Natural Remedies for Canker Sores | Home Treatments For Relief

Magnesium Citrate

Posted by Robert (Vermont, Usa) on 02/08/2016
★★★★★

Regarding mouth & tongue ulcers, the round white ones that hurt and take some time to resolve:

I am not used to having such ulcers but a change in diet, and an unforeseen minor setback in health status, and I experienced mouth pain bad enough from one of these ulcers to cause me complete physical discomfort including headache. I tried numerous remedies that have worked for others, got minor temporary relief-- but the ulcers remained unscathed, and the pain came back intense as before. Then I held a QTip coated with magnesium citrate powder directly onto the ulcer for about 2 or 3 minutes. Ulcer went away within 24 hours.

A month later, on the other side of my mouth, another ulcer, smaller, and with the exact same result when I dipped my finger in the Mg citrate and then rubbed it on the ulcer: No pain within a day.

This may be useful for others.

Colloidal Silver

Posted by Wayne (Nm) on 03/14/2015
★★★★★

Canker Sores: I have had these buggers all my life. I finally found a cure, it's Colloidal Silver. I was watching the Alex Jones show and one of their call in's indicated he cured his. I tried it, wow, wow, wow, it works, I have given it to other folks, same results, great. Please try it.

BHT

Posted by Zark (Australia) on 09/02/2014
★★★★★

BHT is what worked for me. I tried the usual antibacterial modes (iodine, salt, baking soda) and nothing would help one little bit. Any time my mouth had a little scratch it would inevitably result in a mouth ulcer that would take weeks to heal (you guys call them 'canker sores').

I eventually tried BHT thinking it might help some other immune problems (I have an inflammatory autoimmune disease). Well, only one thing changed noticeably - no more mouth ulcers. Ever since trying BHT I have been clear of this issue, and it has been a stark change. Now if I bite my lip there is no problem, yet before I would be absolutely guaranteed to have a very nasty canker sore.

Now I can't guarantee this will help anyone else, I never expected that my mouth ulcers could be caused by a virus!! (ehh sorry I mean 'canker sores) But there you go.. learned something new. I suspect the majority of folk are still caused by bacteria, but hey if iodine, ACV, baking soda and salt don't help then maybe you should try this!

Most important - make sure it is food grade.

L-Lysine

Posted by Mary G. (Santa Cruz, California, Usa) on 03/25/2012
★★★★★

About 8 years ago my daughter (then in her early 20's and my husband both were plagued with canker sores. A co-worker of mine at the time suggested L lysine, 500 mg tablets. It totally cleared up the canker sores and they didn't need to keep taking it after the sores were gone. They both keep a supply handy to take at the first sign of a recurrence.

L-Lysine

Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 02/19/2012
★★★★★

Finally, after 5 years of constant struggle with canker sores, I hope I've found the solution, thank G-d! I had taken l-lysine on an off with varying degrees of success untill I was told to take it (with water, of course) ON AN EMPTY STOMACH, away from food. For me, that was the secret, and so far so good, not one new sore! Now I just take one capsule of 500g. once in the morning for maintenance.

Constipation Link to Canker Sores

Posted by Lars (Nyc, Ny) on 12/07/2011
★★★★★

I have proven over the years that when I have been "irregular" (constipated) - within a day or two non-mouth-bite related canker sores will surface. I believe this is due to build-up of toxins in the body from inability to eliminate them due to the reason I wrote above.

The toxins seem to breakout in one of the softest tissues in the body - inside the mouth.

Next time you have a break-out of canker sores, take a stool-softener or some other method to induce bowel movements... I have never heard anyone else state that constipation=canker sores, but if my advice helps you, please post your experience.

I hope this helps everyone.

B Complex, Vitamin C

Posted by Lala (Eastern Shore, Va) on 11/18/2010
★★★★★

I used to get canker sores, but then I started taking vitamins, particularly a multi-B, plus C and I've never had them since. My doctor recommended the multi-B, plus C supplement. The B also has a nice side effect of improving my complexion overall. For a quick cure, however, I used to put salt on them - it would burn like heck, but then the sore would go away the next day. I also think a crushed vitamin C tablet would be good.

Alum, H2O2, Aspirin

Posted by Lorik (Blacksburg, Va, USA) on 11/22/2008

WOW talk about an overachiever.. I'm not sure why one would do all three remedies at once.. good grief Charlie Brown!!!

