A few days ago my small daughter woke up in so much pain, and she was holding her mouth. She could not eat spicy foods, salty foods, or even sweet foods. She barely let us touch it, but she finally let us look, we saw an ugly canker sore right in between her gums and her lip. 🙁
She was just plain miserable. She didn’t want to eat anything or do anything. I’ve had canker sores before, so I know how much those suckers hurt.
I wasn’t sure what to do, so I asked the question on our Facebook page, and received SO MANY soothing remedies in minutes!
Canker sores are also called aphthous ulcers that appear inside of your mouth. These are mouth ulcers with severe sore pain. It generally appears in the soft tissues in the mouth and it is slightly a white sore with a red border. In severe cases, people can not talk or eat for a while. There is no specific or exact cause of canker sores. Nutritional deficiencies, fever, stress, food allergies, etc. can be responsible for the development of canker sores in your mouth. There are some home remedies for painful canker, but in case of major sores, you may need to go to a doctor.
and some more that caught my eye…
Rachael G. says, “I get them all the time, warm salt water for the pain and then dab it with some hydrogen peroxide on a qtip. Before bed make a paste out of baking soda and water and use it on the sore. It helps it heal quicker.”
Kim D. says, “Alum. Put it on a q-tip. Tastes terrible though.”
Rhonda G. says, “B12 works if you hold them on the sore, and cinnamon candy works really well when you hold it on the sore also.” You should eat any food that contains vitamin b12. It develops your immune system and creates barriers to the canker sores.
Lauralee A. says, “Coconut oil. And it won’t burn when you put it on it.” Coconut oil has many health benefits. But who knew that it is effective as a canker sore remedy! Take a cotton swab dipped in coconut oil and put it directly on top of the affected area. It works like magic in the healing process.
Rachel M. says, “This is reeaallllly gross…but earwax. It’s in my natural home remedies book….”
Kimberlee W. says, “Melaleuca essential oil, you can dilute it with salt water and have her gargle. Little gross but it works great.”
Brenda M. says, “You can put sone children’s nighttime Orajel on it to numb it. This doesn’t heal it, but dulls the pain. I have found that tea tree oil/melaleuca heals them quick…”
You can read over 100 soothing remedies HERE.
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A lot of these I hadn’t even heard of! They were so helpful and useful, I had to share them with all of you. Hopefully they can help you too. Please add what has worked for you in the comments as well!
Are you friends with us on Facebook? You should be. 😉 We talk about real life issues all the time, and help each other out. Our readers are the best! I can’t thank you guys enough for your comments.
Tara says
Awesome! I woke up with one this morning, how did you know?? Trying some of these NOW.
Alexa says
Awesome list. Pinning!
Shirly says
Thank you! I was just looking for that list!
Tara says
Ugh, canker sores are the worst! I can attest that the salt water rinses and the alum powder both work. But the cinnamon candy? I’d be careful with that one. I’m allergic to the cinnamon flavoring and that makes me break out in cankers! lol And the ear wax, um ewwwww! Definitely made me laugh though! 🙂
Valerie says
Great suggestions. I also like bee propolis. Loaded with nutrients, takes away the pain and helps promote healing. If you get them frequently, stop using toothpaste with sodium laurel sulfate and switch to one like Tom’s of Maine (only certain formulas) or Jason’s Powersmile.
Carlin says
Sodium laurel sulphate in toothpaste is the nasty culprit. After reading about that additive I started using Sensodyne ProNamel gentle whitening brand without the SLS. It’s been more than two years without major outbreak. Even if I feel one starting in my mouth, it goes away by next day. Just stick with the non-SLS toothpaste! Read labels!
ginty says
yeah dont forget to read labels it could end bad !!!!
Barbara says
My dad was a doctor, so he had silver nitrate-tipped applicators to cauterize my canker sores. One touch, and it was over, but hurts so much that I wouldn’t often tell him that I had a sore. Now I wish I knew how to get some silver nitrate-tipped applicators. I’m 70, and all of a sudden I’m getting them again after many years of never having one.
