How to soothe the mouth and get rid of them naturally!!
We’ve all had to avoid our favorite spicy exotic dish as we waited for the sore to heal. And we’ve all wondered how to rid the mouth of those painful sores!
Canker sores, also called apthous ulcers, are small, painful ulcers, usually found inside the mouth. They may occur on your tongue, inside your cheeks or lips, and on the floor of your mouth. They typically have a red border and unlike cold sores, are not contagious.
Although these sores are quite common, the reason for their occurrence and a cure for it is, as of yet is unknown. There is some debate in the medical community about aphthous ulcers being caused by viral or bacterial infections, but nothing conclusive is known yet. The good news, though, is that there are several natural treatments for this common condition.
Vitamin B12
Recurrent outbreak of these sores can indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a water-soluble B vitamin important for maintaining nerve cells, forming red blood cells, helping iron function better in the body, improving immune function, and helping the body withstand stress.
Zinc
Zinc in lozenge form is yet another natural remedy. Zinc, is a natural antibiotic agent, which means if canker sores are caused by bacterial infection, it definitely would be of benefit to try it.
Acidophilus
Acidophilus (lactobacillus acidophilus) is a probiotic good for many things such as strengthening our immune systems, aiding in digestion and maintaining bacterial balance. Some theories suggest a connection between recurrent canker sores and immunity. Therefore, while there have been no scientific studies done to prove its effectiveness, it certainly would be of benefit to try acidophilus to booster our immunity during a canker sore outbreak.
Acidophilus can be taken in tablet or powder form as many vitamin retailers carry it as a supplement.
Yogurt is also a good (and tasty) source of acidophilus. Make sure the yogurt states plainly on its packaging that it does in fact contain an active culture of acidophilus.
Licorice
A form of the herb licorice, called deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), was explored for canker sores in a small study. By the third day of the study, 75 percent or 15 people experienced complete healing of canker sores. The study lacked a placebo group; therefore, it’s impossible to conclude from this study that DGL was effective for canker sore treatment. The study used a mouthwash made of powdered DGL mixed with water. DGL is different from crude licorice because it has had the glycyrrhizic acid, the portion that can increase blood pressure, removed. DGL tablets are also an alternative and can be allowed to dissolve in the mouth.
Milk of Magnesia –
Milk of Magnesia is made from magnesium hydroxide, a substance also commonly used in antacids and laxatives. On his TV show, Dr. Oz recommended Milk of Magnesia to relieve the pain of canker sores and to aid in healing. Recently, he discussed using a toothpaste, such as Sensodyne, without the chemical sodium lauryl sulphate(SLS) to prevent them. SLS is a foaming agent in many brand name toothpastes. Studies done show that people who suffer from canker sores are up to 80% less likely to get those sores if they use toothpaste without SLS in them.