Canker Sore Home Remedies and Treatment Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Canker Sore Home Remedies and Treatments for Canker Sores While most canker sores will eventually go away without treatment, the following remedies can provide quick relief and help lesions disappear sooner. By Valencia HigueraMedically Reviewed by Ross Radusky, MDReviewed: October 18, 2018Medically ReviewedWhile most canker sores will eventually go away without treatment, the following remedies can provide quick relief and help lesions disappear sooner. Aloe vera gel and chamomile compresses are some of the home remedies that might offer canker sore relief.iStock; ShutterstockDon’t be fooled by a canker sore’s small size. These lesions can be painful and irritating. The good news is that many sores are short-lived, going away on their own within one to two weeks. (1) A canker sore doesn’t usually require a visit to your doctor and if a sore only causes minor pain, you might forgo treatment all together. But when a canker sore sparks a nagging ache, or if the sore makes it difficult to talk or eat, you need fast relief and prompt healing. Read on to learn about 10 home remedies for canker sores: 1 Apply Over-the-Counter OTC Topical Gels to Reduce Irritation Canker sores respond positively to OTC topical creams designed specifically for oral lesions. These products include active ingredients — such as benzocaine and lidocaine — which reduce inflammation and promote healing. (2) Apply a cream or paste directly to the canker sore. This provides a protective layer over the sore until it heals, so that eating and drinking don’t cause further irritation. 2 Rinse With Antiseptic Mouthwashes to Clean the Area and Relieve Pain Some palliative mouth rinses, like Rincinol, or numbing mouth rinses with lidocaine can be helpful, too, says Samantha Rawdin, DMD, a prosthodontist based in New York City. OTC mouthwashes with antiseptic properties reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth, which also assists with healing and prevents a canker sore from worsening. (3,4) For a severe canker sore, your doctor may prescribe a steroid mouthwash containing the ingredient dexamethasone. (2) 3 Make Your Own Salt or Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse Rinsing your mouth with ingredients in your medicine cabinet can also relieve pain and irritation caused by a canker sore. Take hydrogen peroxide, for example. It can minimize the amount of bacteria in your mouth. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with one part water. Gargle the solution and then rinse out your mouth with water — don’t swallow hydrogen peroxide. (5) Another option is a salt rinse. Dissolve 1 teaspoon (tsp) of salt (or baking soda) in ½ cup of warm water. Gargle and then rinse out your mouth with water. Again, don’t swallow the salt solution. A salt mixture helps dry out a canker sore so that it’ll heal faster. Repeat the rinse several times a day. (2) 4 Improve Your Oral Hygiene Habits and Check the Ingredients in Products Be gentle when brushing and flossing. Being too rough or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can cause further irritation, prolonging or worsening a canker sore. Switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush instead. (2) Bear in mind that an ingredient in some mouthwashes and toothpastes — sodium lauryl sulfate — has been associated with repeated canker sores. Avoiding these products could reduce your number of outbreaks. (1) Also, if your oral hygiene habits have been lacking lately, making improvements may also reduce bacteria in your mouth and speed healing. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily. See your dentist for cleanings every six months or twice a year. (3) 5 Take Vitamin Supplements for Nutritional Deficiencies While the exact cause of canker sores is unknown, these ulcers are seen in people with nutritional deficiencies, including low levels of zinc, folic acid, and iron. (6) “Optimizing nutrition is the first defense against recurrent canker sores,” says Deborah Malkoff-Cohen, RD, CDE, who is based in New York City. “Ensuring a well-balanced diet or adequate vitamin and supplementation if you’re a vegan or avoiding certain food groups is paramount in keeping your immune system healthy and functioning at its best.” Frequent canker sores may also indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency. If so, other possible signs of this deficiency include: (7)Numbness or a tingling sensation in your hands, legs, or feetBalance problemsAnemiaSwollen tongueWeaknessFatigueDecreased cognitive function (memory problems, brain