The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
L-Lysine
Posted by Jmcclain (Little Rock, Ar) on 03/11/2014
★★★★★
I remembered the recommendation for Lysine for canker sores-- after I had a full-blown painful one. I did not want to wait however long it takes for the Lysine to work in my system, so I simply held a Lysine tablet on the sore for as long as I could (about 3 minutes). It immediately stopped stinging and began to heal. A few hours later, I did it again (motivated to hold it longer) and I am pain free now. It still looks terrible but does not hurt. I never dreamed it would work so quickly.
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.
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!!!
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.
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!
You can read more about BHT here: http://www.projectwellbeing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/BHTbook-StevenWmFowkes-100903.pdf
Most important - make sure it is food grade.
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.
Goldenseal
Posted by Bradc (San Rafael, Ca, United States) on 02/07/2010
★★★★★
I haven't seen this method but it works like a charm. GOLDENSEAL. In liquid format. It doesn't sting like Alum, and has other healing properties as well. Goldenseal is a natural antibiotic.
First I'm going to tell you the method, then I'll tell you from my experience why cankers appear in the first place and what you can do as a preventative.
Get good strong, high quality liquid Goldenseal from a health food store --- do not get the cheap variety from a drugstore. Put a thimble full in a shot glass and fill the shot glass to about 3/4 with nice hot/warm water. Dump all of it into your mouth. Sit there with the mixture in your mouth for about 20 minutes - maybe go watch some TV. But be active while you are watching. Swish it around on your canker(s), push it, pull it, blow out your cheek. Make the Goldenseal get INTO your canker. When done, spit it out but don't rinse. Leave the residue in your mouth and go about your day. You should notice pretty immediate relief as your canker starts to go down and shrink.
Do this again after every meal and as needed. This is because food and drink of any kind will tend to stimulate your canker. You need to calm your mouth down again with the Goldenseal mixture. Do it right before you go to bed as well so the mixture residue can be in your mouth, protecting, while you sleep.
Now, here are a few other things about cankers and the reasons you get them (from my research and what I have been able to understand).
It's an acidic imbalance in the body, expressing itself via cankers. Too much acid. Here's what to do when you feel a canker coming on, or when you have them already....
Check your toothpaste. It often causes cankers and imbalances. Go down to the drugstore and get Rembrandt's tooth paste for cankers. Always keep it in the house and switch to it immediately when you feel a canker coming on. It's not that it does anything FOR the canker, it's just that they've removed the crap that causes cankers.
Immediately modify your diet also. Sorry, but you want BLAND food that will stop stimulating your canker. Here's what you MUST stay away from: anything with citrus, coffee, chocolate, spicy food, salts and peppers, milk and dairy (terrible for cankers) --- and sugar! If you have this stuff you'll instantly be able to feel it eat into your canker and start causing pain. Stay away from it until the canker is gone. Oh, and alcohol - especially WINE. Staying away from these things will help immensely and quickly.
It helps to take a pain reliever to get rid of the pain and give yourself a break for a bit.
And here's the other thing. I find I get cankers when my body is run down and I've been forgetting to take my vitamins. My body slowly goes into imbalance and cankers rise to the occasion. Be rigorous about taking vitamins! Especially a B complex which will help with stress (stress also contributes to cankers). Search online for a good liquid vitamin. I've found one easy to take, fast and effective for absorption by the body.
The last thing is that if you want extra help in addition to the Goldenseal use the Aspirin method mentioned above. It works. I think it helps to get rid of the astringent imbalance in the mouth. Grind some real aspirin (doesn't have to be baby aspirin) with a spoon on the counter. Lick the tip of your finger and dip it in the powder. Lay it on the canker and cover the canker with the powder. Keep in mouth for about 1/2 hour or so. It really works.
Enjoy the relief of this program folks.
