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.
Baking Soda
Posted by Fabio (Brazil) on 05/24/2024
★★★★★
Brush With Baking Soda for Canker Sores
There is an actual phisical layer of pathogens in the canker sore. If you just put the products like baking soda there, you will not be able to penetrate through this layer. Hence the best approach would be to brush your canker sore with your baking soda, or whatever product you want to use to kill the pathogens. Using this technique will kill your canker sore instantly.
L-Lysine
Posted by judith (USA) on 12/30/2023
★★★★★
Lysine for canker sores works wonders! My son had a mouthful after having his wisdom teeth out and they healed up quickly. Recently I had plantar facitis and found 5 star reviews for lysine and tried it and it worked in 24 hours! Amazing stuff. I don't know what the chemistry behind it is, but I am grateful!
Cloves
Posted by sylvain (Quebec) on 10/13/2023
★★★★★
For canker sore pain,
try a Qtip with clove oil, I can vouch that it will numb the pain for about an hour, that is the only thing I have found that helps at least temporarily.
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.
Camphor Spirit
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 01/17/2023
★★★★★
Campho-Phenique Antiseptic Liquid is my 24hour treatment for mouth ulcers. Dab on a canker sore with q-tip soaked in campho-phenique. Put the Q-tip against the mouth ulcer for one minute. Then remove Q-tip and rinse mouth out with water. This has worked for me every time since the 1970's when it was shown to me.
Active Ingredients: per container: Camphorated Phenol (Camphor 10.8%, Phenol 4.7%) (Pain reliever/antiseptic) Inactive Ingredients: Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus), Glycerin, Light Mineral 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~
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
L-Lysine
Posted by Bill (NC) on 04/14/2022
★★★★★
I agree, Lysine is the solution for Canker sores. Take it daily.
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.
Camphor Spirit
Posted by Riker (Cortez Co. ) on 03/15/2022 3 posts
★★★★★
Camphor Spirit for Canker Sores
Camphor spirit (not campho phenique) will remove them. Dip a Q tip in the solution & hold against the sore...it stings but after a couple of treatments it should disappear.
Slippery Elm Lozenges
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 01/26/2022
★★★★★
I bit my cheek and ended up with a terrible mouth sore on the inside of my cheek. The inflammation made it so I kept biting it, too. Even the lymph node on that side of my neck was swelling.
I found a recipe for Slippery Elm Lozenges and modified it. (They are typically used for coughing or sore throats.)
- 1/2 cup slippery elm bark powder (I get mine from Frontier or Mountain Rose Herbs - it is a wonderful herb to keep on hand.)
- 4-6 Tablespoons raw honey
- 1 teaspoon ground clove powder
I mixed the slippery elm bark powder and the clove powder together. Then I added in the honey until and mixed until it made a dough. It reminded me a lot of gingerbread dough.
I used a dough scraper to divide it up into about 4 dozen little pieces. I rolled each on and put it on wax paper in a small container. Should be good for a week or so. (Could be frozen if need be to keep them longer.)
These would be great to suck on for cough or sore throat. The slippery elm is soothing to mucous membranes. The clove is antiseptic and relieves pain by numbing the area. The honey is also antiseptic.
For mouth sore, I placed the little ball/lozenge against it. It sort of softened and molded to my teeth somewhat. (I suspect this would be a good remedy for tooth pain, too.) If I left it alone it stayed for hours. I even kept it in overnight.
My one concern has been holding a sugar in my mouth that long. Interestingly, even though I have done this all day and have not brushed my teeth in hours, my teeth don't feel like I have been eating sugar. (If I eat sugar my teeth start to feel fuzzy after a while.)
My mouth sore is much less painful today. I will be making these again for different things in the future.
~Mama to Many~
Cloves
Posted by Juliana (Edmonton, Canada ) on 06/18/2021
★★★★★
I used many different things for the big sore on my tongue. Nothing would work, until I started to use the clove powder.. It started to work immediately.
I've learned that canker sore can be caused by bacteria or many other causes. In my case, it was bacterial, from a tooth infection. In 2 days it shrunk 80%..another 2 days later it was gone.
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.
Lavender Oil
Posted by Jean (Wheeling, iL) on 02/29/2020
★★★★★
Lavender essential oil will heal both canker and cold sores. I put some on my finger and apply 3 or 4 times a day. Works in no time.
CBD Oil
Posted by Chris (Atlanta, Ga ) on 08/29/2019
★★★★★
I had nasty canker sore on the roof of mouth. I tried everything on here for relief. It all helped some. Then I remembered that I have some cbd oil balm. I loaded up a Q-Tip with it and placed it everywhere I felt pain or tenderness. Went to sleep. Woke up pain free. Like it went away over night. That stuff is the best for any type of skin lesion.
Peppermint Oil
Posted by Anon (Anon) on 07/02/2020
★★★★★
Peppermint oil seems to have shrunk the canker sore I had. I was putting a drop of the oil in my mouth once a day. That was three days ago, the sore is gone. It had been there about three days before I used the oil.
I mixed several drops with tea tree oil in a capsule and inserted it to see if it would get rid of what appears to be hpv on my cervix. That was 12 hours ago and my period has just started a week early.
Lavender Oil
Posted by Jean J. (Wheeling, Il) on 10/18/2018
★★★★★
When I feel a canker or cold sore starting, I liberally apply Lavender essential oil 3 or 4 times a day and it's gone in no time. Stops it in its tracks.
Dry Sage Leaves
Posted by Tim (Georgia) on 06/05/2018 21 posts
★★★★★
Dry Sage leaves are also great for canker sores. It's a cheapest way to get rid of cancer sore and related bb. Just chew a pinch of dry Sage leaves all day long. Place this mass on canker sore for an hour. Can swallow it easily without any side effect. Just avoid scratches - chew only leaves. You'll get rid of canker sore just in a day/or 2-3 days in severe and multiple cases. Also wash your brushes with soap everyday especially they stay as a bouquet in glass in your families.
Colostrum
Posted by Megan (White Plains) on 06/03/2018
★★★★★
I get mouth ulcers but years ago someone told me to try colostrum. Now whenever I feel one coming on, I take a capsule and it usually disappears.
