How Do I Treat Mouth Ulcers

How Are Canker Sores Treated

Most canker sores will heal on their own in a few days to a couple of weeks. While you’re waiting for them to disappear, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for the pain.

You’ll also want to watch what you eat. Spicy foods and acidic foods such as lemons or tomatoes can be extremely painful on these open wounds. Stay away from hard, scratchy, or crunchy foods like nuts, toast, pretzels, or potato chips for a while. They can poke or rub the sore.

Be careful when you brush your teeth. Brush and rinse with toothpastes and mouthwashes that don’t contain SLS. And avoid brushing the sore itself with a toothbrush, which will make it worse.

If you have canker sores that do not get better after a few weeks, if the sores keep coming back, or if they make you feel so sick that you don’t want to eat, call your doctor or dentist. He or she may prescribe a topical medicine or special mouthwash to help heal the sores.

For medicines that are applied directly to the sore, first blot the area dry with a tissue. Use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of the medicine, and don’t eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to make sure it isn’t washed away.

They can certainly be a pain, but in most cases canker sores aren’t serious and should go away on their own.

When Are Tablets Needed

About 15 out of 100 people who keep on getting canker sores have large inflammations or an especially large number of them. Some of them then have such severe pain that it becomes difficult to eat, drink or sleep especially if the canker sores heal only gradually or constantly come back.

In these rare, severe cases, it may be a good idea to take tablets in addition to using a local treatment for instance, steroid tablets. They have an effect both on the membranes lining the mouth and the rest of the body . But side effects may be more common then.

Treatment Of Mouth Ulcers

Mouth Ulcers do not need treatment as they go away with time. But if the ulcers are large and extremely painful please visit your dentist for treatment options:

• Rinse with salt water and baking soda
• Apply pain relief ointments like Orajel or Anbesol
• Apply ice to canker sores or use cold water
• Placing old tea bags on the sores
• Drink cool chamomile tea
• Milk of magnesia can also be a good option and is advised to place on Mouth Ulcers

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Salt Water Mouth Rinse

Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water helps to disinfect the canker sore and speed-up healing. Salt has an antibacterial effect, which removes bacteria from any affected region. In order to make a salt water solution simply add a teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water. Rinse your mouth with this solution for a few minutes, twice a day.

Sea Salt And Saltwater

Sea salt also has antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-microbial properties, which is necessary for killing bacteria and healing the mouth ulcer fast.

So the simple Saltwater is also beneficial for mouth ulcers. You can find both in your kitchen or can buy sea salt from any superstore.

How to use

• Take 1 tablespoon of sea salt in one glass of water you can also add some drops of hydrogen peroxide to this solution.
• Rinse your mouth with this water for 1 to 2 minutes, do not swallow it.
• Take 1 teaspoon of salt and add it half glass of water and rinse your mouth with that.
• Repeat both remedies twice a day.

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What Can Help Relieve The Symptoms

Various kinds of medications can be used to treat canker sores. They can be applied to the sores in the form of a gel, cream, paste or spray. Some are also available as a mouthwash or lozenges:

• Local anesthetics: Local anesthetics like lidocaine or benzocaine can dull the pain. They are typically applied to the sores as a gel or cream.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs: Some medicines contain the painkiller diclofenac, which is an NSAID. Diclofenac can relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
• Antiseptic drugs: Mouthwashes with germ-killing ingredients like chlorhexidine or triclosan are used to stop germs from growing in the wound and delaying the healing process or making the inflammation worse.
• Plant-based remedies : Tinctures made from myrrh or rhubarb root help some people. These plant-based remedies cause the blood vessels in the mucous membranes to become narrower, which is believed to relieve the pain.

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is a common, non-contagious infection of the gums with sudden onset. The main features are painful, bleeding gums, and ulceration of inter-dental papillae . This disease, along with necrotizing periodontitis is classified as a , one of the seven general types of .

What Does A Mouth Ulcer Look Like

Mouth ulcers are usually round or oval sores that commonly appear inside the mouth on the:

• cheeks
• tongue

They can be white, red, yellow or grey in colour and swollen.

It’s possible to have more than one mouth ulcer at a time and they may spread or grow.

Mouth ulcers shouldn’t be confused with cold sores, which are small blisters that develop on the lips or around the mouth. Cold sores often begin with a tingling, itching or burning sensation around your mouth.

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Garlic For Mouth Ulcers

Image: Shutterstock

1 garlic clove

What You Have To Do

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice or thrice a day.

Why This Works

Like turmeric, garlic is also extensively used to treat infections because of its strong antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microorganisms. The allicin found in garlic is said to be the main component that is responsible for this property .

