canker sores are small and shallow lesions that grow in the soft tissues of your mouth. We have covered a lot of canker sores in our previous post.
Now, we will be looking at some of the most effective home remedies for canker sores.
Top Effective Home Remedies For Canker Sores
Salt water
Add a teaspoon of sea salt to a half cup of warm water. Mix thoroughly and pour this solution in your mouth. Swish it in your mouth for about 30 seconds and then you spit it out.
Afterward, rinse your mouth with fresh water. Salt kills harmful bacteria. This makes it a powerful home remedy for canker sores. Saltwater is a powerful natural disinfectant.
When you notice the first sign of canker sores, swish your mouth with saltwater. This will relieve the pain and hasten the healing process.
Probiotics
Probiotics are friendly bacteria that help fight harmful bacteria. You can use this to replenish your oral flora. They kill the dangerous bacteria that cause canker sores.
This will also help to replenish the friendly bacteria in your stomach and intestines. This will improve the functions of your digestive system and the health of your mouth.
Increase your intake of fermented grains, fruits, and vegetables. They would calm you down and soothe the pain.
Clove oil
This is a powerful home remedy for canker sores. The active compound in clove is Eugenol. This compound is a natural painkiller. Dentists have used clove oil for a long time to relive pains in their patients.
Apply clove oil directly on the canker sores for quick relief from pains. You can also add clove oil to water and use this solution as a mouth rinse.
To use clove oil, swish your mouth with salt water first. Then add half teaspoon of olive oil to a clean cotton ball. Add 4 or 5 drops of clove oil to this and apply it directly on the canker sores.
Let it sit on these sores for at least 10 minutes. This will numb the area and relief the pain.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is rich in anti-inflammatory properties, antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. It has a good taste and it is one of the most effective home remedies for canker sores.
Add some drops of coconut oil to a cotton swab and apply this on the sore. Do this three times daily.
Fenugreek leaves
Fenugreek boosts your immune system. This makes you resistant to canker sores. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals thereby preventing nutritional deficiencies.
Nutritional deficiencies make you prone to canker sores. Add fenugreek leaves to your meals. You can also boil the leaves and drink the solution.
However, if you want to target the canker sores properly, pour a teaspoon of fenugreek into a cup of cold water. Swish this solution in your mouth for some seconds.
Then you spit it out and rinse your mouth with clean water. Do this three times daily.
Raw Honey
Honey has powerful antibacterial properties. Use it to coat the canker sores and it will soothe this condition and hasten healing. Swish warm water in your mouth before using honey.
Apply a thick dab of honey directly on the sores. Do this at least three times daily. And also apply it at night before going to bed.
Sage
Sage tops the list of many home dentistry remedies. It has powerful anti-microbial and anti-septic properties. This helps control the normal balance of oral flora.
This powerful herb also strengthens your immune system. It heals canker sores and relieves pain. Boil a handful of fresh sage leaves or a tablespoon of dried sage leaves in a cup of water.
You can drink it and also swish your mouth with this solution for at least one minute. Afterward, rinse your mouth and repeat it twice daily.
Aloe vera gel
Aloe vera is the king of soothing herbs. The gel of this plant has powerful medicinal properties. It solves a lot of skin problems apart from sunburns.
It is a powerful home remedy for canker sores. Do not use store-bought aloe vera gel but the natural one. Add a teaspoon of aloe vera gel to a tablespoon of water. Mix properly and swish this solution carefully over the canker sores.
Do this three times daily.
Holy basil
Basil is a highly valuable ingredient in natural dentistry. It has powerful anti-microbial properties. This helps to prevent infections thereby preventing canker sores.
Chew on fresh leaves of basil and you can also add them in your meals. You can soak the leaves in water and use this solution as a mouth wash twice daily.
Essential oils
Essential oils especially peppermint and eucalyptus oils are wonderful home remedies for canker sores. They have awesome anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties.
They have astringents that help the tissues around wounds. They reduce the buildup of fluids in the tissues and other discomforts such as swellings.
They also have cooling properties. This helps to numb the nerve endings which are inflamed. To use these oils, you have to mix them in a glass mister bottle.
