Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Alum for Canker Sores

5 star (38)		83%
3 star (2)		4%
1 star (2)		4%
(4)		9%

Edward (San Francisco, CA) on 09/05/2014:
5 out of 5 stars

I'm 73 years old and have used the alum treatment for canker sores most of my life...My grandmother took powdered alum, heated the powder in a small pan till it melted. My mother took the heated (melt) powder and poured the stuff into a small piece of aluminum foil to make alum crystals. Then the crystals were put on the sore...After a few minutes the pink sores turned white, and without pain.

Katherine (Calgary, Alberta) on 06/24/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

Alum works wonders! I bit my lip a couple days ago and usually the canker sores don't hurt all that much as I get them a lot. This time however it got so big so fast I couldn't eat or talk. I looked at this site and went over to the grocery store and bought some alum. I held it on the canker sore for 5 minutes and it hurt A LOT. However in a couple of hours it looked like half of it was gone. I put some on before bed and the next morning all the swelling is gone, and I can't even feel that it's there. I recommend this for everyone!

Cb (San Diego, CA) on 05/26/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I have been suffering from canker sores for 15 years of my life. After biting my tongue in the same place twice for the thousandth time, I decided that was the last straw. I went online and found and tried the Alum solution. It's only been a couple of days but I have already started to see positive results. My sore got bigger and deeper but not as painful. Now it's almost completely gone. It definately helped to numb the pain especially when I dissolved the Tylenol right after. I would recommend this treatment.

Selia (Ocala, Fl) on 05/21/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I've used alum for decades to treat canker sores which I get chronically. To the person who claims we'll get dementia from using it, not true; my mother used it, she lived to 87, not a scintilla of dementia; I'm fine, sharp as a tack at 70. So USE it. Don't be scared off.

Kb (Monterey, Ca) on 05/01/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

Thanks you guys! Alum worked great for me. One night pain was worth it. I feel great. Now I know what to do when I get canker.

Farooq (Cornwall, Ontario, canada) on 02/06/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I have been getting cankers since I moved to Canada. Have seen many many Doctors but nothing helped.

But then I read about sodium lauryl sulfate found in most of toothpastes was one of the reason for Cankers. I stopped using those toothpastes and thank God I do not get it very often, as I was use to get it about twice a month.

But once in a while I will get it. This time it was on my tongue I read it on this website about Alum and bought it from Food basics. Used it once and seems to be very helpful.

View Entire Thread

Jessica (Waconia, Minnesota) on 01/26/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I use Alum for cold sores and canker sores too! It is utterly amazing how fast they disappear with just a couple applications. I refuse to spend money on anything else. Cheapest most effective treatment out there! I tell everyone about it when I can!

View Entire Thread

Dreamer (Salinas, Ca) on 01/26/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I have been using Alum for canker sores for years! I am 31 and started getting canker sores when I was around 7 or 8. My Dad taught me to use alum on them back then (he was a medic in the army & national guard) and I would never use anything else! It hurts to put on but it is so worth it! It numbs the pain for a small amount of time and it heals them super fast! A++

John (Lake Oswego, Oregon) on 01/19/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I've been using alum on canker sores as a cure for 30 years and wouldn't use anything else. My whole family uses it.

Mariana (Roseville, Minnesota) on 12/22/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

I was surprised to find alum missing from your list of remedies. It would be interesting to see what other folks use this for. It's great for treating canker sores. They go away almost instantly. My mother used this for us when we were kids, and her mother used it too. I think it's a pretty ancient substance that was used widely in the Middle East and Africa. We use the powdered kind that is sold in grocery stores. (It's used in pickling, for crispness. )

Anyhow, what we do to treat a cankersore is merely moisten a Q-tip, and dip it in a very small amount of alum mixed with a teaspoon of warm water. After the alum is on for a few minutes, just rinse your mouth because the alum is very bitter. People also use alum as a mouthwash and to treat gum disease or aching teeth. It's used to treat eczema itching, and styes as well. I'm sure the solution would need to be much milder for use on the eyes, or as a mouthwash, or in treating eczema. Anyway, I hope others might want to mention their experiences with using this common household ingredient. Mariana

1.. 3 4 5

Return to Canker Sores