Canker Sore Home Remedies With Salt

Canker sores, or aphthous ulcers, may occur due to a variety of conditions such as a poor immune system, mouth injury from dental work, allergic reaction to bacteria in the mouth or helicobacter pylori bacteria. They can also be caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a poor diet or celiac disease. The small lesions are found in the soft tissue of the inside cheeks, tongue or gums. They are different from cold sores, which occur on the outside of the lips. Cold sores are contagious, while canker sores are not. Since they usually go away by themselves in a week or so, the main concern is symptomatic relief from the "soreness" of the sores. One treatment for symptomatic relief is the use of salt. There are several ways to use salt on a canker sore, from a mild solution to direct application.

Salt Rinse

Rinse your mouth with a solution of salt water. Mix 2 tbsp. of salt with 6 oz. of warm water. Rinse with the solution three to four times per day. If the sting of the salt is too intense, reduce the mixture to 2 tsp. of salt mixed with 6 oz. of water. Salt is a mild antiseptic and may not sting as much as some commercial mouthwashes.

Soda/Salt Mix

When you first spot a canker sore, rinse with a solution of 1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt in 1 cup of warm water. The solution is milder than straight salt solution and should cause very little stinging.

Salt Paste

Mix 1 tsp. of salt with 1/2 tsp. of water. The resulting mix is quite potent and may sting more than the salt solution mix. A similar mix can be made from 1 tsp. of bicarbonate of soda, a pinch of salt and 1/2 tsp. of water.

Straight Salt

Wet a finger, dip it in salt and put the resulting dab directly on the sore. The resulting mix is about as potent as the salt paste, and is not for the faint of heart. Once the salt reaches the inner core of the sore, it may sting quite a bit.