Baking Soda

Posted by Fabio (Brazil) on 05/24/2024
★★★★★

Brush With Baking Soda for Canker Sores

There is an actual phisical layer of pathogens in the canker sore. If you just put the products like baking soda there, you will not be able to penetrate through this layer. Hence the best approach would be to brush your canker sore with your baking soda, or whatever product you want to use to kill the pathogens. Using this technique will kill your canker sore instantly.

Epsom Salt

Posted by Jean (North Carolina) on 02/02/2023
★★★★★

Epsom salt solution - a teaspoon in water rinse mouth in it several times a day till gone. Rinse and spit, do not swallow -- laxative effect.

Ibuprofen

Posted by Martina (Maryland) on 03/18/2022
★★★★★

Came to the site for canker sore remedy/ies. Decided to try aspirin (apple cider vinegar would make it worse) but didn't have any on hand. Aspirin and ibuprofen are both NSAID's. Used ibuprofen instead and instant relief. Repeated as necessary. The next day sore was in advanced stage of healing.

L-Lysine

Posted by Aisling (Galway, Ireland ) on 08/18/2015
★★★★★

Lysine, an amino acid, is brilliant to alleviate mouth ulcers, just use recommend dose on pack, usually about 2 X 1000 mg tablets. You can use them continuously to help prevent ulcers if you are prone, or else just when you get an ulcer. I've tried everything, including soluble steroids but listen works brilliantly. Within two days the ulcer will have virtually gone. Corsodyl mouthwash is also quite good for bringing instant relief.

Coconut Oil

Posted by Janie (Magnolia, Texas) on 05/30/2015
★★★★★

I had a mouth ulcer that would not go away and was getting more painful as the days went on. I looked up on Earth Clinic and found that coconut oil could be used so I took some and placed it directly on the mouth ulcer and within 24 hours it was completely gone. Great stuff. I told my sister n law about it because my brother is taking chemo and will need something to help with mouth ulcers.

Baking Soda

Posted by Mama to Many (Tennessee) on 11/25/2014
★★★★★

I had a canker sore in my mouth last night. It was red and inflamed and had a white patch in the middle. But my son had just put a coat of finish on my kitchen floor and I couldn't access any of my herbs, charcoal, etc, since they were in the kitchen. I was looking around my bathroom for something I could try and saw my home made tooth powder. Baking soda!! I put some on the spot three times before bed. Tonight I realized it must have worked. I looked in my mouth and saw no sign of the sore! For the record, my tooth powder also has bentonite clay and peppermint essential oil in it. But I think it was the baking soda.

~Mama to Many~

Coconut Oil

Posted by Holly (St. Louis, MO) on 08/21/2014
★★★★★

While out camping with my family I developed two huge canker sores along my upper gums. It hurt to eat, drink and talk.There were no stores around so we only had what we packed... thank goodness I had some coconut oil on hand (I packed it to help ease sunburns and also as the oil to pop our popcorn-yum! ).

I used my finger and dabbed a small amount on both sores, right before bed. The next morning, the pain was nearly gone. So after brushing my teeth I applied it again and, though the sores didn't disappear immediately, the pain was gone by lunchtime.

I am a huge believer in the benefits of coconut oil (organic, unrefined, cold pressed only! ) and always have a small bottle on hand. This is just another fantastic cure from an amazing oil.

Sage

Posted by Tim (Georgia (Republic of)) on 03/30/2014 21 posts
★★★★★

Hi, from Georgia (Rep. of).

Here is the best and only remedy for canker sores in your mouth - dry Sage leaves. Chew just a few of them each time and all day long if you like and all year long if you like with no side effects. Don't use a dried stem of Sage to avoid scratches that can worsen situation and prolonged healing. You WILL get rid of canker sores from a few hours to several days in severe cases. Repeat treatment if any. Good luck!

Activated Charcoal

Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 07/16/2022

Hi Sandy, A canker sore is an ulcer in the mouth but isn't caused by an infected tooth. It sounds like you may be dealing with infected teeth which can also cause an ulcer on the gum and the pain you describe. Charcoal is something you can use for infected teeth, but I would look on this page (https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/tooth_abscess.html) for more details about treating infected teeth. You can use pain medication to help, but that won't help to cure it, just help you bear it. I'm sorry! I know it is so painful. I hope you can get relief from the remedies on that page soon. ~Mama to Many~