Does baking soda help canker sores? How to Treat Canker Sores with Baking Soda? How to Make Canker Sores Less Painful? And what are the other Home Remedies for Canker Sores?
Before starting to dig into the subject, we would like to point out that the treatment of canker sores with baking soda is very simple to apply and the results can be breathtaking.
An ingredient that can be found in our kitchen and that has multiple uses, including as a remedy for various benign pathologies. Try it for small infections, you won’t be disappointed!
I. Diagnosis of Canker Sores
Canker sores are ulcerations, sort of tiny wounds or cracks that appear in the mouth. They can develop on the lips as well as on the cheeks and even inside the throat.
It is estimated that approximately 17% of the world’s population is affected by canker sores at some point in their lives.
Pain is one of the symptoms of mouth ulcers, which cause a burning sensation in the mouth.
The size of a canker sore varies. But the larger the mouth ulcer, the more important it is to seek professional help.
Canker sores have many causes. Allergies, loose braces, a weakened immune system, etc. can all lead to the development of a canker sore.
Canker sores can also be caused by acidic foods, such as pineapple, or by a burn.
Sometimes canker sores disappear on their own after a certain time. But if they persist, medical consultation may be necessary.
This is because canker sores may be a sign of an underlying condition. Also consider a consultation if you have them for the first time, or if you have a fever at the same time.
II. Does Baking Soda Help Canker Sores?
1. Why Does Baking Soda Heal Canker Sores?
Baking soda is a sanitizer, which means that it can get rid of microbes and bacteria in an environment. For this reason, baking soda is used in cleaning and household tasks.
In the case of canker sores, it can sanitize the mouth, but also reduce inflammation and pain.
Antifungal and disinfectant, the use of baking soda prevents the proliferation of bacteria and allows a faster disappearance of mouth ulcers.
Also, the use of baking soda on your mouth ulcers is a natural way to try to get rid of them. Baking soda will at least have the effect of reducing the pain associated with canker sores.
2. How to Treat Canker Sores with Baking Soda?
Baking soda can be used against your canker sores in many ways. You can make a mouthwash by dissolving a spoonful of baking soda in a glass of water.
Gargle your mouth with it, between one and four times a day.
You can also add a little salt to this mixture.
Bicarbonate powder can also be applied directly to your mouth, on your canker sore, with a small wooden spatula.
Alternatively, instead of the powder, you can apply the bicarbonate paste to your canker sore. Mix some bicarbonate with water and put the paste on the canker sore.
3. How Long Canker Sores Last?
Mouth ulcers are a regular occurrence. 17% of the population is affected by these small superficial ulcers at some point in their lives.
The average amount of time a canker sore lasts is 2 to 5 days. However, ulcers can take 1 to 3 weeks to heal.
4. Why Do Canker Sores Hurt So Much?
Canker sores are dermatological disorders that affect the oral mucosa. The mucosa is similar to the skin: there is a layer of cells that overlap, including the epithelium, nerve endings, pain, and pressure sensors, and many blood vessels.
It is also important to note that some areas of the mouth have a layer of fat. Thus, a canker sore appears when a small vessel becomes blocked, ulceration occurs, and then necrosis.
This eventually leads to a small hole. The larger the artery, the larger the necrotic area, and the larger the canker sore. This makes the canker sores painful.
III. Other Home Remedies for Canker Sores
# Essential Oils
Against your canker sores, a natural solution is the use of essential oils.
The essential oil of laurel: To apply the essential oil of laurel to your mouth ulcer, you can use your finger (previously washed) or a wooden stick.
Put only one drop on the canker sore in question, and do this 2 to 3 times a day over a day or two. The action of the essential oil of laurel is multiple.
It not only relieves the pain of the canker sore, but it is also anti-infectious. This oil thus fights against the infection and avoids a recurrence.
Clove essential oil: This oil is a very effective antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Although it is rarely used pure, in the case of mouth ulcers you can use it undiluted.
