Home remedies for mouth ulcer
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
Mouth ulcers are quite a common sight these days! Whilst they are predominantly short term, they can greatly reduce the effectiveness of our daily tasks due to the sheer discomfort they cause us. They impede our speech, eating patterns and cause pain when swallowing. Often present in the inside of the lips or even sometimes in the side of the tongue, they are visible as blisters in the mouth,
Mouth ulcers are usually caused by a variety of factors ranging from stress, minor injuries, food sensitives, allergies, vitamin deficiencies and hormonal changes.
If you have a mouth ulcer and are reading this article, fret not. Homemade remedies play a vital role in ensuring the swelling and discomfort reduces instantly.Most forms of mouth ulcers are mild enough to be handled at home without consulting a doctor and here in this article, we will talk about the common homemade remedies for mouth ulcer.
Here are some common home remedies that you can try out to cure mouth ulcer.
1) Gurgle with saltwater regularly
Cells in salt water reduce the moisture content in your mouth by osmosis. This principle ensures that the moisture content in sores is released to the neighbouring cells which in turn diminishes the size of the mouth sore.
To reduce pain and increase the speed of healing, all you have to do is rinse your mouth with salt water regularly. Saltwater is a natural killer of bacteria and is a very effective disinfectant for a host of infections. Open wounds like mouth ulcer tend to be easily affected by bacteria and saltwater plays a major role in reducing the acidity, thus playing a major role in reducing the bacteria and in turn the infection.
Here is what you need to do for using saltwater as a cure for mouth sores –
-> Boil the water so that it is warm.
-> Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in it and mix the solution.
->Swish the solution in your mouth for 30 seconds and spit it out. Then repeat the process.
2)Adding fenugreek(methi) leaves in your daily diet
Fenugreek leaves are quite popular among the Indian spices. Being the key to a medley of delicious food items, Fenugreek leaves has a host of benefits to skin, hair and health in general. Right from bowel problems to reducing cholesteral and eliminating diabetes, fenugreek leaves are indeed the best superfood you need to get over your mouth infection. They are rich in nutrients and various vitamins that are not usually found in regular food items.
These could be consumed in two ways for treating canker sores/mouth ulcers –
-> By adding the leaves to your daily diet.
-> You could also consume it by putting 1 teaspoon of the seeds in one cup of cold water.
3) By consuming Apple Cider Vinegar
Whilst it is not recommended to directly consume Apple Cider Vinegar due to the inherent risks to your tooth enamel, it can be consumed by adding a few drops/small amount of this to warm water. Swishing this solution in mouth for a considerable amount of time will lead to reduction in the pain caused due to mouth ulcers.
4) Coriander seeds
Adding coriander seeds in warm water and gargling it for a considerable amount of time 3-4 times a day will ensure that you get relief from the painful sores.
5) Alum Powder
Usually used to preserve food items, Alum powder is an effective solution to mouth ulcers by shrinking tissues and drying them out.
Here is how you can use Alum Powder to combat mouth ulcers
-> Creating a paste by adding water to the powder.
-> Rinsing the mouth thoroughly using the paste.
-> Repeat till the sores are treated.
6) Honey
Known for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, honey has long been regarded as food with myriad benefits. They are very effective in reducing sore pain and the size of the sores. Applying honey to the place where sores are present in your mouth ensures that there is no secondary infection.
Keep in mind that, most types of honey found in the stores near you might be tampered with and its healing properties are diminished greatly. Unpasteurized and Unfiltered honey is a very good anti-bacterial food item and is the one to be preferred when looking for remedies to treat canker sores/ulcers in the mouth.
7) Coconut oil
Applying coconut oil in the sores in your mouth really helps in reducing the symptoms. A natural anti-inflammatory material, they reduces the swelling and soothes the pain. They are also a very good antibacterial agent making sure those mouth ulcers heal faster.
8) Milk of magnesia
Additionally, the liquid can act as a barrier over the ulcer, protecting it from further irritation and promoting faster healing.
9) Baking soda
A very effective alkaline, consumption of baking soda after mixing it with warm water and rinsing your mouth will help reduce the effect of mouth ulcer. Another way of using baking soda to reduce the effect of sores is by applying it in the place where mouth sore is present.
10) Banana
The consumption of bananas has been documented to reduce the effect of these sores. Because it contains a rich amount of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and potassium, which is important for the body to maintain healthy skin and immune systems. A Healthy immune system can help prevent mouth ulcers from developing, and vitamin B6 may speed up the healing process.
11)Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a natural remedy that can effectively treat mouth ulcers. Due to its anti-inflammatory features, aloe Vera gel can help relieve and lessen the discomfort and swelling caused by mouth ulcers. Applying a thin layer of Aloe Vera gel to the ulcer promotes faster healing by encouraging cell development.
Things to avoid when having a mouth ulcer
Having talked about the home made remedies, here is what you need to avoid during the recovering process to avoid the growth of ulcers in your mouth in future.
-> Avoid stress as much as possible.
-> Avoid certain citric fruits and vegetables like lemon, oranges, pineapples and tomatoes as these are known to accentuate the problem due to their acidic nature.
-> Avoid smoking and drinking.
-> Maintain proper dental hygiene. Brush and floss regularly.
