How To Treat Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers also called canker sores usually occur within the periphery of the mouth mainly on the gums, tongue, palate and the insides of the lips and cheeks. These ulcers though non-contagious are extremely painful and in their presence simple things like eating, talking, drinking and brushing teeth become an ordeal. Mouth ulcers usually take ten to fifteen days to heal completely. They appear in white or yellow patches surrounded by red tissue.

Even though nothing much is known about their origin, the occurrence of canker sores are often attributed to several factors like stress, smoking, hormonal changes and deficiencies of Vitamin C and Vitamin B12. Physical trauma caused due to vigorous brushing of the teeth, eating foods with hard edges like nuts and pretzels, biting of the lips can also trigger mouth ulcer. Currently there is no permanent cure for mouth ulcers, but they can be easily treated with the help of home remedies and oral medication.

Top Tips To Treat Mouth Ulcers

Rinse Your Mouth

People suffering from mouth ulcers will vouch for the fact that they are not only painful but also very uncomfortable. Rinsing your mouth from time to time by using homemade solutions is a very good way to treat mouth ulcers. After brushing your teeth you can try using any one of the following solutions to rinse your mouth – half teaspoon salt mixed in one cup lukewarm water; one teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 3/4 cup of lukewarm water; a solution of one teaspoon of liquid Benadryl and one tablespoon of Maalox.

The cooling effect of Milk of Magnesia also proves to be beneficial when used as a mouth rinse as it forms a layer over the ulcers and provides instant relief. You can even prepare mouth rinse by using two ounces of hydrogen peroxide, two ounces of water and one teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Using any one of these solutions to rinse your mouth several times in a day can prove to be very effective for curing mouth ulcers.

Sage

The properties of the herb sage are best suited for the treatment of all kinds of oral infections. Sage has the ability to sustain the mucus membranes of the mouth and throat and is therefore very helpful for the treatment of mouth ulcers. You can prepare the solution by just adding three teaspoons sage leaves in one pint of boiling water.

Cover and allow the solution to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Now this solution can be used to rinse the mouth 3 to 4 times in a day. Dried sage leaves can also be crushed and applied directly on the affected area of the mouth.

Gargling

Gargling is another way to treat mouth ulcers. Using different ingredients for gargling proves to be extra beneficial for curing this ailment. Therefore, for eliminating mouth ulcers gargle by mixing one teaspoon of coriander seeds in one cup of water.

Gargling by using tomato juice at least three to four times in a day can make your mouth ulcers disappear in no time. Using hot and cold water alternately for gargling purposes is also a good treatment for mouth ulcers.

Alternative Treatments

Alternative treatment methods easily available at home also prove to be very helpful for curing mouth ulcer. Take one teaspoon each of gooseberry bark and honey and prepare a paste and apply it directly over the sore to ensure quick healing. Cultured buttermilk is another option that can be tried for curing mouth ulcers.

Remember to allow the solution to remain in the mouth for at least 2 to 3 minutes for best results. Basil leaves have multiple qualities and one amongst them is to cure mouth sores. Therefore, chewing four to five basil leaves 3 to 4 times in a day proves to be beneficial and you can feel the difference within a few days. Aloe vera juice when applied directly over the sore provides instant relief from mouth ulcers.

Prescription Medicines

Oral medicines may not always be helpful for curing mouth ulcers, but doctors prescribe them to get relief from the symptoms. A medicine like Tagamet does exactly that. Consumption of oral medications like Debacterol reduces the mouth ulcers within a week.

The chemical combination of this medicine cauterizes the lesions that occur in the mouth at this time. Oral steroids are generally avoided as they involve side effects. However, when everything else fails they can be prescribed as a last resort.

So these are some of the measures that can be taken to treat mouth ulcers. However, to keep the pain and discomfort under control at this time you are advised to avoid spicy and acidic foods as they could increase the irritation in the mouth.