The presence of ulcers in your mouth can make normal day-to-day activities, like eating and talking, a troublesome task. Likewise, the pain and swelling that comes with mouth ulcers negatively impact your normal lifestyle. In fact, in some cases, they can even make it impossible to eat your favourite foods or even talk without feeling pain.
While the causes can vary from person to person, getting timely treatment for mouth ulcers is crucial to avoid possible complications. We have therefore compiled a list of the top 8 effective, natural treatments for mouth ulcers to help you get well quickly.
These remedies help treat mouth ulcers by using natural ingredients like baking soda, salt, honey, coconut oil, ice, etc.
Do you know:
- At any given time, at least 4% of people across the globe have mouth or oral ulcers.
- Canker sores (the most common mouth ulcer type) affect 25% of the global population.1
- Among these, most people suffer from minor canker sores, which account for approximately 85% of all mouth ulcer cases related to them. 2
If not treated on time, minor ulcers can develop into major ones, posing a great risk to your oral health. That is why getting the right mouth ulcer treatment in the initial stage is essential.
Canker Sores (Aphthous Ulcers): Causes, Risk Factors, and Treatment
The treatment for mouth ulcers largely depends on your ulcer's type and location.
While there are many different oral ulcer types, aphthous ulcers, generally called canker sores, are the most common category and have the highest prevalence worldwide.
The characteristic features of canker sores include—
- A yellow or white coloured open wound on the inner surface of the mouth.
- The wound is small and shallow and has a red-coloured border. 3
Causes
Mouth ulcers, including canker sores, can have many causes. One such cause is the deficiency of vitamins like B9 and B-12 and minerals like iron and zinc. You can have a blood test at home to determine if nutrient deficiencies are the primary cause of your mouth ulcers. 4
Other causes of canker sores can be—
- Stress
- Injuries to the oral tissue
- Citrus fruits
- Acidic foods
- NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen
- The presence of allergy-causing ingredients in your oral care products and your food
- A serious health condition like lupus, immunity disorders, etc
- Crohn's disease
Risk Factors
While canker sores are common among people of all ages and genders, some might be at a greater risk. Likewise, the chances of canker sore development are higher in the case of—
- Teenagers
- Young adults
- Females 5
How To Treat Canker Sores?
The treatment of aphthous ulcer involves the use of one or more of the following ulcer treatment options—
- Mouth rinses
- Topical products
- Oral medications
- Nutritional supplements
- Cautery
Mouth Ulcer Home Remedies: 8 Ways to Cure Mouth Ulcers Fast Naturally
There are many ways to cure mouth ulcers fast, such as naturally using home remedies.
So, here are eight excellent mouth ulcer home remedies that can help you reduce pain and cure mouth ulcers:
1. Rinse with Saltwater
A good way to naturally cure mouth ulcers faster is by rinsing your mouth regularly using a mixture of salt and water.
How does it work?
- When combined with water, salt works excellently well to bring down the acid level in your mouth.
- Acid promotes the growth of bacteria. Hence, bacterial growth is also halted when there is no acid production.
- As a result, because of the lack of bacteria multiplication, the mouth ulcers cannot progress to the severe stage.
- Thus, by reducing the amount of acid in your mouth, saltwater initiates the faster healing of mouth ulcers, especially canker sores.
How can this home remedy be used for mouth ulcers?
This home remedy for mouth ulcer treatment involves making a saltwater solution by mixing—
- Salt (1 teaspoon)
- Warm Water (1 Cup)
Gargle with this mixture for at least 30 seconds. Remember that you do not have to swallow the saltwater solution. Simply rinse your mouth with it and spit it out.
It is also essential to note that the saltwater rinse might be hurtful or sting initially. But it is normal to experience a bit of discomfort initially.
2. Apply a Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate, a weak base. Since it is basic in nature, it counters the action of the acids produced in your mouth to cure mouth ulcers fast naturally. Its function is similar to that of a saltwater rinse.
The home remedy for ulcers in the mouth using baking soda comprises making a thick paste of baking soda by adding a little water to it and applying this paste regularly to the ulcer until you can see signs of healing.
Like a salt water rinse, applying a baking soda paste is also one of the best mouth ulcer treatment options for home-based remedies. 6
3. Use Ice to Numb Pain
The mouth ulcer home remedy using cold compression works by numbing the sensation of pain in your ulcers. Likewise, when you press an ice cube or bring an ice chip directly into contact with the ulcer, it helps to relieve pain and eliminate discomfort. That is why cold compression is one of the quickest ways to cure mouth ulcers naturally.
However, one precaution that you must take while applying any form of ice to your ulcer is to always let the ice cube's or ice chip's surface melt a little. Never apply it directly straight out of the freezer. 7
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
When it comes to the list of the most helpful mouth ulcer home remedies, the use of hydrogen peroxide is non-negligible. But what is hydrogen peroxide? It is an antiseptic that gently relieves pain and irritation to give natural, quick relief for mouth ulcers.
How does hydrogen peroxide work to treat mouth ulcers?
- The application of hydrogen peroxide to the ulcer in your mouth leads to the release of oxygen
- When oxygen is released, it starts producing foam
- This foam then removes mucus and thoroughly cleans the affected area
How do I use hydrogen peroxide for mouth ulcer treatment at home?
Hydrogen peroxide is available in two forms: gels and mouthwashes.
To use the gel form—
- Take a few drops of the hydrogen peroxide gel on your fingertip and apply it directly to the ulcer.
- Let the gel stay on the ulcer for about 60 seconds.
- After 60 seconds, spit the gel out. Do not swallow it.
To use the mouthwash form—
- Swish the hydrogen peroxide mouthwash in your mouth for 60 seconds.
- After 60 seconds, spit the mouthwash out. Do not swallow it.
