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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jingdong (Chandler, Arizona, US) on 01/13/2009
★★★★★
I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar and it worked. I had 2 very painful canker sores on the side of my tongue. It hurts to talk or even swallow. I searched the web out of desperation, and I'm so glad that I found this site. I applied the ACV with a cotton tip. Pressed it on the sore as long as I could stand. It is very painful. I applied it every 2 hours or so. It seems hurts more in the beginning but I kept doing it. The pain was relieved after 3 or 4 times, and the pain was significantly reduced on the 2nd day.
The sore was completely gone after 3 days.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Leyana (Northern, NJ) on 01/09/2009
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar cured my canker sores. Sore were brought on by NSAID medication MOBIC, which I have discontinued (why trade one pain for another). After using an OTC patch for two nights in a row unsuccessfully, I tried ACV last night with several applications then several more this morning. By noon I am in MUCH less pain the they are almost gone. The OTC patch usuaully works for me but not this time as these sores were really bad ones. Beware of NSAIDs if you are prone to canker sores!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Catherine (Northfield, Ohio) on 12/27/2008
★★★★★
After reading the feedback on ACV for canker sores, I decided to try it out on a miserable canker sore that I have had for 5 days. I figured it couldn't make it feel any worse at this point, so I took a Q-tip and dipped it in ACV. I applied this onto the sore and held it on for about 20 seconds. After doing this a few times, the pains immediately subsided. It feels 80% better and I will keep doing this until it is gone. Thank you!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Michelle (Vancouver, BC) on 12/24/2008
★★★★★
i tried apple cider vinegar. I trusted trying it since if it didn't work as an acid to kill whatever is causing this that baking soda would be alkaline enough to reverse the effects if rinsed immediately after. Apple cider worked to relieve the pain. Have yet to see if sore gets worse or better. I have used apple cider vinegar before. Read a book on it by _____s apple cider vinegar it was the best type. You can drink it as a cure all for intestinal issues in general. I have acidic issues from over ingesting acidic diet and thought this would not work on me. ome people must have a bacteria behind their canker sores. Ive had them all my life they are horrible and got bigger over the years. I just diluted mine with water two table spoons. Let that act first so it wouldn't shock me. then I put the raw on after initial ouch was getting numb. Rinsed it like an old oral rinse the listerine of nature !Too much of this can it wear down the tooth enamel? Not if you then brush your teeth.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shirley (Riverside, CA) on 11/08/2008
★★★★★
After reading about canker sores and some home remedies on this site, I decided to try them. All today, I tried first Hydrogen Peroxide, that didn't work, then I put salt on it and OMG it hurt sooooo bad and that didn't work. A few hours later, I couldn't take the pain anymore, so I decided to try apple cider vinegar. I put some on a Q-tip and it hurt soooooo bad, but a few minutes later the pain was basically gone. I went from not being able to talk to eating dinner within a matter of an hour. I am so amazed! I did it couple more times today and it did not hurt that much second time around. I am just amazed as how fast it worked.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dan (Dallas, TX) on 07/24/2008
★★★★☆
I swear as I was reading this info I ran to the kitchen cabinet and threw "acv"in my mouth. I counted about 30 seconds and yes after the sting, (which by the way is not even close to as painful as the BS I tried before), I felt some relief. After suffering with this for as long as I can remember, I can't believe it took me this long to Google it. I just hope it dose cure it like most of you say.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Amanda (Granville, Ohio) on 07/08/2008
★★★★★
I had a canker sore on the roof of my mouth for about three days. It was so bad that I didn't eat for those three days, and it throbbed to the point where I couldn't sleep that well! I tried orajel to numb the pain but that only worked for about 3 minutes or so. I also tried rinsing with warm salt water, which also was to no avail. After stumbling upon this site and learning that Apple Cider Vinegar may help, I tried it and after a brief stinging period the pain went away almost completely. I was amazed. This was last night, and this morning when I woke up the canker was almost completely gone.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Susan (Atlanta, Georgia) on 06/23/2008
★★★★★
I had the absolute worst canker sore in my mouth. I was on vacation and had a horrible time because I was so miserable. When I got home, I read about different remedies online and found the one about Apple Cider Vinegar. I cannot believe that it worked in one day!!! I dabbed it on before going to bed (it stings at first), but I had immediate results. Not only did it allow me to sleep but it pretty much cleared up by the next morning! I will use it from now on and stop wasting my money on the stuff that does not work from the drug store. Thank you!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jim (Menomonee Falls, WI) on 06/11/2008
★★★★★
I was skeptical at first as they tell you to avoid citrus when you have a canker sore so the apple in the vinegar is what I questioned but none the less when your in pain you try anything. It worked to my surprise! Vinegar has germ killing effect so that is probably why it works so well.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shawn (Billings, MT) on 07/31/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I don't think I agree with the ACV remedy. I tried this on Wednesday after feeling terrible pain from the canker sore. Immediately after I drank the ACV I pissed my pants and forgot who I was for about a half hour. I may have used too much or something, also, are you supposed to swallow it? Didn't really care for that.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lmrappard (Wichita, Ks) on 07/29/2012
