Illness, medications, dental appliances and even your diet can cause mouth sores on either the inside or the outside of your mouth. Some types of mouth sores are treated with pain medications, but there are a number of home remedies you can practice at home to relieve the pain or irritation of a mouth sore. Adjusting your diet and lifestyle may help you feel better. Creating pastes and mouthwashes from natural products are also home remedies to try when you have a sore in or around your mouth. The American Academy of Otolaryngology suggests that you speak to your doctor about a mouth sore that remains for more than two weeks after self-treatment.
Adjusted Diet
Adjusting your diet to avoid foods that exacerbate mouth sores, and to include foods that are soothing in natural, can be an effective home remedy for mouth sores that are located in the lining of your mouth, as well as cold sores near your lips. Foods that are very spicy or salty can heighten the irritation of open sores--think of the common saying "pouring salt into a wound." Foods that are hot in temperature as well as spicy heat may cause more pain as well. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests a diet that includes cool items like ice pops and cold water. A cold water gargle before swallowing might also relieve some of your discomfort.
Canker Sore Paste
A paste made with baking soda and water is a natural remedy that can take the sting out of canker sores, and is made from items most people generally stock in their homes. Measurements of baking soda to water will vary depending on the number of sores you are treating at the same time, but the paste should be relatively thin to facilitate easy application to the sore. Cotton swabs are ideal for applying the paste to the canker sore, as the soft tip will minimize the irritation during the application process. The paste hardens and forms a protective barrier between the mouth sore and the gums, teeth or dental appliances that might be causing your irritation.
Herbal Mouthwash
Rinsing your mouth with an herbal mouthwash made from arnica can soothe mouth sores without an initial trip to the doctor. Arnica is a plant that is used as a topical treatment for bruising and swelling of the skin and, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, should not be taken internally due to the possibility of serious side effects. However, using a diluted mixture of 1 part liquid tincture to 10 equal parts water, an arnica mouth wash may have a beneficial effect on mouth sores. Take care not to swallow the mouthwash, but rather to discard of it after swishing throughout your mouth.
Lifestyle Changes
If you suffer from frequent, painful mouth sores, making some changes to your lifestyle may help reduce the frequency of your sores. The American Academy of Otolaryngology explains that certain aspects of people's lives could be causing mouth sores, including smoking, being under a lot of stress and inadequate dental hygiene. Brushing and flossing your teeth on a daily basis to remove bacteria that could lead to infection and sores is an important part of preventing mouth sores, and may help them heal more quickly as well.
