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.
Turmeric
Posted by Debbie (East Moriches, NY) on 10/21/2008
★★★★★
Turmeric for Canker Sores/Cold Sores
Recently read in Rebecca Wood's "The New Whole Food Encyclopedia" about using turmeric for canker sores. I have low iron which occassionally gives me canker sores so I was searching for a home remedy. Take an 1/8 tsp. of turmeric and just enough drops of water to make a thick paste. Put directly on canker sore before bed and it will be gone by morning. Works well on cold sores too. Beware that turmeric will stain the skin a little (no big deal). I've been referring to this website for years and am glad that I have something to offer back.
Oral Care
Posted by Mike (Sofia, Bulgaria) on 10/02/2008
★★★★★
I suffered with mouth ulcers for 20 years or more. Recently I realized I wasn't rinsing well after brushing my teeth, and I know that sodium lauryl sulphate in toothpaste is an evil chemical known to cause mouth ulcers. So I decided to rinse my mouth out thoroughly several times (and gargle) with water after brushing. Since I've been doing that I have been free of mouth ulcers. We're talking about months, so I am very pleased.
I've also been eating a lot more omega 3 (in tuna/salmon/lamb). I see some people here recommend flax oil, so that might also be responsible.
Distilled White Vinegar
Posted by Kam (San Carlos, Ca) on 09/20/2008
★★★★★
I had an annoying and painful canker sore way back on my tongue, too much info..., but searched and found this site, only had distilled white vinegar, gargled twice for one minute twice and the sore really calmed down in 5 minutes, (stinging of course) then the next day gone. Assume apple cider vinegar is effective as well, but have used alum, peroxide, warm salt solution, ambesol and other OTC meds, the vinegar is the best.
Silver Nitrate Sticks
Posted by Chelsea (Bloomington, IN) on 08/23/2008
★★★★★
I work in a dentist office and whenever I get a horrible canker sore I use Silver Nitrate Sticks. It burns for a little bit but then forms a wet scab over the area. I asked one of the Dentist at the office I work in why this works; and he said he had heard at in a CE class that it's because the canker sore is cause by a virus and the body does not heal the virus it just runs its course, so the Silver Nitrate injures the area, causing the body to heal itself. Although it stings and makes your mouth taste a little like an ashtray for about five minutes, it's totally worth it.
Gluten-Free Diet
Posted by Arthur (Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin) on 07/15/2008
★★★★★
I am age 83. I suffered from canker sores continuously my whole life until 2 years ago when by accident I discovered that I had celiac disease, that is gluten intolerance. Since going on a gluten-free diet I have not had even one canker sore. NADA! Also the acid reflux that I had all my adult life has also almost completely gone away.
Unlit Match
Posted by Donna (Garnerville, NY) on 06/26/2008
★★★★★
I tried this last night and I'm shocked at how well it works!! When you hold the match head on the sore, it HURTS like you want to SCREAM, but when you're done, the pain practically disappears. The next day, the sore is significantly less painful and it has started to heal.
Cloves
Posted by Litsa (Fairbanks, Alaska) on 05/14/2008
★★★★★
CURE FOR CANKER SORES: Hi i try many remedies but the best i try was ground cloves. Use your finger or q/tip take a small amount and put it in your mouth where is the canker sore is, hold it for 5 minutes, it will sting little bit , then wash your mouth with plain water.it will heel about 4 to 6 hours. I never see anything like this happen with me or my friends, try it and you will see, By the way thanks for this site i recommend it to everyone i know. Thank you.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Maddy (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK) on 05/09/2008
★★★★★
I was suffering with mouth ulcers for some time and my GP gave me some cream to put on my tongue. The stuff was awfull and left a dry residue on my tongue. It did nothing for the pain. So I started using coconut oil. 1 Tablespoon, melted in microwave in a plastic cup (if you use glass the oil explodes and covers the inside of your microwave). Leave to cool enough so you can hold it in your mouth for approx. 1 minute, then swallow. I did this 2x a day for 2 days and my mouthulcers where gone. Maddy, UK
Silver Nitrate Sticks
Posted by Mary (Houston, Texas) on 04/25/2008
★★★★★
When I underwent chemotherapy, I would also get mouth ulcers. The doctor gave me a prescription for a mouthwash, but it was useless. Rather than suffer for days with mouth ulcers, I decided to cauterize them using silver nitrate sticks. Yes, this is painful but only for seconds as compared to 10 days of daily suffering with mouth ulcers.
Flax Seed Oil
Posted by Jennifer (Northern, Idaho) on 01/28/2008
★★★★★
I was having chronic canker sores, usually 3 at a time. I tried everything I'd ever heard of with little success. I started taking Omega 3 in the form of flax seed oil for general health reasons. Within a week or so my sores were gone and I haven't had one since. I alternate between flax oil capsules (6 a day), ground flax seeds (2 tablespoons) and eating about 1/4 cup of walnuts.
Flax Seed Oil
Posted by Mary (New York, NY) on 06/30/2008
★★★★★
Many thanks to Jennifer from Northern Idaho. I tried the flax seed oil capsules and my canker sores have not appeared since. I had taken lysine capsules for two years when one day the canker sores reappeared. The flaxseed capsules have worked beautifully. Highly recommended.
Baking Soda
Posted by Shawna (Eugene, oregon) on 01/25/2008
★★★★★
Out of the blue 4 days ago I got a canker sore that was 1.5 inches large on the side of my tongue. It was excruciating! Last night before bed I tried putting a baking soda paste on it and I woke up this morning and it's almost gone! I am so glad I found this website!!!
Toothpaste Without Sls
Posted by Christina (Cambridge, MA) on 01/24/2008
★★★★★
Please please PLEASE try this. It really works. I suffered from multiple outbreaks of canker sores for years and now am down to one or two per year. ____ makes a toothpaste called _____ that is free of the ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. This ingredient causes canker sores in many. Try this toothpaste, just once (it costs around $7.99 but lasts forever and is well worth it) and you will see a huge difference.
Multivitamins
Posted by Patrick (Salt Lake City, Utah) on 01/18/2008
★★★★★
I have been getting mouth ulcers for as long as I can remember I have tried everything from baking soda to all the products you buy at the store to keep the pain down, witch a lot of them keep the pain down for a short time and they taste nasty so my food taste nasty. the best thing that works for me is a MULTI VITAMIN, I take one a day and I haven't had a mouth ulcer for months.
Salt
Posted by Alexis Carlino (Conway, South Carolina) on 12/20/2007
★★★★★
I occasionally get canker sores every now and then. One day about 6 years ago I asked my grandmother, "grandma do you know how to get rid of a canker sore?!" She told me to either gargle some salt water or dab a little bit of salt directly on the sore. Of course it will burn and sting enough to make you want to possibly just bite your tounge, but after a minute or two the pain from the salt and canker sore subsides. Keep applying the salt each time the pain may come back, and soon enough your canker sore will be gone.
Water
Posted by al (Belleville, canada) on 12/16/2007
★★★★★
hi I appreciate your website I as well am subject to canker sores on my toung,especially when my body gets very acidic. So I cut out heavy spices and started drinking 2-1/2 pitchers of water every day in a week no more cankers try it.