I'm glad that the drug companies don't push ACV because it would cost $80 per bottle.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pinklantana (Weatherford, Tx) on 11/07/2012
★☆☆☆☆
My daughter gets canker sores anytime she bite her mouth eating or what ever. I tried the ACV due to all the reviews but it made it much worse. We dipped a q-tip in ACV and placed it on the ulcer, it then bled and the ulcer lasted longer and was worse than normal. I think ACV is great for alot of things and thats why we tried this remedy but it didn't work for us in this case.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Stacy (Akron, Ohio) on 09/01/2007
★★★★★
ACV cured my sons canker sore. My son had a canker sore and it hurt him daily as he tried to chew food. He didn't even want me to look at it because it hurt him so much. I came to your site to see what remedies were suggested. ACV was at the top of the list and since we have the _____ brad here at home, i used a spray bottle once i read the reviews. He didn't like the sour taste, but the next day he had RELIEF. I sprayed twice the following day when he rose in the morning and before bed at night. Within 4 days it was gone and not returned. I spray ACV in his mouth once a week to keep the canker sores away. IT REALLY WORKS!!!! He wanted me to write so that other kids could get help. Thank you earth clinic
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kkenn (Detroit, Mi) on 01/27/2013
★☆☆☆☆
Putting apple cider vinegar, or any vinegar on a canker sore will only make it worse. Apple cider is very acidic, and acid makes the sores worse. You should avoid orange juice, tomatoes, vinegar, etc.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Evan (Nyc, US) on 04/13/2014
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I am prone to canker sores when under lots of stress. While recovering from my first bad illness in 4 years (I almost never get sick) I developed several nasty canker sores in my mouth. I saw that many people had success with ACV, applying it with q-tips and cotton balls. Since I had 4-5 canker sores and was impatient, I decided to just gargle with ACV for about 3 minutes, thinking that would be more effective. Well, the canker sores certainly got better, but the prolonged exposure to ACV burned my tongue and every surface of my mouth. Now it's the day after and I can barely taste anything, eating is an unpleasant chore and anything acidic or spicy is quite painful. When not eating, the inside of my mouth feels like it was soaked in tannins, which is also really unpleasant. So, if you're going to use ACV for canker sores, be smart and apply it ONLY to the sore as it will burn your healthy mouth tissue.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Angie (colorado springs, co) on 06/02/2007
★★★★★
I am so glad I found this site! I had a terrible canker sore on the side of my tongue that kept hitting my molars, could barely eat or talk it hurt. I put _____'s apple cider vinegar on a qtip and held it on the sore for about 1 minute and then repeated twice and then again before bed. I did this 2 days in a row and it is now gone. I felt immediate relief and I could see it healing right away - it only took 2 days to heal and it has taken over a week before. Thanks for this article!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Tara (Tampa, FL)
★★★★★
For the quickest relief of canker sores (don't know about cold sores), take a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and put in your mouth. Then push it to the side of the sore, or hold your head so the liquid sits on the sore. Keep it in your mouth for as long as you can stand it. Then spit it out and repeat once. You will have relief within a few minutes of doing this, and your mouth will feel clean and tingly. Don't eat anything for about 30 minutes afterward because this may affect the healing pH balance that the vinegar created. The irritation will be gone within the hour, and the damaged tissue will have begun to heal (you can feel it with your tongue!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Michelle (Milwaukee, Wi) on 08/06/2013
★☆☆☆☆
ACV made my canker sore much larger.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cindy (Huntington, In) on 03/06/2011
★★★★★
I start taking apple cider vinegar in a glass of apple juice every morning because I had just heard that it was good for you and thought I'd try it. Well I always had about 3 canker sores in my mouth at a time, it was seldom that I didn't have at least one, I have been drinking the ACV daily for about a year now and I hardly ever get them, if I do, they don't last. If I skip a couple days I am sure to have a canker sore. It doesn't make since that drinking something that acidic keeps them away but I'm so thankful that it does!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Max (Max) on 10/10/2023
It's because ACV is processed by the body as an alkaline- it becomes alkaline just like lemons and limes.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Katty (Virginia) on 04/09/2016
★☆☆☆☆
When I tried this it not only took the canker sore away but it left a even bigger sore like if you were to of just rip the first layer of my inner lip apart that how bad it is it just made it so much worse
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Brock (Brentwood, California) on 12/14/2008
★☆☆☆☆
Apple Cider Vinegar did not help my canker sore. I used a q-tip filled with ACV and it burned alot and had no relief within the next 24 hours.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by New To All This (La, Ca) on 09/11/2009
I tried sipping apple cider vineger the other day to treat acid reflux and now I have two canker sores. I used to get canker sores all the time but haven't lately, so I'm pretty sure that's what caused it. It didn't help the acid reflux, either, so I'm not going to test whether it'll cure the canker sores.
