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.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Celia (Toronto, Ontario Canada) on 09/09/2006
★★★★★
I'm a dental hygiene student, and one of my instructors told me to try putting black strap molasses directly on my canker sores (i get them all the time! grrr!). I tried it last night and today they're nearly gone! it's a miracle cure, and I can't believe how well it worked! You've gotta try it!
Yerba Buena
Posted by Monica (Norwalk, CA) on 05/31/2006
★★★★★
When I get a canker sore, I chew yerba buena (mint leaf) with salt and leave it pressed up against the canker sore. Hurts like a mother, but I notice a difference.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Pranshu (Newark, DE) on 02/03/2006
★★★★★
Hydrogen Peroxide def works for canker sores...my doctor prescribed some mouthwash that just numbed it for a few hours..but peroxide reduces the pain and it also helps cure canker sores
Salt
Posted by Al (Staples, MN) on 01/07/2006
★★★★★
two words: salt water! Don't believe me, try it
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Skip (Livingston, MT) on 01/06/2006
★★★★★
For canker sores, either dab hydrogen peroxide directly on the canker sore until it stops bubbling, or hold and swish 2-3 tbs hydrogen peroxide in your mouth for 30-60 seconds. Spit out and repeat 2-3 times. DO NOT SWALLOW. Rinse your mouth well with water after using the peroxide in either method. The canker sore/s will be noticeably improved and much less painful within 24 hours. They should disappear altogether within 48-72 hours.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Amanda (McKinney, TC) on 11/18/2005
★★★★★
hydrogen peroxide, swish it around in your mouth or dip a q-tip in it and place it on the canker sore..it will be gone in a few days!!
Salt
Posted by Jorge (Altoona, IA) on 10/13/2005
★★★★★
What you do is get a cotton swab with salt it won't cure it for a while but it will make it stop hurting. Also you can light up a match, blow it out and then put it on your canker sore and it will be gone in one to two days.
Yogurt
Posted by Bruce (Nova Scotia Canada)
★★★★★
I had cankers until I started eating yogurt with active bacterial cultures. It really works. One small yogurt a day & once there gone, keep eating the yogurt & they won't come back. I have done it.
Pau D'arco
Posted by Susan (USA)
★★★★★
Pau d'Arco brings canker sore relief. Use as a poultice on the site of the sore. Pau d'Arco is an astringent and soothes the sore so that eating is a little more bearable. L-Lysine does work wonders too. Try the Pau d' Arco as a poultice on the site of the sore for a bit of relief before eating.
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.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Charity (Faithville, Usa) on 08/28/2017
Maybe low zinc folic acid or iron ....
Folic Acid
Posted by Dude (Sliver Spring, Md) on 12/20/2016
★☆☆☆☆
Folic Acid doesn't work for canker sores. Makes them sorer.
Avoid SLS Toothpaste
Posted by Jhawaii (Hawaii) on 10/16/2016
What toothpaste did you switch to? I'm looking for a good toothpaste, and if it can help us stop having canker sores, that would be great!
Avoid SLS Toothpaste
Posted by Salomon (New York) on 10/20/2016
I don't know if I am allowed to say here, but it is Swanson toothpaste. It is really good and affordable. The taste is much better than other I have tried.
Avoid Milk
Posted by Sharon (Naples, Fl) on 12/08/2014
★★★★★
hi, my son is 17 and has been suffering with cankersores since he's been 3yrs old.
He gets them weekly up to 10 in his mouth. Went to every singal doctor/department known to man. Ended up in Rheumatology department only to be put on drugs that were for cancer!!! I was so done with this. Finally I took him to a holistic doctor who did a food intolerance panel. (not allergy) and it came up that he was intolerant to milk, cheese, and eggs. As soon as we eliminated those foods, he is cankersore free-----except of course when he wants pizza with cheese and ends up with sores 2 days later:)
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
Baking Soda
Posted by Jj (Hawaii) on 06/01/2013
★☆☆☆☆
I tend to get canker sores when I eat too much sugar or if I eat corn syrup at all. I recently went on vacation, ate out a lot, and inevitably got a sore. This one was worse than usual and progressively worsened over the course of a week.
When I returned from vacation and ceased any excessive sugar intake I decided to try treating it with baking soda. I applied a small amount of baking soda directly to the sore in the morning. Twice throughout the day after eating I mixed baking soda with water and rinsed out my mouth. Before bed, I applied baking soda to the sore again. The last application caused it to start bleeding! By the next morning my sore looked more inflamed than before and I even had another one forming!
Needless to say, it didn't work for me. I hope others have better luck with it.
Multivitamins
Posted by Window (Rothbury, Mi, Usa) on 05/25/2013
★★★★★
My daughter used to get canker sores almost every week. We tried all different remedies, but I finally found something that has worked for us so well that I don't remember the last time she got one. She takes a multivitamin for older women it says on the label for women over 50, it has alot of extra b vitamins. She also takes a probiotic that has 20 billion live cultures in it. The kind we get is shelf stable, doesent have to be refrigerated and has 10 different strains. That's it! We take these two pills every night and that has resolved her painful problem.
I hope it can help someone else out there!!
Chronic Canker Sore
Posted by Ana (Usanc) on 04/03/2013
mouth sore: I have a white sore inside my cheek since years. It does not hurt. I had it checked by a doctor and he told me nothing to worry about. But how can I get rid of it ? It makes me nervous.... Oh, I am a smoker... Thanks!
Chronic Canker Sore
Posted by Ky Mama (Clinton, Ky) on 04/06/2013
★★★★★
A charcoal tablet held against it, once or twice a day for a couple of weeks may make a great difference. Charcoal is cheap, easy and amazingly helpful.
