Table of Contents
Canker Sore Remedies
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DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
1 YEA
[YEA] 03/27/2007: Jesse from Wasilla, Alaska writes: "I am currently trying ACV remedy for my canker sore. I only have one small canker sore right now. However, over a year ago I had a bad outbreak with one canker sore the size of a dime was literally eating through my cheek. I tried everything and it took over a months to heal. My glands were swollen and I considered seeing a physician.
One thing I have noticed however, is that my outbreaks usually accurr after eating too many hot dogs(2 a day or more for a 2-4 day period). This outbreak is no different, I ate a few hot dogs a few days in a row and here comes a canker sore. However, When I had my horrible outbreak over a year ago, I was living in North Carolina and didn't have much food to eat. My diet consisted of 5 hot dogs a day and I had my worse outbreak then. Perhaps there is something contained in hot dogs that could cause this. I'm going to research hot dogs and check it out. I've also noticed that eating brocoli can sometimes cure a canker sore in just days."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 01/31/2007: Win from Gainesville, FL writes: "Avoiding milk and milk products cured my canker sores. Both my mother and I suffered from sores in our mouths and we had tried many different remedies hoping to prevent them. Mom discovered that if she reduced her milk intake, she got fewer sores. Now, we both drink only soy milk and have been canker-free for years. Soy ice creams are getting better and better, too. I occasionally have some regular cheese and this doesn't seem to cause any problems. Cheese made from soy is still pretty awful."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 11/25/2008: Charlie from Mason, New Hampshire writes: "I have had episodes of canker sore since I was a child. After suffering for about 35 years I figured out that my canker sores were triggered by certain tree nuts. I am not otherwise allergic to tree nuts. If I eat walnuts or hazelnuts, or products containing them or their oil, canker sores will develop in 24-48 hours. I also think that seasonal pollen allergies may trigger them, and found that a prescription antihistamine (I know, not a folk remedy) completely prevents them in pollen season. As for "cures" I have never found one, but am intrigued by the alum testimonials and will try that."
11/26/2008: Pamela from Houston, Texas replies: "Hi, according to the book Heal With Amino Acids by Dr. Shaley it is the arginine in some nuts that active the herpes virus that cause canker sores. It is my understanding from reading that any foods high in arginine and stress can cause this problem. She recommended using the amino acid lysine along with avoiding foods."
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9 YEA
[YEA] 12/14/2008: Elli from Billings, Montana writes: "Had tried many of the suggestions here, so I was an 'experienced' patient. But this last episode was getting agonizing, allergies caused me to bite my tongue 3 wks ago. Had been to the clinic and got a little relief. Called Primary Care Physician and got a little more relief several days ago. Today .. Nothing had really helped and pain was getting worse. FOUND THIS SITE. Had not heard of the alum/baking soda cure and since I was in no shape to go pick up some alum, used my handy large size of baking soda to try that out. Did it once .. Seemed to help a bit. Waited a little while, rinsed with salt water (which I had been doing from the beginning) and applied more baking soda. This time it Burned - but not for too long. Now my throat is sooo much better. I can swallow again and the pain is not radiating down my neck past the lymph nodes - one morning I was awakened dreaming I had the mumps again. I know that the yogurt works. I had gone so far as to make it myself when my kids were little - it was not as readily available as it is today. I was just too far run down this time for any of my usual remedies to kick in. Thank you for this site. It was just what I had hoped to find when I started looking days ago!!"
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[YEA] 11/17/2008: Jennifer from Gilbert, AZ writes: "I have these last couple of months been getting canker sores. I have never had them in my life, but have just started getting them out of the blue. I found this website and i have tried everything on here, all but the baking soda i tried that last. Let me say NONE of the other things worked for me, but oh my gosh the baking soda works wonders!!!!
The pain was very VERY bad and i didn't know what else to do, i even tried over the counter things and they didn't work in anyway, but the baking soda did.I also found the baking soda helps if you have a toothache too, in short baking soda is amazing and i would try it before anything else."