Sign Of Another Infection

If you or your child have several mouth ulcers, this can be a symptom of:

• hand, foot and mouth disease a contagious illness that also causes a rash on the hands and feet
• oral lichen planus a condition that causes a white, lacy pattern inside the cheeks
• thrush infection a fungal infection that can cause white curd-like blisters

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Epsom Salt For Mouth Ulcers

Image: Shutterstock

What You Have To Do

How Often You Should Do This

Drink three to four glasses in a day.

Why This Works

Cabbage juice possesses anti-inflammatory compounds and speeds up the healing process of the mouth ulcers .

Now that you know how to get rid of mouth ulcers, its time you try these remedies. The remedies listed above are versatile and work for most types of mouth ulcers. Using them diligently will heal the ulcer in no time.

Knowing the types of mouth ulcers will help you deal with them better. Listed below are the types:

Is It Worth Going To A Dentist Because Of An Ulcer In My Mouth

As a general rule no.

In the majority of cases, a dentist will be of little use in curing a mouth ulcer or Canker Sore

However there are definitely cases where a mouth ulcer or Canker Sore warrants a visit to the dentist.

1) If an ulcer is larger than 2cm in diameter than it may require surgical removal by an oral surgeon or dermatologist.

These Giant Ulcers will likely be incredibly painful, and may leave a scar post removal.

Regularly getting these ulcers may be the sign of a more serious underlying condition.

Giant ulcer on back of the mouth

2) If someone has more than 3 ulcers at any one time, than it is worth visiting a GP or dentist as this may be indicative of an underlying condition.

Such conditions may range from undiagnosed food allergies to auto-immune diseases such as HIV.

It is therefore important to seek medical advice if this happens to you.

3) If an ulcer or canker sore is causing an unbearable amount of pain, then it is a dental emergency.

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What Caregivers Can Do

• Use a flashlight to check the patients mouth for red areas or white patches, which often become sores. If the patient wears dentures, remove them before looking.
• Offer liquids with a straw, which may help bypass the sores in the mouth.
• Offer soft foods. Mash or puree foods in a blender to make them easier to eat.
• Try coating mouth sores with Anbesol® or Orajel® before meals to numb them during eating, if OK with the cancer care team.
• Offer pain medicines 30 minutes before mealtime.

What Causes Mouth Ulcers

The exact cause of mouth ulcers is unknown. But there are several factors that can contribute to the development of these sores:

• Minor tissue injury from dental work, such as having a cavity filled.
• Accidentally biting your cheek or tongue.
• Allergic reaction to certain bacteria.
• Viral, bacterial or fungal infections.

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Why Do Mouth Ulcers Turn White

White patches in the mouth are a common symptom of infection, inflammation, trauma, malignancy, and other underlying conditions and diseases. Mouth white patches result from pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, which inflame the lining of the mouth causing swelling, redness, and ulcer formation.

All About Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers are very common. They are painful, uncomfortable sores that can appear anywhere in your mouth, though they are most commonly found on the tongue or the insides of the mouth. Theyre usually round or oval shaped and appear raised and swollen. Mouth ulcers can be red, white, yellow or grey in colour.

You can have single or multiple ulcers in your mouth and they can be very tender and sore, making it uncomfortable to eat, drink or brush your teeth. Fortunately, there are mouth ulcer treatments you can try at home that can help clear them up faster and stop them from coming back.

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Are Mouth Ulcers And Canker Sores A Symptom Of Oral Cancer

99.9% of mouth ulcers are benign, and are not a symptom of cancer.

However, if you do have oral cancer, mouth ulcers that do not go away are a symptom.

Cancerous mouth ulcers usually appear under the tongue.

They can also appear in other parts of the mouth but this is less common.

Even if you do have a resilient ulcer under your tongue, it is very unlikely to be related to cancer.

You should however have some cause for concern if you have such an ulcer in conjunction with risk factors for mouth cancer.

These are:

Over The Counter Mouth Ulcer Treatments

Over-the-counter products can speed up recovery, reduce discomfort, and assist with more severe mouth ulcerations. You can use an antibacterial mouthrinse to soothe irritation or apply a mild topical paste to the affected area. If the sores don’t heal after 7-14 days or seem to be reappearing, you should consult with a doctor or dentist.

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Diagnosis For Mouth Ulcers

You may not need to see your doctor about a mouth sore unless they are persistent, you have other symptoms, or you are feeling very unwell. Your doctor will take your personal and medical history and do a physical exam to look at your sores.

Your doctor may look to see if you have large white patches on the roof of your mouth to rule out an infection called thrush or for signs of other conditions.

