Apthous ulcers or canker sores are small lesions that form on the soft tissues of the mouth including the base of the gums. Canker sores rarely require treatment; they usually go away after a week or two. If they decide to extend their stay, however, they can be a real pain in the mouth. But you shouldn't fret when you spot the sores in your mouth as there are remedies you can try to ease the pain and beat the sores.
How Do You Treat Canker Sores?
There are different remedies you can try to heal the sores. For instance, you can rinse your mouth with a mixture of water and salt; 8 ounces of water mixed with ½ teaspoon salt should be enough. Another remedy is to mix Maalox (1 to 2 tablespoons) with ½ tablespoon of Benadryl (liquid diphenhydramine). Four times in a day, swish a teaspoonful of the mixture in your mouth and spit it out.
Other home remedies include milk of magnesia and a solution that is made of baking soda (1 teaspoon) mixed with warm water (1/2 cup). For maximum pain relief, rinse the baking soda solution in your mouth a few times in a day. As for the milk of magnesia, dab a small amount of the milk on your sores.
How Do You Know You Have Canker Sores?
Canker sores are usually round or oval in shape and have a yellow or white center. The sores are also enclosed by a red border. A day before they surface, canker sores make their presences known by forcing a burning or tingling sensation in your mouth.
How Can You Prevent Canker Sores?
Preventing canker sores from forming is hard but you can prevent the irritation from magnifying. One way of doing so is by applying ice over the sores and allowing them to dissolve slowly. When brushing your teeth, use a soft toothbrush so as to avoid further irritation of the gums. As for food selection, avoid abrasive or spicy food like chips and nuts. Acidic fruits like grapefruit, oranges, and pineapple might also irritate the mouth.
Canker sores can also be caused by stress. If you have been stressed lately, try to employ stress reduction techniques to prevent further development of the condition. For instance, you can try meditation and deep breathing to reduce your stress.
If the pain is persistent, though, seek the services of a dentist.
Hello, my name is Jack. I am now 79 years old. As you can imagine, my teeth have taken something of a battering over the years. I lost a couple of teeth in a bar fight, four more decayed and one had to be extracted when it became infected. After losing so many teeth, my dentist suggested that I have dentures fitted. I was worried about this but my dentist was really great. He helped explain the procedure and then did an excellent job. I love my new dentures and I wanted to start this blog to offer help to others.