Mix 10 drops of peppermint essential oils, 8 drops of eucalyptus essential oil, and two tablespoons of a carrier oil like olive oil or grapeseed oil.
Mix very well and pour this blend in the mister bottle. Cap it and shake it well before each use. Spray this mixture directly on the canker sores when you need relief.
Chamomile
Chamomile benefits your digestive system greatly. This helps to correct whatever digestive disturbance triggering the frequent appearance of canker sores.
They help relax your digestive system and they promote a healthy digestion. Chamomile is rich in a lot of antiseptic compound. This helps in killing harmful bacteria in the mouth that can cause canker sores.
It soothes canker sores and relieves the pains. It hastens healing. Include chamomile tea in your daily diet to boost your immune system and reduce your frequencies of canker sores.
Ice packs
Cold helps to numb the inflamed nerve endings. This won’t make the canker sores disappear but it would give you instant relief from the pains. Put an ice cube directly on the affected area.
You can also wash your mouth with cold water and spit the water out.
Cayenne pepper
Cayenne is a spice and you have to avoid spicy foods when you have canker sores. They irritate canker sores and make them more painful. However, they are some compounds in cayenne pepper that help soothe canker sores.
A powerful compound called capsaicin is found in cayenne pepper. It reduces pain and stops inflammation in the body. Cayenne pepper also contains antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.
This makes cayenne pepper a wonderful home remedy for canker sores. Add few drops of water to cayenne pepper to form a thick paste. Use a cotton swab to apply this paste on the canker sores.
Leave it on the sore for at least 10 minutes. These will relief the pain and hasten healing. Do this two to three times daily.
Onions
Onions are wonderful home remedies for canker sores. They contain sulfur that helps in healing your skin and treating canker sores. Cut a piece of onions and rub it directly on the sore for a few minutes.
Repeat this three to four times daily and make sure that the juice is absorbed into the affected area. You can also extract the juice and apply it directly on the sores.
Blend or juice pieces of onions and then sieve to extract the juice. Natural health experts also believe that eating an onion a day prevents canker sores.
Apple cider vinegar
This powerful liquid is a top home remedy for canker sores. It is dense in acetic acid. This compound kills bad bacteria and maintains the flora of healthy bacteria in your mouth.
The canker sores will go away when you balance the microbiome in your mouth. Use ACV in your cooking or salad dressings. You can also create a solution to use as mouth wash using ACV.
Add a tablespoon of ACV to a glass of water and mix properly. Swish this solution in your mouth for few seconds and then spit it out. You can also drink a fresh solution of this.
ACV is good for your digestive system. Just make sure you dilute it very well because a low pH can cause acid erosion.
Tea tree oil
This essential oil relieves pain and also helps your canker sores to heal. It disinfects your skin and improves the overall health of your skin. Add 10 drops of tea tree essential oil to a glass of water.
Mix it thoroughly and use this solution as a mouthwash. Do this three to four times daily. You can also soak a cotton ball in this mixture and apply it directly over the canker sores.
Baking soda
This is a natural alkaline base. It neutralizes the acids in your mouth that irritate the canker sores. It also kills harmful bacteria in your mouth. This hastens healing.
Add a teaspoon of baking soda to a half cup of warm water. Mix thoroughly and swish this solution in your mouth. Spit it out when done and rinse your mouth afterward.
Slippery elm
The inner bark of slippery elm contains mucilage. Combine this with water and you will get a thick gel. Mix a tablespoon of slippery elm powder with few drops of water.
Apply this thick paste on the canker sores. Leave it for a few minutes before washing it off and then you rinse it with clean water. Do this three times daily.
You can also drink slippery elm tea or use the solution as a mouthwash.
Coriander
This is one of the most popular home remedies for canker sores. It has strong antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. These will help you get rid of the pain, inflammation, and other discomforts.
Boil a handful of coriander leaves or a teaspoon of the tea in a cup of water. Strain the solution and leave it to get warm. You can drink this or use it as a mouth wash or both. Do this three times daily.
Then finally, you have to correct your nutrition. Avoid junk and processed foods. Most of your foods should be natural and plant-based. This will help prevent nutritional deficiencies.
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