Canker sores are one of the most annoying things on the planet, but they are not only that. Did you know that they can be a sign of a serious illness? Frequently recurring canker sores are one of the most common symptoms of diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and even leukemia! Try these unbeatable home remedies for canker sores to get rid of them once and for all!
CAUSES OF CANKER SORES
Canker sores or apthous stomatitis are strange little ulcers on the inside of the mouth that have bothered most people at some point in their lives. I say “strange” because the cause/s are not always known, but biting the inside of your cheek, wearing braces, stress, genetics and a sensitive immune system are all possible contributors.
The truth is that nobody is immune to canker sores. They do occur more frequently in females, teens and young adults.
Canker sores can result from trauma, irritation, an unhealthy diet and / or nutritional deficiency or a more serious underlying health issue. Chronic canker sores, cold sores, ulcers or oral blisters may be due to:
- Gluten intolerance
- HIV
- Celiac disease
- Behcet’s Syndrome
- Crohn’s disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Leukemia
Canker sores may be drug - induced (beta-blockers, NSAIDS, corticosteroids). If you are gluten intolerant and are struggling with recurrent canker sores, you should probably change your diet. Do consult your doctor in every event.
Canker sores are not caused by the herpes virus, so you can get that off your mind at least!
The good news is that they are usually not dangerous. Often people with frequent canker sores have a family history of the problem. This may be due to genetics or a common factor in the environment, such as allergens or specific foods.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Canker sores start as a red or pink patch of oval or round skin. Generally, they get increasingly inflamed, and a white or yellowish spot forms in the middle. Canker sores are about four millimeters big on average. If you have multiple canker sores on the inside of the lip or in your throat, it is most likely due to some kind of virus similar to that which causes cold sores.
TREATMENTS
If your sores aren’t chronic, it is very easy to reduce the pain they cause – all it takes is a handful of natural ingredients! Our list of home remedies for canker sores is so effective that soon you will be talking without a lisp and chewing your food normally – these benefits are not to be underestimated!
1.Bee wax – a great bee product and remedy
If you have braces or dentures that are rubbing against a canker sore or a sore is getting more and more inflamed because it keeps rubbing against your tooth, bee wax will do wonders for you. A tiny wax cover can help minimize the frustrating chafing against the sore and help it heal faster. If you are going to place it over dentures or braces, take care to make the wax cover thick so it doesn’t get stuck in the brace.
Required Ingredients:
- Equal amounts of bee wax and coconut oil
Process:
Heat the beeswax and mix it with the coconut oil (coconut oil will also work great on its own – read more above). Let the mix cool to room temperature, then press a tiny bit over the edge of your braces or tooth to stop the canker sore from coming into contact with it / them.
2. Clove oil is the mightiest antiseptic in the world
Photo Credit:svnaturalhealth.com
Essential clove oil contains eugenol, an astonishingly effective painkiller and antiseptic that is still being put to good use today in its extracted filtered form. Cloves have been used long before the time of modern dentistry and eugenol has always been the most active ingredient of the substance a dentist will use.
Required Ingredients:
- Five drops of clove essential oil
- One teaspoon of olive oil
- Water
- Cotton swabs
Process:
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water before preparing the remedy so the oil will be as effective as possible. If you don’t, something might block the oil or otherwise obstruct its passage to the sore.
- Mix a few drops of clove essential oil with the olive oil. Soak a cotton ball in this mixture well and press it firmly against the canker sore for 5-8 minutes for numbing relief.
- Repeat daily for one week.
3. Numbing Spray – Number One and Super-Easy to Make!
The numbing spray calls for a solid dose of peppermint essential oil, olive or grapeseed oil and eucalyptus oil. Peppermint oil is one of the main ingredients in over-the-counter pain relief gels, sprays and creams. It’s an amazingly effective antiseptic.
There is one thing eucalyptus and peppermint essential oil have in common – their astounding ability to treat all kinds of inflammation and minimize the effects of virus attacks on your body. As a result, you are more protected from infections.
Required Ingredients:
- 100 g of eucalyptus essential oil
- Two tablespoons of olive or grapeseed oil
- 150 g of peppermint essential oil
- A glass container to mix them
Process:
Mix the olive or grapeseed oil and the essential oils in the glass container. Put a lid on it, shake well and then spray it right on the canker sore or sores. Repeat as needed until you feel pain relief. Do not forget to shake the mixture thoroughly before spraying it.
Click here to learn about some more amazing uses of peppermint oil!
4. Cheap and Easy Herbal Tea
People drink chamomile tea before bed as a sleep aid, to relax and improve their digestion. German chamomile contains a chemical called levomenthol, which has been proven to act as an antiseptic and reduce inflammation. Its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory features will help minimize the discomfort caused by canker sores and are very likely to help promote treatment.
Required Ingredients:
- A handful of dried chamomile flowers or a bag of chamomile tea
- Drinking water
Process:
- If you are using a teabag, it should be left to soak in the water for about a minute. If you have dried chamomile flowers, let them soak for about five minutes.
- Press the bag or flowers right on the sore for about eight minutes two times every day for two weeks until the canker sores disappear.