11/07/2009: Shaunmayfield from Gilbert, Az replies: "Hey there Jennifer, both of us seem to be from Gilbert, crazy. Let me ask you, how did you apply the Baking Soda? Powder form directly to sore or rinse/gargle?"
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[YEA] 03/10/2008: Tania from Mercier, Quebec, Canada writes: "Baking soda cured my canker sore within 24 hours. I had major pain on the side of my tongue to find a canker sore it was so sore I couldn't hardly swallow. I took 1tsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of water and kept it in my mouth as long as possible. I did this 3 times within an hour went to bed and did the same the next morning by dinner time the canker sore was gone! Thank you for this site its a great help."
07/29/2008: Jim from Scottsdale, AZ replies: "Baking Soda may work because...drum roll, please... it contains ALUM. Alum is what gives Baking Soda that slight metallic taste."
11/10/2009: Mark from Los Angeles, Ca replies: "Baking soda DOES NOT contain ALUM - it is sodium bicarbonate and nothing else."
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[YEA] 01/25/2008: Shawna from Eugene, oregon writes: "Out of the blue 4 days ago I got a canker sore that was 1.5 inches large on the side of my tongue. It was excruciating! Last night before bed I tried putting a baking soda paste on it and I woke up this morning and it's almost gone! I am so glad I found this website!!!"
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[YEA] 11/15/2007: Heather from Boston, MA writes: "Thank Goodness I found this page. I started with two small canker sores a week after my flu shot. I hardly ever have a canker. So, I used Ambesol Max Strength. It burned, numbed, but things got much worse today. Almost two inch long canker on the side edge of my tongue. And three more scattered on my inner front and side lips. I rinsed with the pure apple cidar vineger. It didn't releave the pain. So I tried the baking soda paste. The paste started to tone down the pain. I was at a 10 most of the day. After the baking soda treatment, I am currently down to a 4. maybe less.ahhhhhh"
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[YEA] 11/14/2007: Heather from Van Nuys, CA writes: "I ran a quick search over the weekend on treatments for chronic canker sores on behalf of my boyfriend who has suffered these painful occurrences since childhood. I came across this site and he decided to try the baking soda paste. It stung at first, but it helped him heal within five days and he's so happy to have found this treatment. Thanks."
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[YEA] 11/08/2007: Amanda from West Palm, Florida writes: "I had the worst canker sore on my gum right behind my last upper molar. It hurt to even swallow and actually woke me up at 2:00 am in the morning last night. Apparently the Zilactin-B I put on it was not working! I stumbled upon your website and decided to try the only 2 things I could get my hands on at that time of night: salt and baking soda. First I removed all of the Zilactin and rinsed my mouth with warm salt water. Then, I made a paste with baking soda and a few drops of water and placed it on the canker and let it sit for about a mintue. Then I rinsed my mouth with plain warm water. I also took 2 tylenol to help get back to sleep. I still had some pain when trying to get back to sleep, but just woke up completely pain free!! I can swallow without pain and actually enjoyed my breakfast! I can't believe it! I plan to put another "paste" on today just to make sure, but will attest that this remedy really works!"
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[YEA] 08/09/2007: Hayley from Rochester, NY writes: "I get canker sores often and they cause me alot of pain when I eat or talk. I heard that baking soda can help. I started using baking soda and it takes the pain out for hours at a time. First I mix it with water to make a paste, and apply it to the sore, hold it on for a straigt minute. (yes, it stings and will bring tears to your eyes) then swish with water and spit it out. I can go to work for 6 hours and have no pain. Rinsing mouth out with a teaspon of baking soda in a glass of water periodically during the day helps too."
