Canker Sores in the Mouth - Information and TreatmentWhat should I do when I get canker sores in the mouth? If you have small canker sores in the mouth you can treat them at home. You can try taking ibuprofen (brand name: Advil) or acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol) for pain. Other medicines, such as Anbesol, Orajel, Orabase and Zilactin-B, might keep your canker sores from becoming irritated by eating, drinking or brushing your teeth. You put these medicines right on the sore. You can also mix equal amounts of Milk of Magnesia and Benadryl Allergy liquid. After it's mixed, you can swish a teaspoonful in your mouth for about 1 minute and then spit it out. If you do this every 4 to 6 hours, the canker sores in the mouth may hurt less. Some people think that sucking on zinc lozenges, taking vitamin C or vitamin B complex, using a sage-and-chamomile mouthwash or taking a lysine supplement helps their canker cores heal faster.
Here is a great mouthwash that may help
Who is susceptible?
Women are twice as likely to have canker sores in their mouth as men. People whose parents have canker sores have a 90% chance of developing them early in life.
There is nothing that will stop canker sores in the mouth from recurring. However, there are things that can be done to relieve the discomfort and to prevent an infection in the area, during the 3-4 days when the sores are likely to be painful. Two cleansing antiseptic mixtures are hydrogen peroxide diluted with water to half-strength and one teaspoon each of salt and baking soda to four ounces of water. These should be used as rinses or gargles four times a day. There are also commercial over-the-counter preparations that help relieve the pain and cleanse the area. It is also helpful to avoid acidic foods that may irritate the sores. Neither vitamins nor special foods help the condition unless a specific deficiency exists. Although stress is a precipitating factor in canker sores of the mouth and affects their intensity and severity, tranquilizers seem to give little relief. In severe or prolonged (more than 2 weeks) cases or, especially if oral pain precludes eating and drinking, a visit to a clinician is indicated. There are prescription medications, which may be helpful for symptomatic relief and prevention of secondary infection. Canker sores of the mouth can be caused by other more serious things. If you have a sore that does not fit the description above, it should be evaluated - particularly if you engage in oral sex or chew tobacco.
This is a great toothpaste and mouthwash kit that contains NO sodium lauryl sulfate
If you have a minute, this free e-book is a fantastic resource that covers all aspects of bad breath, including information on how even the best toothpastes on the market can wind up causing or irritating a canker sore.
|