Canker sores or Mouth Ulcers

Small ulcers that occur in the lining of the mouth are known as Canker sores. These are often painful and sensitive. Canker sores are the most common causes of mouth sores. They are also known as Aphthous Stomatitis. They cause discomfort while eating and talking. They are not contagious and occur on the internal soft tissues of the mouth. They can occur at any age and may reoccur once healed 

Canker sores are the most commonly occurring type of all sores or ulcers in the mouth. Canker sores typically appear as whitish oval or round ulcers of around a centimeter or less and have a reddish border. These ulcers or sores develop on mucus membranes in the mouth and could develop on the sides of the mouth or even on the tongue. The occurrence of canker sores is so high that it is believed that at almost any given time at least twenty percent of our population is afflicted with the problem. 

Canker sores can affect almost anyone irrespective of age, but they generally tend to occur more often in women and teenagers. This may have some connection with hormonal changes and in some cases the problem may also be hereditary. Individuals with a family history of canker sores may not necessarily suffer frequent outbreaks but are definitely a lot more susceptible. 

Canker sores are not a serious health condition and generally resolve naturally within a week or two, requiring no medical intervention or treatment as such. Home remedies for canker sores treatment can help to relieve the pain. Canker sores can however be extremely painful and discomforting, particularly when eating. Hot or spicy foods could cause the symptoms to intensify severely. Home remedies for canker sores on the mouth, throat or lip, like salt water gargles can offer considerable canker sore relief and are frequently used as home treatments for both kids and adults. There are also plenty of over the counter medications for the treatment of canker sores in the mouth and canker sores on the tongue, and most of these involve applying gels or mouthwashes to the affected area. Treating canker sores on the tongue or cheeks with home remedies alone may not help cure the condition effectively enough. Making simple dietary changes however can help with healing canker sores in the mouth naturally a lot faster.

Canker sores may often be confused with cold sores but this is quite erroneous as unlike cold sores, caused by the herpes virus which is highly contagious, cold sores are not contagious at all. Canker sores are usually not caused by any type of infection, but are generally a result of trauma or injury to the mouth, anxiety and a various other factors. 

Cankers sores may be grouped into three categories based on the size of the sores:

Minor sores are the most common of all types of canker sores and may vary in size from just a millimeter to ten millimeters in diameter. Upto 80% of all canker sores fit into this category and they generally last for just a week to ten days.

Major sores are generally larger than ten millimeters in diameter and they could last for as long as a month or heal in as little time as ten days. Canker sores of this nature tend to cause some scarring once they heal. 

Herpetiform ulcers heal quite quickly, lasting for just seven to ten days, like minor sores. The difference in this type of canker sores is however unmistakable in that they appear as a cluster of smaller sores, each measuring not more than three millimeters.

Burning and Tingling Sensation

Some of the symptoms of canker sores are as follows:-

Painful sores on the movable parts inside the mouth e.g. tongue. A sore may be small, red and may measure less than 10 mm. There could be a burning or tingling sensation before the sore appears. Once the sores burst there may be a white or yellowish coating over it and a reddish color around it. Apart from the ones mentioned above, other symptoms of canker sores could be swollen lymph nodes, listlessness and fever.

Remedies for Canker Sores

Some of the effective home remedies for canker sores are as follows:-

Rinse your mouth with aloe juice frequently.

Put some alum on the canker sores. Repeat this twice a day. It helps to relieve the pain and quickens healing.

Apply some baking powder on the sores. It could be used either in the powdered form or in the paste form. It will reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth.

Rinse your mouth several times a day by a mouthwash prepared by mixing one tsp. of baking soda in half cup of warm water.

Prepare a mouthwash by putting 5 to 6 drops of Grapefruit seed extract in a glass of water. Rinse your mouth with this at least once in a day. It is an excellent disinfectant.

Prepare a mouthwash using three parts of water and one part of hydrogen peroxide. Use this mouthwash twice a day.

Onion is another excellent home remedy for canker sores. Apply some raw onions to the sores.

Rinse your mouth with plum juice. If the sore is too bad then apply the juice on the sore using a cotton ball.

Eat fresh papaya fruit or chew fresh papaya leaves. If fresh papaya leaves or papaya fruits are not available then you can also use papaya tablets.

Gargle your mouth with a solution made by mixing 1 tsp soda and 1 pinch of salt in a cup of warm water.

Apply tea tree oil to the sores.

Rinse your mouth three to four times a day with a solution made by mixing 2 tbsp. salt to 6 ounces of warm water.

Apply some powdered Goldenseal powder to the sore or rinse your mouth with a mouthwash prepared by mixing ½ tsp Goldenseal powder to ¼ tsp salt and 1 cup of warm water.