While hydrogen peroxide is excellent for canker sore treatment, remember that it is important to repeat these steps a few times a day to cure mouth ulcers fast naturally. 8
5. Milk of Magnesia
Milk of Magnesia is another beneficial ingredient that you can use as a home remedy for mouth ulcers.
How to use milk of magnesia to cure mouth ulcers fast naturally?
There are two ways to use milk of magnesia for treating mouth ulcers —
- Take a small quantity of magnesia milk and dab it directly onto the mouth ulcer using a cotton ball. Repeat this step at least 3-4 times every day to treat canker sores effectively.
- Another way to use milk of magnesia as a mouth ulcer home remedy is to mix equal quantities of Benadryl [an OTC (over-the-counter) allergy medicine available in the liquid form] and milk of magnesia to create a solution. Swish this solution for at least 60 seconds in your mouth. After swishing it properly, spit it out. 9
6. Watermelon Frost
Watermelon frost spray, a traditional Chinese mouth ulcer home remedy, has gained popularity for its reported ability to naturally cure mouth ulcers. It is an effective treatment for mouth ulcers because it contains highly potent Chinese medicinal ingredients like cork, menthol, borax, etc.
These ingredients possess the following properties—
- Antiseptic behaviour
- Anti-inflammatory effect
- Detoxifying nature
- Ability to reduce swelling and pain
- Promoting mucosal regeneration
Watermelon frost spray is, therefore, one of the best home remedies for mouth ulcers, especially when you want to cure mouth ulcers fast and naturally. 10
7. Honey
Honey is an easily available ingredient that you can use as a natural remedy to cure mouth ulcers faster.
In fact, it is the handiest home remedy that not only works for the treatment of aphthous ulcers but also makes a significant element on the list of the best mouth ulcer treatment options.
This is because honey contains many healing properties, including—
- Antibacterial nature
- Anti-inflammatory effect
- Antioxidant properties 11
These properties give honey the power to—
- Minimise redness
- Decrease swelling
- Relief pain
To use this home remedy for ulcers in the mouth, you can opt for any of the following two ways—
- Apply honey directly on the mouth ulcer daily until it heals
- Regularly drinking tea that is made using honey and ingredients like chamomile. Make sure you drink a few cups of this tea daily until you can see signs of healing
8. Coconut Oil
Like honey, coconut oil is also one of the easiest go-to mouth ulcer home remedies that works pretty well to cure mouth ulcers fast naturally.
The presence of lauric acid in honey is what makes it an amazing mouth ulcer treatment. That is because lauric acid fights against harmful bacteria that cause pain and discomfort in your mouth, in and around your mouth ulcer.
Hence, the method to treat mouth ulcers using coconut oil involves rinsing your oral cavity with coconut oil using a swishing motion.
For this, you only need a small quantity of coconut oil (not more than one tablespoon).
This home remedy for mouth ulcers is commonly called oil pulling and has a lot of benefits, including—
- Faster healing of canker sores
- Quick reduction of oral bacteria
- Overall improvement of your gum health
Dietary Considerations with Mouth Ulcer Treatment
No matter how many mouth ulcer home remedies you try, they will only be helpful if you change your dietary habits temporarily.
The dietary considerations for treating mouth ulcers include increasing the intake of certain food items while avoiding others. Below, we have made a list of both.
Foods to Eat
To naturally cure mouth ulcers, you must include foods that are not overly spicy, hot, or acidic. These foods should be easy to chew and not have a hard texture.
Examples include—
- Boiled eggs
- Stewed meats
- Noodles
- Pasta
- Well-cooked white rice
- Mashed vegetables like mashed potatoes
- Creamed spinach
- Creamed corn
- Creamed or pureed soups
- Baked beans
- Tofu
- Milk
- Yoghurt
- Cottage cheese
- Soft white bread
- Cooked cereals
- Thinned oatmeal
- Bananas
- Watermelon
- Papaya
- Stewed fruits
- Baked fruits
- Smooth peanut butter
- Custards
- Puddings
- Gelatine desserts
- Popsicles
- Ice cream
- Frozen yogurt
- Protein shakes
- Smoothies
- Liquid nutritional supplements
- Caffeine-free tea
- Non-acidic juices (e.g., apple juice)
- Fruit nectars
Foods To Avoid
When you are undergoing home-based mouth ulcer treatment to cure fast and naturally, here are the foods that you must avoid—
- Raw vegetables
- Chewy breads
- Acidic, salty, and spicy foods
- Tomatoes
- Citrus fruits
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Hot soups and beverages
- Caffeinated beverages (tea and coffee)
- Alcohol 12
Lifestyle Adjustments Along with Mouth Ulcer Home Remedies
Along with using a home remedy for ulcers in the mouth, here are a few lifestyle adjustments that you can make to naturally and quickly cure cranker sores:
- Use an OTC mouth rinse regularly
- Use a toothbrush that has soft bristles
- Practise good oral hygiene
- Take vitamin B-12 supplements
When Should We Seek Medical Attention to Get Treatment for Mouth Ulcers?
Finally, when home treatments for mouth sores don't work to help you cure mouth ulcers fast naturally, it becomes non-negotiable to seek medical advice to minimise further risk.
Here is when you must consider a medical professional to get a mouth ulcer treatment:
- Regular recurrence of mouth ulcers after healing
- If the ulcer lasts for more than 21 days
- If you have difficulty swallowing food
- When you have a fever along with a mouth ulcer
All in all, trying different home remedies for mouth ulcers is a good idea to cure them fast, and naturally, sometimes they might not go away even after trying these. In this case, you can opt for a complete body checkup package. This comprehensive examination can help you find out the exact cause of the mouth ulcer so that you can get the best mouth ulcer treatment accordingly.
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