As with bay leaf essential oil, put a drop of this oil on your canker sore and leave it on. The clove is very known for its action on dental pains.
Mixing of essential oils: To the essential oils of noble laurel and clove, you can add the essential oil of the tea tree.
Once these three oils are mixed, put them on your toothpaste when brushing. If you have heartburn from canker sores, you can consume the essential oils.
Mix the essential oil of peppermint with those of bay leaf and tea tree. Put one drop of each oil in a spoonful of vegetable oil, such as olive oil, and take it every morning.
Take a course of this mixture for 8 to 10 days. If you suffer from high blood pressure, peppermint essential oil is not for you.
# Milk of Magnesia
Milk of magnesia is one of the home remedies that allow you to fight canker sores naturally.
To do this, gently brush your canker sores with a little milk of magnesia a few times a day.
# Myrrh
An ancient remedy, myrrh tincture can provide relief from your canker sore. Its application is simple: on your canker sore, put a few drops of this tincture.
You do not need to dilute it before. Even if you are likely to feel an unpleasant tingling, myrrh is very effective.
Myrrh can also be used as a mouthwash. You must dilute about ten of this tincture in a glass of water.
For a long time, myrrh has been known for its medicinal virtues and its action on the human body.
It is better to ask your doctor for advice before using it. It is proscribed for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and caution is required in the cases of people already under treatment.
# Tea Bags
Teabags are also a natural way to fight canker sores.
To take advantage of their benefits, you are advised to first take a black tea bag, which you will then steep in water.
Finally, place it on your canker sore for 10 minutes.
You can do this several times and your canker sore will disappear like magic.
# Honey
Thyme honey, for example, is applied three times a day to mouth ulcers after meals.
Almost immediately, you will feel relief from the pain. As the days go by, you will notice the regression of your canker sore.
This kitchen ingredient works on ulcers wherever they are. Honey helps fight canker sores and recurrent aphthous stomatitis. In addition to its antibacterial action, honey is also a natural healer.
Thyme honey is very suitable to fight against canker sores, because of its combination of vitamins and amino acids.
# Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Able to regulate the pH of an environment, apple cider vinegar is very useful to stop microbial proliferation. Moreover, this product is an anti-inflammatory and healing agent.
In use to fight against your canker sores, do not hesitate to soak a cotton swab with apple cider vinegar before applying it on your canker sore. Do this 3 times a day.
It can also be used as a mouthwash, by incorporating 3 teaspoons of cider vinegar in a glass of water.
Gargle with this preparation to act on your mouth ulcers.
# Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a natural remedy that will help you if you suffer from canker sores.
As a reminder, this oil is said to be an excellent antimicrobial and is effective in fighting some of the harmful bacterial strains that exist in the mouth.
To cure your canker sores, it is recommended that you rinse your mouth with a tablespoon of coconut oil, sesame oil, or any other food oil.
This practice called “oil pulling” is not new. That is why it is called ancestral.
# SaltWater
Mouth ulcers can be dried out with a good saltwater mouthwash. Simply dissolve a teaspoon of table salt in a glass of warm water.
Afterward, it is recommended that you rinse your mouth for 15 to 30 seconds with the solution before spitting it out.
You can repeat the same scenario several times a day.
# Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
The hydrogen peroxide solution is a hydrogen peroxide solution that allows you to clean the wound and reduce the bacteria in the mouth to make canker sores disappear.
First, dilute a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide with equal parts of water. Then, soak a cotton ball or cotton swab in the mixture.
Finally, apply directly to your canker sore a few times a day.
# Alum Powder
Alum stone also allows you to treat your canker sores. All you need to do is apply a pinch of alum powder to the sore and leave it on for 30 seconds.
You can repeat the operation 2 to 3 times a day until your canker sore disappears.
# Sage Mouthwash
A mouthwash with sage can cure canker sores. To do this, add boiling water to 2 tablespoons of fresh sage leaves.
You must then let it soak for at least 5 minutes, then filter and wait for the solution to cool down.
