Canker sores can be a terrible little annoyance, you can have more than one, and in some cases, they can make it painful for you to talk or eat. Mainly, they’re small ulcers located on the inside of your lip or cheek, and sometimes even on your tongue. They usually have either a white or yellow center with a red border around them. They can be painful for seven to ten days, while the minor ones will disappear in one to three weeks; on the other hand, the severe ones can take up to six weeks to heal. Don’t lose hope, though. There are some effective home remedies for canker sores.
Sage
Sage is a staple in the culinary world, but sage is also a useful home remedy and homeopathic medicine. Native Americans were some of the first people to use sage in medicine, and they used it to cleanse their mouths and remove canker sores as well. One of the ways to help yourself is to buy dried sage and boil it in water. Then leave it in for eight to ten minutes so that the water can absorb all the essential properties. Afterward, swish the medicated water in your mouth for a couple of minutes and then spit it out and rinse your mouth with cold water.
Yogurt
We all know that the main positives of yogurt are its healthy bacteria. With the beneficial bacteria, we can convert the carbohydrates in our system into organic acids and maintain a robust digestive system. Another excellent use for yogurt is that you can consume it daily to get rid of those pesky canker sores by balancing the bacteria in your mouth. It’s a cheap and efficient way to get rid of those painful ulcers without even stepping out of your home. Note that you should get the yogurt containing live cultures. Otherwise, there won’t be any therapeutic effects. For best results, have probiotic yogurt at least once a day.
Warm Salt Water
If your canker sores are painful and bulging, gargling with salt water will help you immensely. The deal is that sometimes osmosis may take place in your body, a process where you have more salt outside your cells than inside. Then the water that is drawn from those cells to keep the balance of salt concentration helps you remove canker sores. Gargling warm salt water can also assist you with sore throats, due to salt keeps your throat clean while warm water relieves the stress in your throat. For canker sores, it’s recommended to put half a tablespoon of salt in a glass of water, then stir it and swish it around in your mouth multiple times a day.
Turmeric Powder
Honey is considered to be a very soothing substance, and using it may relieve both the pain and inflammation of a canker sore. You can use honey on its own, but it is even a better option to mix it with turmeric powder because of its antiseptic properties. Merely mix only one teaspoon of honey and a quarter of turmeric powder. Let it be for a few minutes and then apply it to the area of the canker sores. Leave the mixture on the site for about 20 minutes, and you’ll ease both the inflammation and pain in no time.
Baking Soda
Baking soda can polish your teeth, relieve skin irritations and so on, but it can also treat canker sores as well. With its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, baking soda can be very helpful to you. Another great thing is that baking soda can restore the PH balance in your mouth. Most of the time, use baking soda while rinsing your mouth. You can mix it in a little bit of water to make a paste which you apply to the affected area. You can mix it with warm water and use it to rinse your mouth and relieve the pain of canker sores. Some even recommend that you combine baking soda, salt, and hydrogen peroxide and then rinse with warm water.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is not only known for its good taste, but for its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects as well! Most people have good experiences using coconut oil. Many people consider coconut oil to be a fail-safe remedy for a multitude of conditions. And since most homes already have coconut oil in the cupboards, there’s no need to go out to the store to buy it. You also don’t need to mix it with anything. So go ahead and try it to treat your canker sores! Just put a small amount of coconut oil on a cotton swab and rub it into the affected area, be sure to hold it there for a minute or two.
Essential Oil Mix
For this one, you’ll need a few more items and a little bit of time to make this effective remedy. You’ll need olive oil, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil. The benefit of peppermint and eucalyptus is that these essential oils both have anti-inflammatory properties. They also contain anti-microbial properties which will reduce the chance of an infection. Simply create a mix with two tablespoons of olive oil, ten drops of peppermint oil and eight drops of eucalyptus oil, and you’re ready. Just apply it to the canker sore and watch it work.
Cayenne Pepper
If you’re looking for a quick method to make the pain subside away for a while, we recommend trying cayenne pepper. Due to the amount of capsaicin in it, you can numb the nerves around the area of the canker sores, thus removing the pain quickly and easily. You can use this pepper in multiple ways, but the most efficient method is to place a small amount of cayenne directly onto the canker sore. It might hurt at the start, but after some time it’s quickly going to relieve the pain.
Onion
Onions are another easy and quick way to deal with canker sores. Since you probably already have onions in your kitchen, it’s a cheap and effective treatment. Onions contain a sulfur compound that can kill the bacteria surrounding the sores and help you heal. Cut a small piece of organic, raw onion and gently press it against the sores. Keep doing this for a few minutes until the juices absorb into the lesion, and you’ll be feeling relief in no time.
Licorice
Licorice root is beneficial for a variety of ailments. With the help of glycyrrhizin, an anti-inflammatory component of licorice, you can safely soothe the pain of canker sores. Crush the licorice roots and put one tablespoon into warm water and let it seep for two hours. After that, rinse your mouth with the mix.