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.
Avoid Gluten
Posted by Gs In Va (Richmond, Va) on 06/16/2011
★★★★★
I read Steve's post about the canker sores and totally thought about Gluten. I learned I was Gluten Intolerant in Oct 2009. I had read on Celiac dot com that canker sores will go away after going gluten free and I was like " yeah right" because I have had them ALL MY LIFE. If I eat anything that nicks my cheek or gum, a huge painful canker sore would appear and take 2 weeks or more to go away. I was buying Kanka all the time to help ease the pain. If I bit my cheek, same thing would happen.
After going Gluten Free I have not had a single canker sore, since 2009. I've nicked my cheek, bit my cheek, all by accident and a little cut would be there from it and be gone over night... Never ever turns into a canker sore. I am proof and I've told my entire family and friends. Amazing!
Oral Care
Posted by NMadrid (Madrid, Spain) on 05/23/2009
★★★★★
I used to suffer terribly with canker sores since childhood, till a friend recommended salt toothpaste - I obviously can't mention the brand here, but the main ingredient is baking soda and I have to say that for me (and the friend who recommended it) this really has been a miracle cure!
Toothpaste Without Sls
Posted by Dale (Kearney, Nebraska) on 09/01/2010
Definitely! I regularly got canker sores and even once had a large lesion on the inside of my cheek and swollen lymph glands (I had the habit of holding my toothbrush in my mouth while I attended to something else before I finished brushing). I used baking soda to brush with for awhile and that was fine (sweet aftertaste, too :-), but no fluoride or polishing. Then I discovered the SLS connection and bought the SLS free brand (lousy aftertaste ;-p). They also make a sensitive teeth product-you can get it at Amazon. It's been several months now without a canker sore.
Toothpaste Without Sls
Posted by Whitmire8 (Whitmire, Sc - South Carolina) on 11/10/2011
★★★★★
Definitely a winner... My mouth ulcers decreased by 75%... Downside is the price however, it's worth the money to be free of the pain that comes with the ulcers.
Salt
Posted by Grace (Hardy, Va) on 01/19/2016
Use 1/2 teaspoons of salt and mix it with 1/4 a cup of water and the pain will go away. It doesn't get rid of the canker sore, but the pain goes away long enough to eat. I suggest doing it right before eating, but you can do it however many times you want to during the day. It really helps.
Baking Soda
Posted by Elli (Billings, Montana) on 12/14/2008
★★★★★
Had tried many of the suggestions here, so I was an 'experienced' patient. But this last episode was getting agonizing, allergies caused me to bite my tongue 3 wks ago. Had been to the clinic and got a little relief. Called Primary Care Physician and got a little more relief several days ago. Today .. Nothing had really helped and pain was getting worse. FOUND THIS SITE. Had not heard of the alum/baking soda cure and since I was in no shape to go pick up some alum, used my handy large size of baking soda to try that out. Did it once .. Seemed to help a bit. Waited a little while, rinsed with salt water (which I had been doing from the beginning) and applied more baking soda. This time it Burned - but not for too long. Now my throat is sooo much better. I can swallow again and the pain is not radiating down my neck past the lymph nodes - one morning I was awakened dreaming I had the mumps again. I know that the yogurt works. I had gone so far as to make it myself when my kids were little - it was not as readily available as it is today. I was just too far run down this time for any of my usual remedies to kick in. Thank you for this site. It was just what I had hoped to find when I started looking days ago!!
Avoid Nuts
Posted by Charlie (Mason, New Hampshire) on 11/25/2008
★★★★★
I have had episodes of canker sore since I was a child. After suffering for about 35 years I figured out that my canker sores were triggered by certain tree nuts. I am not otherwise allergic to tree nuts. If I eat walnuts or hazelnuts, or products containing them or their oil, canker sores will develop in 24-48 hours. I also think that seasonal pollen allergies may trigger them, and found that a prescription antihistamine (I know, not a folk remedy) completely prevents them in pollen season. As for "cures" I have never found one, but am intrigued by the alum testimonials and will try that.
Multivitamins
Posted by Jill (Ashland, OR) on 11/14/2008
★★★★★
I have always had Canker sores. All of my life I have been dealing with having and getting rid of Canker sores. Finally I have found a solution, and I am very happy for it. All I have to do now is make sure I take a multi-vitamin every three days and I am totally fine. If I start to get one, I know I have missed my dose and take a vitamin and soon, it goes away. I am not sure what it is in the vitamin, I goggled vitamin and Canker on the web and found that it might be Vitamin B, B-12, Iron, Folate or Vitamin C. Either way, I have been deficient and now I will be sure that I have all my vitamins. Give thanks. And thanks Earth clinic and everyone who writes in, the posts here with ACV helped me get over my sore throats and stay healthy!
Alum, H2O2, Aspirin
Posted by Juanita (N.O. , La. USA) on 11/28/2008
I really believe you over did this, my friend!