Ginger
Posted by Patricia (Foster City, CA/ USA) on 02/09/2009
★★★★★
I placed a slice of ginger root on my canker sore. It relieves pain temporarily. I suggest before you eat something leave it in for about a minute. The pain usually goes away for about a good 45 minutes. My canker sore was so large it was swollen, bleeding, and also had pus coming out of it. I could barely talk. The ginger root allowed me to eat a meal.
Mustard
Posted by Chris (Sarnia, Ontario) on 10/22/2009
★★★★★
Thank you so so much. In agony for two days with multiple canker sores. Applied mustard. Yes, some initial discomfort. Within two minutes, complete relief. THANK YOU AGAIN:)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Gean (Salina, KS) on 12/30/2008
Good to know. Also, I wanted to add that 2 weeks ago my brother had canker sores in the back of his throat which hurt so bad that a sip of water felt like a knife. He sucked on licorice lozenges from the health food store, and within one to two days the sores were gone.
Ginger
Posted by K HOWELL (Speedwell, TN /USA) on 12/09/2008
★★★★★
Use a very thin slice of fresh cut Ginger Root to heal painful mouth sores. Rub the Ginger Root on the sore. Discard the slice after use, or eat it. Works fast, and kills the pain instantly. I have had a few mouth sores in the last several years and this treatment has worked 100% of the time, for me, with just one application.
Baking Soda
Posted by Amanda (West Palm, Florida) on 11/08/2007
★★★★★
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!
Dry Sage Leaves
Posted by Tim (Georgia) on 06/05/2018 21 posts
★★★★★
Dry Sage leaves are also great for canker sores. It's a cheapest way to get rid of cancer sore and related bb. Just chew a pinch of dry Sage leaves all day long. Place this mass on canker sore for an hour. Can swallow it easily without any side effect. Just avoid scratches - chew only leaves. You'll get rid of canker sore just in a day/or 2-3 days in severe and multiple cases. Also wash your brushes with soap everyday especially they stay as a bouquet in glass in your families.
Colostrum
Posted by Megan (White Plains) on 06/03/2018
★★★★★
I get mouth ulcers but years ago someone told me to try colostrum. Now whenever I feel one coming on, I take a capsule and it usually disappears.
Baking Soda
Posted by Redeemed 2004 (Nashville, Tn) on 04/13/2018
★★★★★
Since childhood I have suffered from mouth ulcers. Usually rinsing with H2O2 works by rinsing several times a day and before going to bed. The next day the ulcer is nearly gone or completely gone. But not this time! Sometimes when my seasonal allergies kick in I get a patch of ulcers. This spring has been the worst ever. Ulcers popped up on the left side of my mouth on the cheeks, gums and under the tongue. So painful and the H2O2 was not working at all. So I came back to this site where I have learned so much over the years -- thanks to all the contributors! Decided to attack the ulcers by taking Echinacea, Lysine 2000-3000 mgs per day on an empty stomach and applying baking soda to all the areas. The first day I got immediate relief from the pain and inflammation on the left side. Kept applying baking soda all day. Slept better that night. Next day the left side was on the way to being healed BUT new ulcers emerged under the tongue and along the gums on the bottom row of teeth as if they were marching to the uninfected right side of my mouth. Yikes! Continued the above protocol plus brushed my teeth with baking soda and continued to place a half teaspoon under the tongue and between my bottom lip and lower gum. Good news. The new ulcers begin to recede with each application of baking soda. Thanks Earth Clinic -- God bless you all!
Honey
Posted by Audrey Walker (Us) on 02/03/2017
★★★★★
Raw natural honey worked very fast for me. I had a very painful canker sore for over a week. I tried salt, baking soda and collodial silver with no improvements. I read on here to try raw honey and I noticed relief the very first day. Within two days of dabbing raw honey on it several times per day the sore was almost gone. It was a huge relief and a yummy remedy!
Honey
Posted by Jane (Canada) on 02/15/2016
★★★★★
Honey will get rid of cankers almost over night everytime, works for me.