You are then advised to rinse your mouth for a few minutes and then swallow or spit out the liquid.
# Onion
Onions, because of the amount of sulfur they contain, also cure canker sores.
It is recommended that you first chop 1 large onion into small pieces and place it in a saucepan.
Secondly, you need to add 100 ml of water and 5g of salt, boil it for 3 minutes, and then let it rest until it cools down.
Thirdly and finally, it is recommended that you separate the onion from the water using a strainer.
Now you can simply dip a cotton ball in the remaining water of the preparation and apply it directly on your canker sores.
IV. Treatment for Mouth Ulcers in Pharmacy
To medically treat mouth ulcers, you can turn to pharmacies.
You can get gingival gels or creams. These can be Pansoral mouth gel or Aftagel mouth gel. There are also liquid dressings that you can apply to your mouth ulcers, such as “Urgo aphtes filmogel”.
It is also possible to have lozenges to suck or tablets. This is the case with Lysopain tablets. You can also be prescribed mouthwash to relieve sore throats.
But the most recommended treatment in pharmacies against mouth ulcers is antiseptic mouthwash. The latter may contain cortisone or prednisone in its composition. The Oroben mouthwash is used for this purpose, as well as the Hextril brand mouthwash.
V. How to Make Canker Sores Less Painful?
# Treat Related Health Problems
Treating related health problems will make your canker sores less painful.
In the sense that some serious diseases, such as cancers or AIDS, can be accompanied by canker sores.
You need to treat these diseases to make the canker sores less painful.
If the related health problems are not treated, these canker sores will become severe. Sometimes they can take over the whole mouth, making it hard to eat.
# Avoid Acidic and Sugary Foods
If you want to make your canker sores less painful, there are several foods you should avoid.
Cheese, nuts, chocolate, tomatoes, pineapple, bananas, all fruits with skin are strongly discouraged.
You should avoid all acidic foods such as red meat, fatty fish…and sweet foods such as fructose, cherry jam, etc.
# Nutritional Supplements
The lack of certain nutrients can cause canker sores. Indeed, deficiencies in folic acid, iron, vitamin B12, or zinc can cause mouth ulcers.
Therefore, taking zinc supplements can reduce the frequency of canker sores and boost your immune system.
# Change Toothpaste
It’s also important to note that your toothpaste may be the cause of your canker sores. So you need to change it to avoid or relieve canker sores.
Of course, there are kinds of toothpaste that have preventive and curative capabilities in treating canker sores in their most severe or benign forms.
# Cautery of Sores
Cauterizing your lesions can help soothe your canker sores. Indeed, your canker sores will be less painful after the cauterization of your lesions.
VI. What is the White Stuff in a Canker Sore?
The white matter in a canker sore represents small lesions, swellings, or ulcers surrounded by a red or yellowish area.
VII. Foods that Cause Canker Sores
Canker sores are most often caused by aphthous foods. Specifically, these are acidic foods such as lemon, vinegar, etc.
Spicy foods, dried fruits, and cheese (Gruyere cheese is the first culprit) can also cause mouth ulcers.
VIII. Is It Good to Dry Out a Canker Sore?
It is a good idea to dry out a canker sore, as this helps it to heal quickly. So, do it if you have the opportunity.
We have already mentioned above how you can do this.
IX. Does Listerine Help Canker Sores?
Listerine helps to prevent and heal canker sores. Listerine is mainly composed of salivary proteins, toxins, and bacteria secreted by the latter.
It also helps to maintain healthy gums. In addition, its daily use promotes the elimination of bad bacteria from the mouth.
X. Do Canker Sores Turn White When Healing?
Canker sores usually heal in 8 to 10 days, leaving no scar. The affected part of the mouth returns to its normal shape.
So, when they heal, canker sores do not turn white because they disappear.
Useful Links:
A microbiological and clinical study of the safety and efficacy of baking-soda dentifrices
Canker sores (mouth ulcers): Overview
New Research Brings New Understanding to Canker Sore Causes
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