Canker Sores: Proven Home Remedies for Fast Relief & Healing

You may be particularly careful about your oral health and dental hygiene, but sometimes, you still end up getting sores that can be quite a task to get rid of.

What are Canker Sores?

Canker sores are a type of sores that erupt around your mouth area. These can be difficult to treat with simply over the counter medication. Those who get affected with canker sores find it difficult to eat, speak or even drink without discomfort.

Although these sores are rather small and insignificant in size, they can end up giving you a lot of pain and discomfort. They are white in the centre, with a red halo around it. They can form on your lips, inside the mouth, and even on your tongue, as well as your throat. Though not contagious, they can end up causing sudden fever and sluggishness.

Canker Sores Home Remedies

Amazingly, instead of ointments, you can easily treat canker sores using some useful home remedies. If you have been suffering from them too, proper caution and the following remedies can work wonders.

These simple and easy to do home remedies can be made using the ingredients that are easily found in most Indian kitchens. Before you do so though, make sure to check if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

1. Honey:

• Combine a few spoons of honey with one quarter a teaspoon of turmeric.
• Honey when combined with turmeric will relieve both pain and inflammation while also being antiseptic.
• Apply the paste generously on the sores and let it stay for about 20 minutes.

2. Coriander:

A staple in most Indian kitchens, coriander’s medicinal properties are often underplayed. Coriander has antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

It helps alleviate symptoms of canker sores and also brings the condition under control.

• Boil a teaspoon of coriander seeds in a cup of water.
• If you do not stock the seeds, the leaves will do just fine!
• Strain the solution and use it as a mouth rinse.
• You can also drink the juice of fresh coriander leaves for best results. Make sure you do not gulp it in one go. Allow the juice to make contact with the sores before you swallow them!

3. Baking soda:

Baking soda is yet another home remedy for canker sores that is simple yet effective. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that will help reduce canker sores and alleviate symptoms, giving you immense relief.

• Simply make a paste of baking soda and apply the paste onto the affected areas.
• Within a few days, you will feel the symptoms vanish.
• Baking soda will also restore the pH balance in your mouth.

4. Try Aloe Vera:

Ancient Indian texts and scriptures on medicine highly recommend the use of aloe vera that has curative powers. It has antibacterial and antiseptic properties that will help you bid goodbye to those nagging sores.

• Squeeze out some juice from the meaty portion of the plant
• Apply on the sores.
• Alternatively, mix the extract with hydrogen peroxide, salt and baking soda (1 teaspoon each), use it as a rinse for best results.

5. Ice Ice baby:

Ice will act as a numbing agent. It will also kill germs by bringing the temperature down below the survival of sore causing bacteria and germs.

• Keep cold water with ice handy to get instant mouth relief.
• Holding an ice cube directly over the sore can be the best pain killer ever!

6. Cayenne pepper:

A spicy remedy, this one is sure to help you with canker sores. Cayenne pepper has capsaicin which is capable of numbing the nerves and thus, relieving you of the pain associated with canker sores.

Apply some cayenne pepper juice onto the sore, it is sure to cause some initial irritation, but will soon begin working on the sores.

7. A natural disinfectant:

Tea tree oil is often touted by many as one of the most effective treatments to fight canker sores. The oil is rich in antibacterial and antiseptic compounds. These will help in treating canker sores and will minimize the risk of the occurrence of the sores again.

• Rinse your mouth often with tea tree oil mixed in equal proportions of water.
• You can also use a cotton swab to gently apply the herbal oil on the sores.

8. Use Sage:

Sage has been used since time immemorial to treat myriad skin problems. Its calming properties make it a great remedy to alleviate the symptoms of even a bad case of canker sores.

• Add a few leaves of sage or its powder when you boil water for tea.
• This makes your tea heavenly to taste and will treat your sores too.
• Alternately, like many other simple remedies, you can also rinse your mouth with sage.
• Make a tea like concoction using sage.

9. Onions will make sores cry:

Onions are filled with anti-bacterial properties.

• Onions cut and held or applied directly on to canker sores will help cure them faster.
• You may also apply the juice of onion as it is rich in sulfur.
• Apply it on the sores, three to four times a day for maximum absorption.

10. Alum:

Applying alum wherever you have a sore is known to reduce or relieve the pain. This is accompanied with a slight burning sensation, so don’t worry about it as it is normal.

These remedies mentioned above have a high success rate. Though they are very effective and come without any side effect (unless someone is allergic to it), it is also important that you take preventive measures so that you do not succumb to canker sores again.

Preventive Measures to Avoid Recurrent Canker Sores

1. Be careful with that toothbrush:

Make sure you do not share your tooth brush. This is the most basic part of dental hygiene.

• If you still develop canker sores, instantly shift to a very soft bristle brush
• Be careful about your brushing technique.
• Switch to an SLS free toothpaste. Studies suggest that SLS can make the tissues of the mouth tender and increase the risk of contracting canker sores.

2. Say NO to Smoking:

Any doctor will recommend ‘no smoking’ if you have canker sores. This is also the best way to fasten the healing process.

3. Avoid eating problem foods:

Crunchy foods like chips, popcorn and other Indian snacks can cut the insides of your cheek and mouth and induce sores.

• Studies suggest that citrus foods can also trigger canker sores.
• Pinpoint and identify your sensitivities and strike them off your diet if you are prone to canker sores.

4. Reduce stress:

Many people complain of the emergence of these sores at times that they are overburdened at work or going through a tough personal life crisis.

• Explore relaxation techniques as a preventive measure.

Canker sores are something we all wish to avoid. If you are inflicted with the same, make sure you use some home remedies. Follow a good dental and oral hygiene and also follow the preventive measures. Take care and get well soon.