10 natural remedies for canker sores

Free image courtesy of Jon Sullivan

The bigger the lesion, the more painful a canker sore becomes. The most common types of canker sores are 3 to 10-mm in diameter; they are called minor ulcerations.

Do away with over the counter medications for your canker sore. Although the painful oral condition goes away on its own after seven to ten days, you may want to seek relief using the following natural remedies.

1. Aloe. Press a small portion of an aloe leaf against the canker sore several times a day. Do this many times daily to speed up the healing process. The anti-inflammatory salicylates, which are naturally present in the aloe, will help to counteract the bacteria and the pain.
2. Baking soda. This is the most effective home remedy for canker sore. Baking soda has a unique neutralizing effect against the acids in the ulcerated sore. It also has antibacterial qualities and hastens the healing process.
3. Vinegar and salt. Create a mouth rinse using vinegar and salt. Wash your mouth with the resulting solution thrice a day to get rid of the canker sore fast.
4. Fresh onion. Place diced onion pieces onto the canker sore. Hold and let the onion juices seep for about a minute. Repeat three to four times a day to eliminate the ulceration and the pain.
5. Sage. Allow a few tablespoons of sage leaves to steep for fifteen minutes in boiling water. Use the resulting mixture as a mouth rinse multiple times a day. Alternatively, pounded sage leaves can be applied directly onto the canker sore.
6. Salt. Be brave enough to put a little bit of table salt on the ulcerated lesion. The sore dries and heals fast after getting into contact with table salt.
7. Saltwater. A saltwater gargle used three times daily can combat canker sores and minor mouth and throat infections.
8. Papaya leaves. Chew papaya leaves to get rid of your canker sore.
9. Plum juice. Rinse your mouth with plum juice several times a day.
10. Cayenne. The capsaicin in cayenne pepper has an anesthetic property and can dull the pain of a canker sore.