4 Ways To Get Rid Of Canker Sores

Canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers, are small, yellow ulcers that develop inside your mouth, particularly on your tongue, lips, and cheeks. Although these sores won’t last long, dealing with them daily can be frustrating. This is undoubtedly because of the tingling or stinging sensation in your mouth that makes you feel uncomfortable. 

Due to the discomfort and pain caused by canker sores, you can take the necessary steps to address this mouth condition and avoid further complications. That way, you don’t have to deal with pain and other problems, such as difficulty eating or talking.  

Here are the four ways for getting rid of canker sores: 

■ Try Light Treatment  

With the advancement of many technological innovations these days, treating canker sores may be done through light treatment. There are hand-held devices that utilize high-powered light to manage these ulcers. The wavelengths of red light from these light treatment devices are said to improve canker sores by alleviating pain and speeding up the healing time.  

However, if you’ve heard about this light treatment for canker sores, you can talk to your doctor or check out some reliable online resources to obtain additional info.  

■ Try Over-The-Counter Treatments  

There are also OTC treatments that may be used to reduce the pain and discomfort associated with canker sores. These can include topical products and oral medications. If you’re not fond of ingesting medications orally, you can apply topical treatments, such as creams, gels, and pastes.

They’re said to relieve pain and facilitate quick healing when applied to the affected area in your mouth. Some common topical treatments can include: 

■ Hydrogen peroxide  

■ Benzocaine  

■ Fluocinonide 

On the other hand, you can also try some oral medications, especially when the canker sores don’t effectively respond to topical treatments. A typical example is oral steroid medications. They’re believed to help treat severe canker sores. But, due to the side effects, these oral treatments are considered a last resort for treating these sores. If you want to ensure your safety while trying these OTC treatments, you can visit a dentist in your area to get proper recommendations and prescriptions.  

■ Use Some Home Remedies  

There are also some home and natural remedies that may help get rid of canker sores. Since these ulcers don’t usually last for a very long time in your mouth, some DIY treatments may help alleviate discomfort and pain. These can include: 

■ Baking Soda: If you have baking soda at home, you may use this powder to manage the sores by reducing inflammation. To get started, you need to dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in ½ cup of clean water. Rinse your mouth with it for around 15 to 30 seconds and spit it out. Repeat the process for a few hours to ensure a more favorable result.  

■ Alum Powder: It’s made from potassium aluminum sulfate known for treating canker sores. This may be due to its astringent properties that may help dry out ulcers and ease the pain. To use alum powder, you need to mix it with a drop of water. Apply the mixture to the sore and leave it there for at least one minute. Wash your mouth carefully and perform the steps again until the sore is healed.  

■ Salt Water: It’s one of the common home remedies for canker sores. All you have to do is mix salt with clean, warm water, and rinse your mouth with it for a few seconds. Do the process every few hours to speed up healing and ensure a more desirable result.  

■ Coconut Oil: It’s another natural remedy you can try to get rid of canker sores. Coconut oil has inflammatory properties that may help reduce pain and dry out these ulcers. To use it for treatment, just apply the oil to the affected area and repeat it until the sore is gone.  

■ Milk Of Magnesia: It has magnesium hydroxide as an ingredient, making it an excellent natural treatment for canker sores. It may help ease irritation and pain by applying it to the sore, letting it sit there for a few seconds, and rinsing it. To ensure a better outcome, you can repeat the application thrice a day.  

■ Honey: It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that may help minimize sore pain. To use it for treatment, you have to apply unpasteurized honey four times a day because it’s less processed and contains the healing properties you need.  

■ Take Care Of Your Mouth 

Some lifestyle habits can aggravate canker sores. So, if you want to reduce the pain and slowly get rid of it, you need to take extra care of your mouth. You can do this by following the steps below: 

■ Make sure to chew your food properly to avoid biting your tongue and touching the affected area.  

■ Refrain from eating spicy and salty foods to alleviate pain and speed up the drying out process of the canker sores.  

■ Practice proper oral hygiene, such as brushing your teeth gently to avoid trauma to the sores.   

Bottom Line  

Like other oral problems, experiencing canker sores may affect your life. Although they usually go away after a few weeks, they may still make you uncomfortable. Therefore, if you have painful canker sores, keep the information mentioned above in mind. Doing so can help you get familiar with the best ways of getting rid of these sores as quickly as possible.  

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