Home Remedies for Canker Sores

Get Rid of Canker Sores

You likely already have home remedies for canker sores in your kitchen or medicine cabinet. These canker sore remedies can aid in healing and give pain relief.

So What is a Canker Sore?

A canker sore is a small ulcer anywhere inside the mouth. They begin with a tingling and then develop a blister which bursts. This leaves a white patch of dead skin cells surrounded by a red ring. Canker sores are actually a bacterial infection and they are not contageous. They are quite painful and can take up to two weeks to heal.

It is not known what causes a canker sore or mouth ulcer to suddenly appear. Some people get them as often as once or twice a month. If this is happening to you, it would be wise to keep a food diary to see if you can figure out what food or type of food is triggering the canker sore. Some people find that eating walnuts will do it to them every time.

It has been found that some people who suffer from frequent attacks have a Vitamin B12 deficiency. Some people say that eating a live-culture yogurt every day reduces the frequency.

There is no actual cure but you can help them heal faster and get some relief for the pain.

Canker sores are not the same as cold sores or fever blisters. Cold sores are caused by a virus and appear on the outside of the mouth - usually on the lips.

Canker Sore Remedies

Chamomile Extract applied two or three times a day to the sore will help relieve the pain.

Apply the juice from a raw onion to the sore several times a day. It will sting at first but onion is a natural antibiotic.

Make a gargle with a small amount of baking soda and salt dissolved in warm water. Gargle several times a day being careful not to swallow any of the solution.

Dabbing the sore with apple cider vinegar will relieve the pain. It stings at first though.See Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar.

Honey is a natural antibiotic and dabbing it on the sore will also relieve the pain.

Many people have good results by gargling with a mixture of equal parts of water and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide will kill the bacteria in the mouth aiding healing.

Milk of Magnesia dabbed on the sore with a Q-Tip will help with the pain.

Sucking on an antacid tablet several times a day is also soothing.

Peppermint an antiseptic and antibiotic. Make a tea with the leaves and use as a mouthwash.

Many people report that painting the sore with a paste made of Alum and water speeds healing.

Dabbing the sore with powdered goldenseal or goldenseal extract will speed healing. See the amazing benefits of goldenseal.

These home remedies for canker sores are inexpensive and easily available. There are many over-the-counter medicines available as well.