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.
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!
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.
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!!!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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~
Avoid SLS Toothpaste
Posted by Dave (Columbus, Usa) on 04/28/2013
★★★★★
I have had canker sores for a while and had tried a lot of different things to help them. My daughter started to get them at a young age too. We looked around and found that SLS can cause canker sores and we found that it is in a lot of toothpastes. We started using Baking soda for toothpaste and we have not had any more canker sores for over 6 months except for my daughter 1 more time. She missed the toothpaste flavor and she used some of a gel mint flavor toothpast that had SLS in it and the next day she got a canker sore. She went back to the baking soda and it was gone in 2 days and didn't come back. Before she was getting 1 -2 every week now none in 6 months. We just get a small bowl and put some baking soda in it and wet the toothbrush in water and dip it in the paste 1 time and then brush. I learned about it from my grandpa many years ago but never used it. He past away at 94 years old and had almost all of his teeth.
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.
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.