Dee says
You can get them from online pet supply stores like
http://petsupplies.nextdaypets.com/buy/Silver-Nitrate-Stick~15388/
Hannah says
Start using a toothpaste that is free of Sodium Laurel Sulfates (SLS). Some brands are Jason, Toms of Maine, Rembrandt, and many more. The easiest place to get some in off Amazon.com. I used to suffer from one or two a month and haven’t had one in over a year. I found this info on this site during one of many online searches for relief! http://www.acankersorecure.com/cure-for-canker-sores.html
April says
The BEST (and almost immediate) remedy is crushed aspirin mixed with a tiny bit of water to make a paste. Put it on for NO longer than 5 minutes (otherwise you get an aspirin burn) then rinse off. It numbs the pain for almost a whole day even while eating, and it heals the sore, too. Usually mine go away within one or two days instead of 7-10.
Annie says
I worked for many years in the dental field and I have found that most people who are prone to getting canker sores have particularly acidic saliva. Neutralizing this acid is the key. Rinse your mounth with antacid or if you can find the soft, chewy antacids (Tempo is one brand), place a piece of this right on the canker sore and you will see it will feel much better and heal quickly.
Reb says
I didn’t read down the whole list, but a friend of mine who was a naturalist told me 20 years ago that when you get a canker sore your body is low on lecithin. It’s a soybean product that I find in the vitamin aisle. I haven’t had a canker sore in 20 years. I did a lot of baking using lecithin granules instead of fat or oils. I do not bake like I used to, but when my kids get a rare canker sore they take a couple of the tablets and they are gone in a day or two.
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/canker_sores_questions.html
Cathy says
As soon as I feel one coming on, I pour some hydrogen peroxide on it. Tastes gross, but kills it before it gets bad!
byoung says
SAUERKRAUT. Seriously. Sounds weird, but look it up if you don’t believe me. Hold sauerkraut on it for like a minute or so then just eat it. Or swish some sauerkraut juice around in your mouth for 30 seconds. If you like sauerkraut like I do, this method is boss!
Tina says
Lots and lots of vitamin C
Spring Creek Academy says
Oh, poor little one. Look for a sls free toothpaste at the health food store. Sodium laureth sulfate sensitivity can contribute to canker sores.
Avery says
I second Hannah’s post. Check the ingredients in your kid’s toothpaste (and shampoo/bubble bath!), and try to switch to one that is SLS-free. I suffered horribly from canker sores from about the age of 4 or 5 up until about 33. I would get at least one or more every 4-6 weeks or so, some so bad I could barely speak. I’ve tried EVERYTHING. When I switched to a SLS-free toothpaste (Jason’s powersmile is the brand I’m using) about 4 years ago I think I’ve had 2, and they’ve been small enough to go away after a couple days (as opposed to a week or more). The best remedy is no canker sores at all! : )
Tammy says
Back off the sweets or fruits. Swishing plain yogurt in the mouth if possible or dabbing it on throughout the day will help. If a fever blister appears on the lips – try Abrevia – works incredibly fast.
Susan Carroll says
Canker sores are often caused by the ingredients in toothpaste. Try a baking soda one, or a natural one without sodium laurel sulfate. The best remedy is Vitamin E oi.l. Prick a capsule and squirt on the sore. It will feel better immediately. You can repeat as needed. It will heal in a day or two, and it tastes good.
Amy Mullen says
I used to eat more green beans to make canker sores go away but I have found that it is due to a deficiency of an amino acid, LYSINE. I buy it in tablet form at walmart and they are kinda big for kids but I take one or two a day when I get one and they go away in a day or two instead of a week! My grandma takes one every day and doesn’t get them at all!
Sandy says
Benadryl. I started paying attention to my eating habits & I only get them when consuming milk multiple times in a row (I’m allergic to milk). Benadryl liquid applied directly to it or take a pill. Works every time.
Angie says
Vitamin E!!! Put a pin into a gelcap and take the oils and apply directly onto ulcer. It will soothe the ulcer and help it heal quicker!
Sheryl says
If canker sores continue to be an issue, going SLS free is the way to go. My son had several canker sores in a short time period. His last one was huge. I would use Zilactin on the sores (stings when you apply it, but numbs and protects for a good part of the day) and we switched his toothpaste. I am also sensitive and an SLS free toothpaste has practically eradicated them for me. Another possibility is an iron deficiency. My daughter was anemic and developed them, but they went away when her levels went up.
Terry n carol Davis says
We use zinc tables. Place on sore and let dissolve. No more pain and usually heals overnight. Can get at health food store.
Jennifer Birch says
Change toothpaste. Lauryl sulfate can cause canker sores.