Canker sores are usually found on the inside of the cheeks and lips. They usually look like a small white circle surrounded by redness. These sores are often painful, especially during eating or drinking. They often go away on their own, but there are some natural remedies for canker sores that help them go away faster.
Aloe
Aloe Vera is a plant that helps the body in many ways, including speeding up healing of the skin. Studies have shown that most patients who treated their canker sore with aloe vera saw their sore disappear much faster than patients who let the sore go away its own. To treat a sore with aloe vera, one to three tablespoons of juice from an aloe vera plant should be swished around the mouth and then swallowed. This procedure can be repeated three times per day.
Sage
Sage is an herb that is generally used in cooking, but it also has medicinal properties. One way to use sage to heal a canker sore is to make a mouthwash to gargle with by steeping about three tablespoons of sage leaves in a pint of water that is boiling. The leaves should steep for approximately 15 minutes before being removed. The cooled mixture should be used for gargling three times each day until the sore has completely disappeared. Another way to use sage to heal a canker sore is to apply a powder made from crushed sage leaves directly on the sore.
Vitamin B
Many people who are plagued with frequent canker sores are deficient in B vitamins such as vitamin B12. Taking a supplement of B vitamins daily speeds the healing process of sores in people that are deficient. Taking the supplement regularly also helps them to avoid getting sores frequently. Other symptoms of B12 deficiency include nervousness, shortness of breath, tingling or numbness in toes and fingers and diarrhea.
Goldenseal
Liquid goldenseal also helps canker sores heal fast. It is best to buy goldenseal from a health food store because drugstore varieties are usually too weak to be effective. Liquid goldenseal should be measured into a thimble and them poured into a shot glass. The shot glass should be filled the rest of the way with hot water. Putting this mixture into the mouth and making sure that it gets into the sore will speed healing. The mixture can be left in the mouth for around 20 minutes. It is best not to rinse the mouth afterward. The process may be repeated after every meal as needed.
Alum Powder
Slum powder is one of the most effective natural remedies for canker sores. It is known to heal sores fast and take away the pain during the healing process. The best way to use alum powder on a sore is to pinch a small amount of alum powder with the fingers and place it on the canker sore. The sore will probably burn and sting while the alum powder is applied but it should heal the sore quickly. The mouth should be rinsed a couple of minutes after the powder is applied. This process may be repeated one or two times each day.