With Reflexologist Nuria Weaver
Home Remedies for Canker Sores
Canker sores are some open, shallow and small sores that occur in the mouth. This can make eating and talking quite uncomfortable. According to a study, about one in five people get canker sores which can be recurrent. However, you can find ways to ease the problem by following some home remedies for canker sores.
The condition is also referred to as aphthous ulcers that can get to the tongue and the inside of cheeks and lips. This is common in the parts of the mouth that can move. In most cases the sores occur alone but at times they can occur in small cluster as well.
Types of Canker Sores:
These non contagious sores are usually of two common types which are listed below:
- Simple canker sores usually appear in a year 2-3 times, however, this does not last for more than a week. The common victims for such simple canker sores are young people between the ages of 10-20 years.
- The complex canker sores are less common and occur among people who are previously infected by the condition.
Causes of Canker Sores:
To be precise the exact cause for canker sores are not known yet. This are not related to another type of sores called the cold sores or also known herpes simplex virus. Some of the possible causes for canker sores are listed below:
- Mouth injuries that are frequently suffered by contact sports player
- Accidently biting the cheek and the lip also may result in canker sore
- A hot food or drink can also result in canker sores if the area was burned by some other offending substances
- Chewing of tobacco can also result into such type of sores because of the present of irritating chemicals in tobacco
- Spicy and acidic food
- Poor fitted dentures that may cause rubbing in the mouth tissues
- Orthodontic brackets and bands can cause a constant friction on the oral tissue
- Broken tissues that rub on the oral tissues can cause canker sores as well
- Allergies to a particular metal such as nickel can result into such type of sores
Symptoms for Canker Sores:
The signs and symptoms will help you know whether you are suffering from canker sores or not. Some of the common signs are listed below:
- A painful sore occurs within the mouth usually on the tongue, soft palate and inside of the cheeks
- A burning sensation accompanies with the sores
- A tingling feeling around the sores
- Usually the sores appear as a round white or gray in color with a red edge on the border
In a little chronic case of canker sores, you may observe the following signs:
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Physical sluggishness
- Swollen lymph nodes
The pain associated with canker sores in most cases lessens within a short span of time. This can heal in two weeks times. Nevertheless, if you want to speed the healing process without any side-effects then these home remedies will come very useful.
- A moist tea bag placed on the affected area will be very effective. Tea contains some natural astringent called tannin that will speed the healing process.
- To soothe the pain and discomfort, you simply have to place the ice cube on the sore.
- You can also opt for buttermilk. Instead of drinking the buttermilk you can apply it on the canker sores.
- Another alternative to canker sores is to mix some baking soda and make a paste out of it and apply directly on the affected area to relieve the pain.
- Honey too works well when it comes to the treatment of canker sores. All you need to add a pinch of turmeric to a teaspoon of honey. Dab this mixture on the mouth sore. This may initially sting but nonetheless can prove to be a very effective treatment for such type of sores.
- Aloe vera juice is also effective when it comes in the treatment of canker sores. Simply rinse your mouth with the juice as many times as you can.
- Alum on the canker sores is also effective to treat canker sores. Use this two times a day to speed up the healing process.
- A mouth wash for canker sores are also effective. Instead of buying, you can prepare one at home by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda in a half cup of warm water. Another mouth wash you can prepare is by adding about 5-6 drops of grapefruit seed extract in a glass of water. Rinse your mouth with this mouth wash two times a day.
- Another disinfectant can be prepared by adding one part of hydrogen peroxide in three parts of water. Use this mouth wash for rinsing and healing of canker sores.
- Onions are also excellent for canker sores. All you need to do is to apply the juice of raw onions on the affected area.
- Plum juice can also be used for rinsing purpose. For extreme case if the sore is too bad then apply the juice directly on the sore with a cotton ball.
- You can also apply tea tree oil on the sores to speed up the healing process.
Preventive measures and tips for canker sores:
Although you cannot cure canker sores and the reoccurrence of it, but you can reduce the frequency by following some measures:
- Do not take any sort of acidic and spicy food.
- Avoid chewing gums as this may cause irritation of the sores.
- Use soft bristle brush and floss regularly to free the mouth with food particles that can trigger a sore.
These home remedies for canker sores can be better than the contemporary medications. However, do consult the dentist if the sores take a longer period to heal.
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