed up healing time and also help eliminate some of the painful symptoms that are experienced.
5. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids. Take 1,000 milligrams three times a day, with meals.
6. Zinc. Take 50 to 100 milligrams a day.
7. Iron. Take 15 milligrams a day.
8. Folic acid. Take 400 milligrams twice a day.
9. L-Lysine. Take 4 grams (4,000 milligrams) daily for the first four days, then cut back to 500 milligrams three times a day. Take this supplement on an empty stomach.
10. Supplementation with acidophilus powder or capsules to restore the healthy balance of bacteria in the mucous membranes of the mouth is often helpful.
11. Applying the oil from one vitamin-E capsule directly to the sores helps to clear the lesions more quickly.
12. Aloe vera juice, available by the gallon, swished around in your mouth three times a day like a mouthwash often yields good results. Aloe contains salicylates, which are anti-inflammatory and relieve pain, and it also has mild antibacterial properties.
13. Chlorophyll is a blood detoxifier. Chlorophyll tablets are sometimes chewed for the treatment of canker sores.
14. A soothing antiseptic mouth rinse can be made of 1/2 teaspoon of goldenseal powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt dissolved in 1 cup of warm water. Use this as a mouth rinse four times a day. Goldenseal helps reduce inflammation of mucous membranes and has also been shown to have antibacterial properties.
15. Another canker sore home remedy that you can use to help ease the pain caused by canker sores is the application of hydrogen peroxide. You can mix a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, typically a one-to-one solution, and dab the solution directly onto canker sores. Be sure not to swallow the solution as this could cause other health issues. The hydrogen peroxide solution will help fight off the growth of additional bacteria and prevent further inflammation of the canker sores.

Author: Dr Izharul Hasan

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