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Mouth ulcers are a type of sore found inside the mouth. Similar to stomach ulcers, these can be caused by various factors, including emotional stress, vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and food allergies. It's important to note that mouth ulcers are not the same as cold sores (caused by herpes) as they are not due to a viral infection. Therefore, mouth ulcers are not contagious. However, they can be very painful and typically take a few days to heal. In addition to adjusting your diet and avoiding ulcer-triggering foods, you may want to explore other remedies to help heal these sores.
Steps
Use Home Remedies
Prepare Saltwater Rinse. Add a teaspoon of sea salt or table salt to a cup of warm water. Stir to dissolve the salt, then rinse your mouth several times. The saltwater will help disinfect the area and alleviate the pain. After rinsing, sprinkle a small amount of salt directly onto the ulcer. It may sting, but this is one of the most effective ways to help the ulcer heal faster. Repeat this process 4-5 times daily.
Dry the Ulcer with Milk of Magnesia. Pour about one teaspoon of Milk of Magnesia into a spoon. Dip a clean cotton ball into the Milk of Magnesia and apply it to the ulcer. After applying the solution, open your mouth and hold still for 5-10 seconds. The magnesium hydroxide will absorb moisture from the ulcer, promoting faster healing. Repeat this process 7-8 times daily.
- Milk of Magnesia is available at most pharmacies, usually in the section for constipation relief products.
Use Alum Powder to Tighten the Ulcer. Purchase some alum powder (found in the spice or baking section of grocery stores). Pour a small amount (about the size of an eraser) onto a spoon. Dip a cotton ball in water, then into the alum powder, and apply it directly to the ulcer. Leave it on for 1-2 minutes. You might feel a mild stinging sensation. Keep a glass of water nearby to rinse your mouth afterward. Alum acts as an astringent, helping to shrink tissues. It also has mild immune-stimulating effects, although these aren't significant since mouth ulcers are not caused by viruses. Perform this treatment 1-2 times per day.
- Alum is commonly used in baking and cooking, so if you accidentally swallow it, there's no need to worry.
Relieve Pain with Aloe Vera Gel. Apply aloe vera gel directly to the ulcer using a cotton ball. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes. Aloe vera will almost dissolve into your saliva. If not, you can rinse your mouth afterward. Repeat this treatment 4-5 times a day.
Apply Baking Soda to the Ulcer. Mix a paste by combining about one tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of water. Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture to the ulcer. Open your mouth and allow the solution to stay on the ulcer for 5-10 seconds. Baking soda helps speed up the healing process and raises the pH in your mouth, reducing the risk of infection. Perform this treatment 7-8 times daily.
Make Tea for Mouth Rinse. To prepare sage tea, dissolve one teaspoon of sage in a cup of hot water. Chamomile tea can be made the same way, or you can use one tea bag per cup of hot water. Once the tea cools, stir it well and use it to rinse your mouth. Both sage and chamomile are believed to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the risk of infection and provide relief from discomfort.
- You can also apply a chamomile tea bag directly to the ulcer. The bisabolol in chamomile acts as an anti-inflammatory and will help reduce the swelling and redness of the ulcer.
Use Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) Lozenges. DGL lozenges can be purchased at herbal stores or health shops. Place a DGL lozenge on the ulcer and allow it to dissolve completely. DGL helps speed up the healing process and reduces the size of the ulcer. DGL is commonly used to treat digestive tract ulcers as well. Avoid giving DGL lozenges to children due to the choking hazard. Additionally, DGL has a distinct flavor, so it's recommended to keep a glass of water nearby to rinse your mouth afterward.
Use Cayenne Pepper Cream to Relieve Pain. Mix one teaspoon of cayenne pepper with a few drops of water. Apply the mixture to the ulcer with a cotton swab. While this may sound intimidating, the capsaicin in cayenne pepper stimulates your body's sensory nerves, which are responsible for signaling pain. As the spiciness fades, your body will stop focusing on the ulcer for 30 minutes to an hour afterward.
Apply Coconut Oil to the Ulcer. Although there is no medical proof that coconut oil can cure mouth ulcers, it does contain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, using coconut oil is harmless, and it has a pleasant taste!
Eat Healthy Foods
Consume Foods Rich in Vitamin B12. A lack of vitamin B12 can lead to nerve and blood cell damage, which are crucial for healing the mucous membranes in the mouth. A deficiency in vitamin B12 could result in mouth ulcers. Include seafood such as sardines, salmon, tuna, cod, clams, and shrimp in your diet. Beef and lamb are also rich sources of vitamin B12. Additionally, yogurt is a great option for ensuring you meet your daily vitamin B12 intake.
Supplement with Folic Acid. Folic acid is necessary for your body to produce DNA and other genetic material, including the mucous membranes in the mouth. Generally, beans and lentils are rich sources of folate. Dark green leafy vegetables like turnip greens, spinach, and asparagus can also be added to meals to increase your folic acid intake.