5. A Simple Honey Rub Will Do it
Honey is one of the oldest natural remedies in the world for canker sores. It is not only delicious but extremely beneficial. The ethereal oils and alcohol in honey help eliminate canker sores by strengthening the immune system.
Honey kills bad bacteria and treats inflammations. This guarantees quick relief from a pesky canker sore. Use raw organic honey for the fastest relief.
Required Ingredients:
- One teaspoon of honey
- A glass of warm water
Process:
Take a gulp of warm water and lay a big layer of organic raw honey right on the painful spot. Repeat this several times a day. It is particularly important to do this before going to bed because the treatment will be more effective if you aren’t eating or talking. In fact, do not eat at least 30 minutes before and after this treatment.
Notes:
Do not consume honey if you are diabetes.
6. Coconut Oil – A Delight for the Senses
Coconut oil is a tasty, anti-inflammatory antiseptic and 100% effective against canker sores. You have to get all-natural oil for this remedy or it won’t work. All natural coconut oil can be purchased in specialized stores.
Required Ingredients:
- Ten drops of virgin coconut oil
Process:
Using a cotton ball or cotton swab, dab about ten drops of coconut oil onto the sore. It melts very fast, so try to get a thick layer on there. If it keeps sliding off, melt it with a teaspoon of beeswax to make it thicker.
Note: If you have heart problems or high blood pressure, any and all treatments with coconut oil are to be avoided.
7. Cayenne paste – Heat will make the sore go away
Cayenne has the component capsaicin, which is the reason cayenne is so spicy. Capsaicin blocks pain signals from reaching the brain by deterring substance P, which mediates pain signals. This is why cayenne is a great home remedy for canker sores, although it seems like it would have the exact opposite effect!
Cayenne pepper has a very high vitamin C content, which also helps reduce inflammation.
Required Ingredients:
- A dash of cayenne pepper
- Cotton balls
Process:
Mix finely ground cayenne pepper with water until you have a homogeneous paste. The water should be warm. Take a cotton ball and roll it in the paste, then apply right on the sore area. Do this several times daily until you feel relief or until you can bear it, because it will probably burn.
You could roll a small cotton ball into the paste and place it on the sore tooth. Avoid contact with the tongue. Wash your hands after and do not touch your eyes.
Note: Combine cayenne with ginger to generate massive heat to help relieve toothache.
8. Sage is a remedy used since the beginning of time
A member of the evergreen Salvia officinalis family, sage has been used as a spice for cooking and natural remedy since the dawn of time. It is said that Native Americans used sage to help clean the digestive tract and mouth and treat canker sores and ulcers.
Required Ingredients:
- One tablespoon of dried sage or 100 grams of fresh herb
- One cup of drinking water
Process:
Place your sage leaves in an airtight glass jar in a cool dark place for 24 hours. If you choose to try the remedy with the dried herb, boil the water and let it sit for twelve minutes. Take a sip of the water and sage, wait a few minutes, spit it out and rinse with fresh water. Alternatively, pound the sage leaves to a soft, moist pulp and place it over the sore for a couple of minutes.
9. Attack the canker sores with aloe gel
This amazing medicinal plant and its magnificent gel are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to treating canker sores and relieving sunburn and many other conditions.
There is a trick to this remedy – it will not work with aloe vera gel that is not 100% natural. The gel in pharmacies is supposed to be natural, but it just doesn’t cut it.
You could buy an aloe plant or grow one, get a few leaves and cut them to extract the gel. You could also buy freeze – dried aloe vera, defreeze it and mix with water to get the gel. Stay away from the stuff in stores – they have thousands of ingredients, but little actual gel.
Required Ingredients:
- 20 grams of REAL aloe vera gel
- 10 grams of water
Process:
Mix the gel and the water thoroughly and gargle three times daily to speed up healing and relieve the pain.
HOW TO PREVENT CANKER SORES
It is important to prevent canker sores, especially if they are recurrent. You can manage and reduce the incidence of canker sore outbreaks in many ways, including the following:
Deal with nutritional deficiencies (iron, vitamin B, folate). Click here for more information about oral health. See a doctor to check if there is an underlying issue.
Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse. The best ones contain essential oils that kill bad bacteria in the mouth
Do not take on too much work or do something else that stresses you out
Address your dietary needs
Learn to cope better with pressure and manage anxiety
Enhance your immune system through exercise, a suitable diet and adequate rest
CONCLUSION
Most of us have had canker sores and not paid attention to them. The problem is when they become too frequent – if you neglect them, this is likely to happen. Do keep our home remedies for canker sores in mind when you have an outbreak and share this article to help other people.
Tell us what you think in the comments section – are there any other remedies you know of? Hopefully you liked this list and can contribute more natural home treatments to it.
Dr. Kyra Russel Jr.
A qualified doctor, Dr. Kyra Russel Jr. is someone who wears many hats, working also as a health writer, author, researcher, and media medic. She is a master communicator who is passionate about putting convoluted health information into words that make the information widely accessible. Her primary interests are child and adolescent health, women’s well-being, beauty, and nutrition.
Nice article its very helpfull thanks for sharing