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.
Wasabi
Posted by Paul (Mountain View, CA) on 02/06/2007
★★★★★
After years of suffering from painful mouth ulcers (Canker sores) and trying several unsuccessful natural cures, wasabi did the trick. I stumbled on this cure accidentally, but have used it successfully for the last 2 years. At the first sign of sores, I eat wasabi chips or wasabi peas and the development of the ulcers are arrested and they are completely gone in 12-36 hours. Usually just a handful of chips a couple of times a day does the trick. I have also tried wasabi mayonnaise and straight wasabi. They do work well; but the combination of the wasabi and salt in the chips and peas seems to work best. I know it sounds crazy, but try it! Just make sure the wasabi comes in contact with affected area for a minute or two. What used to cause 7-10 days of agony on a regular basis, is now barely a ripple in my life. I don't know if it will work for all types of mouth ulcers, but it worked for mine.
Avoid Milk
Posted by Win (Gainesville, FL) on 01/31/2007
★★★★★
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.
Oral Care
Posted by Catherine (Corona, CA) on 12/27/2006
★★★★★
I've had a lot of success with rotating toothbrushes. Make sure you have at least four toothbrushes and when you have canker sores brush your teeth four times a day, but never use a toothbrush more than once in 24 hours. This worked very well for me for about ten years.
Salt
Posted by Carlie (Dallas, TX) on 11/23/2006
★★★★★
I think that if you put on enough salt at night, by the morning it should be gone. I use sea salt though!:-) if you use table salt it might be different.
Salt
Posted by Bea (Philippines) on 11/10/2006
★★★★★
I had several canker sores on my tongue and cheeks which made eating difficult. It was painful! I tried the salt-water remedy and in 3 days, the sores are gone! Thanks
Comfrey Tea
Posted by Doss (Denver, CO) on 09/16/2006
★★★★★
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.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Celia (Toronto, Ontario Canada) on 09/09/2006
★★★★★
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!
Yerba Buena
Posted by Monica (Norwalk, CA) on 05/31/2006
★★★★★
When I get a canker sore, I chew yerba buena (mint leaf) with salt and leave it pressed up against the canker sore. Hurts like a mother, but I notice a difference.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Pranshu (Newark, DE) on 02/03/2006
★★★★★
Hydrogen Peroxide def works for canker sores...my doctor prescribed some mouthwash that just numbed it for a few hours..but peroxide reduces the pain and it also helps cure canker sores
Salt
Posted by Al (Staples, MN) on 01/07/2006
★★★★★
two words: salt water! Don't believe me, try it
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Skip (Livingston, MT) on 01/06/2006
★★★★★
For canker sores, either dab hydrogen peroxide directly on the canker sore until it stops bubbling, or hold and swish 2-3 tbs hydrogen peroxide in your mouth for 30-60 seconds. Spit out and repeat 2-3 times. DO NOT SWALLOW. Rinse your mouth well with water after using the peroxide in either method. The canker sore/s will be noticeably improved and much less painful within 24 hours. They should disappear altogether within 48-72 hours.
Salt
Posted by Jorge (Altoona, IA) on 10/13/2005
★★★★★
What you do is get a cotton swab with salt it won't cure it for a while but it will make it stop hurting. Also you can light up a match, blow it out and then put it on your canker sore and it will be gone in one to two days.
Pau D'arco
Posted by Susan (USA)
★★★★★
Pau d'Arco brings canker sore relief. Use as a poultice on the site of the sore. Pau d'Arco is an astringent and soothes the sore so that eating is a little more bearable. L-Lysine does work wonders too. Try the Pau d' Arco as a poultice on the site of the sore for a bit of relief before eating.
Avoid SLS Toothpaste
Posted by Mar (New Zealand) on 07/29/2019
★★★★★
Avoid Sodium Laurel Sulphate in foaming toothpaste, cleansers etc. I am a 58 year old female and have suffered on and off with canker sores (aka mouth ulcers) since my teens, although sometimes going for long periods with none. However I have recently had two cankers on the gums of my lower front teeth which just will not go away. Normally a canker sore would last about a week, but I have had these for approximately six weeks. I have been doing extensive research and believe I have discovered the cause : sodium laurel sulphate (SLS). I was using hydrogen peroxide on the sores for healing and also using a purchased baking soda toothpaste,, but did not realise the toothpaste contained SLS. I have also been using a foaming cleanser with SLS on my face which may or may not contribute to the issue. I believe I have developed a sensitivity to SLS and will now need to avoid it. Just thought that might help someone.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Charity (Faithville, Usa) on 08/28/2017
Maybe low zinc folic acid or iron ....
Avoid SLS Toothpaste
Posted by Jhawaii (Hawaii) on 10/16/2016
What toothpaste did you switch to? I'm looking for a good toothpaste, and if it can help us stop having canker sores, that would be great!
Avoid SLS Toothpaste
Posted by Salomon (New York) on 10/20/2016
I don't know if I am allowed to say here, but it is Swanson toothpaste. It is really good and affordable. The taste is much better than other I have tried.
Activated Charcoal
Posted by Sandy (IL) on 07/15/2022
Need help. I do not know what is canker sore. But I had tooth pain for two days, (actually dentist suggested me root canal). After I took pain killer, the tooth pain has gone, but I can feel that there is swelling inside my cheek and sometimes the pain is felt in the ear too. it is painful. Please help
Baking Soda
Posted by Jj (Hawaii) on 06/01/2013
★☆☆☆☆
I tend to get canker sores when I eat too much sugar or if I eat corn syrup at all. I recently went on vacation, ate out a lot, and inevitably got a sore. This one was worse than usual and progressively worsened over the course of a week.
When I returned from vacation and ceased any excessive sugar intake I decided to try treating it with baking soda. I applied a small amount of baking soda directly to the sore in the morning. Twice throughout the day after eating I mixed baking soda with water and rinsed out my mouth. Before bed, I applied baking soda to the sore again. The last application caused it to start bleeding! By the next morning my sore looked more inflamed than before and I even had another one forming!
Needless to say, it didn't work for me. I hope others have better luck with it.
