The Mayo Clinic describes a canker sore as a small, shallow lesion that develops on the soft tissues of the mouth, under the tongue, inside the cheeks or lips and at the base of the gums. It differs from a cold sore in that it does not occur on the surface of the lips and is not contagious. The pain can be intense making regular activities like eating and talking difficult. There are several methods of treatment that can ease the pain and assist in healing the lesion.
Step 1
Take 500 milligrams of Vitamin C per day. According to Mother Nature, introducing more Vitamin C into the diet can improve the canker sore as well as prevent future outbreaks. Foods high in Vitamin C can also be consumed, including broccoli, cantaloupe, red bell peppers and cranberry juice.
Step 2
Purchase Vitamin E capsules. Pierce a capsule and squeeze the oil onto the canker sore to relieve the pain and help the skin heal.
Step 3
Swish peroxide around the mouth two times per day or after every meal to cleanse the lesion. Be sure to spit the peroxide out after rinsing.
Step 4
Mix 1 tsp. of baking soda with 1/2 cup warm water. Rinse the mouth with this mixture two to three times per day. Make a paste of baking soda and a small amount of water and apply it directly to the lesion. The soda will reduce pain and help speed the healing.
Step 5
Purchase an over-the-counter canker sore reliever like Orabase-B or Zilactol. Apply the solution on top of the canker sore once or twice daily, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations. This remedy can soothe the pain and reduce the healing time of the lesion.
Step 6
Visit your dentist or doctor if canker sores are chronic, overly large or very painful. Prescription treatment can be provided. Examples include mouth rinses containing steroids to reduce pain and inflammation or oral rinses containing antibiotics. Topical pastes can be prescribed and applied two times daily to relieve pain and speed the healing process. In severe cases, an oral steroid can be prescribed and taken orally.
Things You'll Need
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E capsules
- Hydrogen peroxide
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 cup warm water
- Topical paste containing triamcinolone acetonide