Your dentist can also examine your mouth and diagnose your mouth ulcers during annual checkups and cleanings.

Symptoms Of Mouth Ulcers

The symptoms of a mouth ulcer depend on the cause, but may include:

• One or more painful sores on part of the skin lining the mouth.
• Swollen skin around the sores.
• Problems with chewing or tooth brushing because of the tenderness.
• Irritation of the sores by salty, spicy or sour foods.
• Loss of appetite.

Aphthous ulcers generally occur on the softer mouth lining of the lips, cheeks, sides of the tongue, floor of the mouth, back of the roof of the mouth and around the tonsil area. These ulcers are usually no larger than 5mm. You may develop more than one aphthous ulcer at a time, and sometimes these ulcers are joined together.

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What To Look For

• Sores in the mouth that may be red, or may have small white patches in the middle. They may bleed or become infected.
• Swelling in the gums, mouth, or throat
• Pain or discomfort when you chew or swallow. This may also feel like a sore throat.
• Small ulcers, bleeding, or sores in mouth, on gums, or on or under tongue
• A white or yellow film, patches, or pus in the mouth or on the tongue
• Increased mucus in the mouth
• Feeling of dryness, mild burning, or pain when eating hot and cold foods
• Heartburn or indigestion

Simple Tips To Cure A Mouth Sore

When a mouth sore arises it has a way to derail the next few days. Everything from eating to talking, to drinking, becomes difficult with a painful mouth sore. Whether your mouth sore has popped up from an injury to your mouth, eating spicy or acidic foods, or from an abrasion caused by braces or dentures, the important thing is to get mouth sores treated. It is important to stop possible infection and get your sore healed so you can go about your normal day. Most mouth sores do not need medical attention and can be cured at home with some easy remedies and a little bit of time. Of course, should a mouth sore show no improvement after a week it is a good idea to seek medical attention.

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Gargle With Baking Soda

To some quantity of baking soda add water and blend thoroughly till it turns to a paste. Now, apply this mixture to the mouth ulcer and leave it on for few minutes till it dries. Finally, rinse your mouth while gargling.

Do this twice a day. Like mouthwash baking soda also improves the hygiene levels of mouth and is the best home remedy to get rid of mouth sores.

What Are Mouth Ulcers

A mouth ulcer is the loss or erosion of part of the delicate tissue that lines the inside of the mouth .

There are many things that cause mouth ulcers. The most common cause is injury . Other causes include aphthous ulceration, certain medications, skin rashes in the mouth, viral, bacterial and fungal infections, chemicals and some medical conditions.

An ulcer that wont heal may be a sign of mouth cancer.

In most cases, mouth ulcers are harmless and resolve by themselves within 10 to 14 days without the need for treatment.

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Watermelon Juice For Mouth Ulcers

Besides coconut water, the watermelon fruit also contains 90% of water. Furthermore, its fully packed with antioxidants which also has a great impact in healing the mouth ulcers or mouth sores.

In the hot summers with scorching sun and inflamed mouth ulcers, watermelon juice is a perfect drink and the best body coolant.

The Cause Of Aphthous Ulcers Isnt Known

• Around one in five adults suffer from recurring bouts of aphthous ulcers, which are mouth ulcers with no known cause
• The tongue, gums or mouth lining can be affected
• Crops of these tiny off-white ulcers tend to sprout during times of emotional stress or the menstrual period
• This has led some researchers to suggest that aphthous ulcers may be caused by an immune system reaction, since the immune system is affected by stress and hormones
• The underlying trigger may be a virus or an allergic reaction
• Another name for aphthous ulcer is canker sore

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Buttermilk For Mouth Ulcers

This is the one best body coolant. Buttermilk has got some amazing properties like destroying the toxins and removing them from the body. Drinking buttermilk is the best relief from mouth ulcers.

Blend the buttermilk with honey or ginger, and coriander leaves which altogether will make a perfect drink.

What Are The Signs Of A Canker Sore

Your mouth might tingle or burn before a canker sore appears. Soon, a small red bump rises. Then after a day or so it bursts, leaving an open, shallow white or yellowish wound with a red border.

The sores are often painful and can be up to half an inch across, although most of them are much smaller. Aside from the annoying pain in the mouth, you’ll generally feel OK.

Canker sores are notlike some other mouth sores, such as cold sores. You can’t get canker sores by sharing food or kissing someone.

If you have a sore and you’re wondering if it’s a cold sore or a canker sore, just look at where it shows up: Cold sores usually appear outside the mouth, around the lips, chin, or nostrils. Canker sores are always found inside the mouth.

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