I always use Alum at the first sign of a fever blister. All I need to do is wet my finger then touch it to the Alum and apply this mix to the sore for about 15 seconds. It stops the sore in its tracks. You can also use this if you bite your tongue or get a 'lie' bump (swollen taste bud)... It works for me everytime! My neice who is prone to fever blisters found she can keep her outbreaks at a minimum by taking an L-Lysine supplement daily! Juanita
Alum, H2O2, Aspirin
Posted by Susan (Mcloud, Oklahoma, US) on 12/08/2009
THIS was my LAUGH for the day; SO hilarious! Please forgive me for getting my pleasure from your pain...(literally) but talk about DETERMINATION!!! Seriously, only one who has suffered with cold sores can testify to the utter miserableness. I'm THINKING mine might have come from drinking too much orange juice along with 1 or 2 oranges daily w/my 1-2 TBL ACV. I used to be plagued w/them in my younger years quite frequently (inside the mouth is the worst). However, this one is inside my nose and right below it. I'm going to try the SLS free toothpaste and see how that works. This is my first post on this site that I have been lurking on for the last year or so; this is a great place to come for whatever ails you. I appreciate this site and all its contributors. The "posts" AFTER the story were so funny, too.
Alum, H2O2, Aspirin
Posted by Jessica (Jefferson City, Mo, Usa) on 08/07/2010
Gargling with a shot of Jamison has helped mine, along with alum & gargling with peroxide. Jamison worked better than the OTC numbing spray.
Alum, H2O2, Aspirin
Posted by Tacy (Washington State) on 08/08/2024
What is Jamison, please?
Milk of Magnesia, Allergy Meds
Posted by Amanda (San antonio, TX) on 12/27/2007
★★★★★
I swished one part Milk of Mag to one part Liquid Allergy Med in my mouth and my cold sores were painless and i was able to eat better.
Avoid Hot Dogs
Posted by Jesse (Wasilla, Alaska) on 03/27/2007
★★★★★
I am currently trying ACV remedy for my canker sore. I only have one small canker sore right now. However, over a year ago I had a bad outbreak with one canker sore the size of a dime was literally eating through my cheek. I tried everything and it took over a months to heal. My glands were swollen and I considered seeing a physician.
One thing I have noticed however, is that my outbreaks usually accurr after eating too many hot dogs(2 a day or more for a 2-4 day period). This outbreak is no different, I ate a few hot dogs a few days in a row and here comes a canker sore. However, When I had my horrible outbreak over a year ago, I was living in North Carolina and didn't have much food to eat. My diet consisted of 5 hot dogs a day and I had my worse outbreak then. Perhaps there is something contained in hot dogs that could cause this. I'm going to research hot dogs and check it out. I've also noticed that eating brocoli can sometimes cure a canker sore in just days.
Avoid Hot Dogs
Posted by Susan (Portage, Pa) on 05/30/2012
★★★★★
YES!! I have been suffering for 4 days with what I consider the largest worst canker sore I've ever had. On the tip of my tongue. Soooo Sore!!
I remember thinking.. What did I Eat to make this appear? HOT DOGS! Specifically Oscar Meyer beef franks. But, Anything with tomatoes, pickles, vinegar, and toothpaste with sodium laur. Sulfate, will trigger them. I now use sensitive toothpastes. By the way, letting an ASPIRIN dissolve on the sore, Majorly helps the pain. I used one 325 mg, pill.
Avoid Milk
Posted by Win (Gainesville, FL) on 01/31/2007
★★★★★
Avoiding milk and milk products cured my canker sores. Both my mother and I suffered from sores in our mouths and we had tried many different remedies hoping to prevent them. Mom discovered that if she reduced her milk intake, she got fewer sores. Now, we both drink only soy milk and have been canker-free for years. Soy ice creams are getting better and better, too. I occasionally have some regular cheese and this doesn't seem to cause any problems. Cheese made from soy is still pretty awful.
Toothpaste Without Sls
Posted by Anonymous (USA) on 11/27/2006
★★★★★
I have had really bad canker sores my entire life. None of the ideas listed here ever worked for me and all of the over the counter meds that you get only made the duration of the sore longer. The ONLY thing that helps me is toothpaste without Sodium Laurel Solphate (sls) - ____. The toothpaste is the best. I also got a paste from my doctor that lessens the severity and the duration.
Toothpaste Without Sls
Posted by Carri (Greenville, SC) on 12/16/2008
The only brand that doesn't have SLS is a specific flavor of ____. I can't remember the flavor but read the ingredients. There is an ingredient like it, but not it just be careful it doesn't say Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. I have used the ______ and it gives me horrible canker sores though it does not have SLS. I think it's the Sodium Saccrin in it, not sure. The only thing I've found that doen't make me get them is the _____. And you have to hunt for it. Hope this helps someone!!
Toothpaste Without Sls
Posted by Marta (Livermore, CA) on 10/03/2006
★★★★★
First, I use a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate , second I use Clobetasol propionate ointment 0.05% this is by prescription only. This cures canker sores in their tracks. Twice a day usually for only two days and they are gone. I use a q tip for application.
Toothpaste
Posted by Michael (Huntington Beach, CA) on 09/29/2006
★★★★★
Placing a dab of toothpaste on a canker sore inside the mouth will reduce the pain and heal the sore quicker. This is a remedy my mother has known since she was a child in Belgium.
Toothpaste Without Sls
Posted by Scottie (Pelham TN) on 05/18/2006
★★★★★
Use Toothpaste and Mouthwash without Sodium Lauryl sulfate! I get canker sores, sorry did get them if I bit my lip or cut a gum on chips or something. Two weeks of pain! Now I don't get them at all even after a bite or cut gum. I read this cure in some blogs here and there. I started buying ____ toothpaste and mouthwash and this prevents canker sores. I never get them now and I love it!