fog, trouble concentrating) Malkoff-Cohen also warns that a deficiency of B12 and iron prohibits proper regeneration of the mucosal lining of the cheeks and mouth, potentially triggering canker sores in some people. A blood test can confirm or rule out nutritional deficiencies. If testing confirms an underlying problem, your doctor will discuss ways to boost your level. Options include supplementation or increasing consumption of foods fortified with a particular nutrient or vitamin. This might include eating more fish, eggs, dairy products, poultry, and meat if you have B12 deficiency. (7) 6 Avoid Acidic Spicy or Salty Trigger Foods Continuing to consume trigger foods can slow the healing process and exacerbate a canker sore. Avoid salty foods, acidic foods and drinks, and spicy foods until the sore heals, and then limit your intake of these to avoid repeated lesions. You should also limit hard, abrasive foods — crackers or toasted bread, for example — which can further irritate a canker sore. (3,8) 7 Suck on Ice to Reduce Pain and Inflammation Pain and inflammation can make it difficult to eat, drink, or talk. Along with oral medication, take ibuprofen to reduce inflammation or suck on ice chips to temporarily numb the area around the sore. (2) 8 Use Aloe Vera Gel to Soothe the Area Due to the anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating effect of aloe vera, the plant is often used to treat wounds and reduce pain. According to a clinical trial study published in the July–August 2012 issue of Dental Research Journal, which included 40 patients, two percent aloe vera gel may decrease the frequency and occurrence of canker sores, and quickly reduce the size of these lesions. (9) 9 Try a Calming Chamomile Tea Compress Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and a mild astringent. So it’s often used to treat a variety of conditions, such as ulcers, eczema, arthritis pain, hemorrhoids, the common cold, and infections. It’s also believed that chamomile may help treat canker sores, although more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of this remedy. (10) If you choose to experiment with this herb for medicinal purposes, soak a chamomile tea bag in water and then apply it directly to the mouth sore. Or rinse your mouth with chamomile tea a few times a day. 10 Coat the Canker Sore With Milk of Magnesium This medication is commonly used to relieve constipation, but it may also prove effective for canker sores, helping lesions heal faster, explains Jennifer Silver, DDS, a dentist based in Calgary, British Columbia. Apply a small amount directly to the lesion a few times a day. The medication will coat the canker sore, reducing irritation and pain. (3) What to Do if the Canker Sore Isn t Healing Plenty of at-home remedies can help relieve pain and promote healing of canker sores, but if a sore doesn't improve within two weeks or becomes worse, see a doctor. Depending on the size and the depth of a lesion, you may need a prescription mouthwash or an oral steroid. Resources We LoveMayo ClinicCleveland ClinicAmerican Academy of Family PhysiciansNEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Healthy Living Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking ReferencesCanker Sore: Overview. Mayo Clinic. April 3, 2018.Canker Sore: Diagnosis. Mayo Clinic. April 3, 2018.Canker Sores. American Academy of Family Physicians. June 9, 2017.Canker Sore: Management and Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. March 3, 2015.Canker Sores: Treatment. The American Academy of Oral Medicine. December 31, 2007.Canker Sores:Cleveland Clinic. March 3, 2015.Skerrett P. Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Be Sneaky, Harmful. Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School. August 14, 2018.Rabin RC. What Causes Canker Sores? The New York Times. March 16, 2018.Babaee N, Zabihi E, Mohseni S, et al. Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effects of Aloe Vera Gel on Minor Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis. Dental Research Journal. July–August 2012.Srivastava J, Shankar E,Gupta S. Chamomile: A Herbal Medicine of the Past With Bright Future. Molecular Medicine Reports. February 2011.Show Less The Latest in Canker Sore Canker Sores Symptoms and DiagnosisThink you might have a canker sore? Here’s a look at common symptoms to help you distinguish these lesions from other sores.By Valencia HigueraSeptember 15, 2022 9 Frequently Asked Questions About Canker SoresCanker sores are lesions in the mouth that usually aren’t serious, but they can be extremely irritating. 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