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[YEA] 12/01/2006: John from Harfod, WI writes: "Whenever I get a canker sore, I pack some baking soda on it. If it does not go away in an hour or two, I re-apply it when I notice the sore still there. Some times it takes a few more aps.Usually, gone the same day. Sometimes, i'll pack the soda on right before bed. no canker in the morning. It works every time for me. A final note: It does sting for about a minute when applied. The stinging stops, even though the baking soda is still packed on the sore. Good luck, hope it works for you too."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 08/10/2008: Yolanda from Atlanta, Georgia writes: "Salt and Baking Soda cured my canker sore in mouth in three days! I had never had one before. I came here and saw the many remedies. I first tried the aspirin and actually it irritated the sore and the surrounding tissue in my mouth. I read about salt and baking soda. I started Wednesday night rinsing my mouth with the warm to borderline hot salt water (about a tablespoon of salt with about 6 oz of water) this will burn/painful at first. I swished around in mouth until all was gone. When I woke up I saw that the epithelial tissue almost like a scalb had formed over the sore in my mouth. Though still painfull, I repeated the same thing accept this time I used baking soda. Same amount as I used with the salt. I used baking soda twice and salt once during the course of the day. About every 3 1/2 hours. The soreness begin to go away.I repeated same thing on Friday. By Sat afternoon the soft tissue scalb was completed detached from sore and the sore was healed! Amazing!"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 09/09/2006: Celia from Toronto, Ontario Canada writes: "I'm a dental hygiene student, and one of my instructors told me to try putting black strap molasses directly on my canker sores (i get them all the time! grrr!). I tried it last night and today they're nearly gone! it's a miracle cure, and I can't believe how well it worked! You've gotta try it!"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 05/14/2008: Litsa from Fairbanks, Alaska writes: "CURE FOR CANKER SORES: Hi i try many remedies but the best i try was ground cloves. Use your finger or q/tip take a small amount and put it in your mouth where is the canker sore is, hold it for 5 minutes, it will sting little bit , then wash your mouth with plain water.it will heel about 4 to 6 hours. I never see anything like this happen with me or my friends, try it and you will see, By the way thanks for this site i recommend it to everyone i know. Thank you."
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2 YEA
[YEA] 01/24/2009: Candy from Hobe Sound, FL writes: "I have been using Organic Coconut Oil for 2 years now as a "skin lotion". When I started using it I was 43 and already using a top product for anti-aging. The product had worked some to reduce wrinkles but in just a couple of days the CO worked so much better. now at almost 45 I have very little wrinkles. I use just a little bit on my fingers and spread so thin that no one can tell that I use an oil on my face. My 17 year old daughter uses it also.
I started using the CO for other things and one of the best is on a canker sores. It does not hurt unless you rub it too hard. I had no pain all day and did not have to put more on until bed time. I put a dab of CO on a Q-tip and applied it to the sore."
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[YEA] 05/09/2008: Maddy from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK writes: "I was suffering with mouth ulcers for some time and my GP gave me some cream to put on my tongue. The stuff was awfull and left a dry residue on my tongue. It did nothing for the pain. So I started using coconut oil. 1 Tablespoon, melted in microwave in a plastic cup (if you use glass the oil explodes and covers the inside of your microwave). Leave to cool enough so you can hold it in your mouth for approx. 1 minute, then swallow. I did this 2x a day for 2 days and my mouthulcers where gone. Maddy, UK"
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06/30/2009: John from Fresno, Ca writes: "I have been suffering from mouth sores for decades. I read that colloidal silver will penetrate tissue. So, gaving tried everything, i tried 250 ppm. Everytime i got a mouth sore starting, i gargled (then spat out - did not swallow) for 3 minutes like the article suggested. The mouth sore would go away in 24-48 hours. After a while, i stopped getting mouth sores."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 09/16/2006: Doss from Denver, CO writes: "My midwife suggested this after a tooth extraction.
Us Irish have different blood/body chemistry. Many of us are allergic/sensitive to foods high in vitamin C, like tomatoes and oranges. These things CAUSE canker sores for us, believe it or not. I have a lot of irish blood, and I recently got my tooth pulled. I have stitches in my mouth, and here is what works for relieving the pain:
fresh comfrey tea leaves put in a small tea bag, put tea bag in warm water (about 1/4 cup) until a tea forms. Rub the tea bag until the outside kind of feels slippery or oily, similar to aloe vera. Hold the tea bag over the sore.