Incorporate Iron-Rich Foods into Your Diet. Iron is responsible for many bodily functions, with the most important being the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen, a crucial element for healing damaged tissues. Seafood, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lentils, beans, and spinach are all excellent sources of iron.
Include Zinc in Your Diet. Zinc is an essential nutrient that supports overall body health. It is present throughout the body and aids in cell production. Without enough zinc, the body struggles to heal wounds, clot blood, and fight even the weakest infections. Foods rich in zinc include pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, lentils, and cashews.
Avoid Factors that Could Make the Ulcer Worse
Avoid Touching the Ulcer. It's easy to focus too much on the ulcers in your mouth. Each time you open your mouth, your teeth might scrape against the ulcer, aggravating the wound and sending pain signals throughout your body. You should try to avoid irritating the ulcer as much as possible. Chew food on the non-painful side, try not to let your tongue touch the ulcer, and avoid picking or scratching the wound. Let the wound rest, and your body will heal it naturally.
Dealing with Braces. If you wear braces, you might occasionally experience mouth ulcers. The metal parts can sometimes cause cuts inside your cheeks. You might want to consult with your orthodontist about this issue, but in the meantime, you can try a home remedy. Melt one tablespoon of beeswax and mix it with two teaspoons of coconut oil. Let it cool, then take a small amount and press it onto the part of the braces causing discomfort. Don't use too much; just enough to prevent the sharp edges from causing additional pain.
Avoid Oral Care Products Containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). Many dentists recommend that patients avoid toothpaste and mouthwash containing this organic compound. SLS is commonly used in cleaning products. Brands like Tom’s of Maine and Burt’s Bees offer SLS-free options.
Avoid Acidic Foods. For instance, although orange juice is packed with vitamin C, which is great for health, it also contains citric acid that can irritate ulcers and delay healing. Stay away from tomatoes and tomato juice. Pepper should also be avoided.
Skip Sharp Foods. It might sound trivial, but sometimes ulcers are caused by sharp-edged foods like chips, crusty bread, dry biscuits, pretzels, popcorn, and anything else that could further damage the sensitive lining of your mouth.
Stop Using Tobacco. Especially chewing tobacco, which often leads to mouth ulcers. The harsh chemicals in tobacco irritate the skin, so quitting is a sensible choice when the ulcers in your mouth are causing you pain. Smoking also has a similar effect.
Visit a Doctor
See a Doctor for Medical Examination. You should consult a doctor if your ulcer doesn’t heal after four days or becomes chronic. Contact your doctor if the ulcer grows larger than the size of your fingernail. There are many chronic causes of mouth ulcers that you need to discuss with your doctor. Mouth ulcers can be caused by vitamin deficiencies, but they may also be linked to depression, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn’s disease (inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative colitis, and a rare condition known as Behcet's disease.
- SLE is an autoimmune disease, and 50% of cases occur in the mouth. These ulcers appear as irregular white patches. The treatment involves applying glucocorticoids topically or injecting them directly into the affected area. Behcet's disease is another rare condition that causes mouth ulcers. It is an inflammatory blood vessel disorder that leads to mouth and genital ulcers. Repeated lesions and inflammation in the eyes, skin, or genitals are key diagnostic indicators. The skin lesions of Behcet's disease can be treated with colchicine.
- Inflammatory bowel diseases are also believed to be linked to mouth ulcers, particularly recurrent canker sores (aphthous stomatitis). This is the most common cause of mouth ulcers. Risk factors include family history, trauma, hormonal influences, food or drug sensitivities, immunodeficiency, and emotional stress. It can be treated with triamcinolone, found in over-the-counter products like Orabase.
- Generally, there is no specific test for mouth ulcers. The doctor can typically identify whether it’s a common mouth ulcer or herpes simplex. Mouth ulcers appear as shallow sores on the mucous membrane, easily recognized by their round shape, red edges, and a white or slightly gray center.
Discuss Your Condition with Your Doctor. Be sure to mention how many ulcers you have and how long they have been present. This information will help the doctor determine whether your condition is chronic. If you experience ulcers about twice a week, your doctor may focus on your diet and environment. If you have recurring ulcers for several months, your doctor might order a series of blood and urine tests to rule out underlying conditions, including vitamin deficiencies.
Follow Your Doctor's Advice. Typically, your doctor will advise you to monitor the situation and use home remedies or over-the-counter medications. In more severe cases, your doctor might recommend steroid medications to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
- For more serious cases, your doctor may suggest cauterizing the ulcer. There are two types of chemical cauterization that a doctor can use. The first is debacterol, a solution designed to cauterize the ulcer and reduce healing time to about one week. The second is silver nitrate. Like debacterol, silver nitrate can be used to cauterize the ulcer, but it has not been proven to speed up the healing process.