Hold until pain subsides, or bite down on bag instead of gauze as dentist suggests after extraction. Research Comfrey Root and leaves for more information on uses.
Also drink Throat Coat tea (gypsy cold cure in your grocery store aisle) with black licorice in it for swelling, and rinse mouth with Tom's baking soda and witch hazel mouthwash to keep wounds bacteria free. Follow with a tepid salt water gargle and gentle spit.
This is a good "Ora-gel" for very sensitive skin/people. It won't work for people who have a high tolerence to over the counter drugs. Less Sensitive individuals would need aloe mixed with Ora-gel, and to go the gargle with Green Tea/Orange Juice route."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 09/20/2008: Kam from San Carlos, Ca writes: "I had an annoying and painful canker sore way back on my tongue, too much info..., but searched and found this site, only had distilled white vinegar, gargled twice for one minute twice and the sore really calmed down in 5 minutes, (stinging of course) then the next day gone. Assume apple cider vinegar is effective as well, but have used alum, peroxide, warm salt solution, ambesol and other OTC meds, the vinegar is the best."
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ELIMINATE MILK TO ELIMINATE CANKER SORES
[YEA] 12/06/2007: Chris from Clifton Park, Ny, 12065 writes: "For most of my life I was a regular (and during my younger years) heavy drinker of cow's milk. I suffered from horrible canker sores (3-4 at a time, each a half inch or longer) my whole life, right up until approximately 6 years ago when I eliminated milk from my diet. For me, it seems to only be related to the liquid form: I don't seem to have problems with cheese or even ice cream. However, a couple of times I've tried introducing milk again by having it on my cereal in the morning -- after about three days, I got a canker sore. Upon again stopping ingestion of milk -- no more canker sores. I was diagnosed when younger with an allergy to milk, and I wonder if this is related. I'm convinced science will catch up with this theory eventually and it will be shown that canker sores are closely related to allergies. Anyways, if you suffer from canker sores, try eliminating milk from your diet for 30 days and see what happens; I bet you'll be glad you did!"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 12/07/2007: T.S.Rajah from Wimledon, UK writes: "Fenugreek's leafy form belongs to the spinach family. However, its seeds are useful when cooking to combat the flatulence caused by certain foods, such as lentils and cauliflower. Its anti-viral properties mean it also helps against sore throat and mouth ulcers. Historically, fenugreek has been used to treat diabetes and is now thought to reduce blood pressure"
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2 YEA
[YEA] 01/28/2008: Jennifer from Northern, Idaho writes: "I was having chronic canker sores, usually 3 at a time. I tried everything I'd ever heard of with little success. I started taking Omega 3 in the form of flax seed oil for general health reasons. Within a week or so my sores were gone and I haven't had one since. I alternate between flax oil capsules (6 a day), ground flax seeds (2 tablespoons) and eating about 1/4 cup of walnuts."
[YEA] 06/30/2008: Mary from New York, NY replies: "Many thanks to Jennifer from Northern Idaho. I tried the flax seed oil capsules and my canker sores have not appeared since. I had taken lysine capsules for two years when one day the canker sores reappeared. The flaxseed capsules have worked beautifully. Highly recommended."
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FOODS TO AVOID, RINSE WITH KARO SYRUP OR PEROXIDE
[YEA] 01/04/2008: Joe from Ft lauderdale, Florida writes: "Burning tounge-Mouth issues: When you have burning tongue or canker sores on tongue or in mouth. Do not drink any orange juice, ketchup, sauce etc. The best cure I have found is to rinse your mouth will Karo syrup. It seems to neutralize the acid. Also 2% hydrogen peroxide."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 10/25/2009: Casper3047 from Surfers Paradise, Queensland writes: "Having been a long time sufferer of mouth ulcers in which they lasted for 3-5wks and often so bad, eating and talking were almost impossible I seem to have found "my" cure, and I hope it can help someone else. Simply chew and "let soak" with crystalline ginger 3-4 times a day. If you catch them early enough, they just seem to fade away. I haven't tried any other variations such as ginger tea because I like the eating the ginger."
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