Canker sores or commonly known as mouth ulcers are very small, however, the discomfort it gives is big enough for the person suffering from them.  These ulcers form on the soft parts of the mouth most especially in the cheek and tongue areas.  Moreover, canker sores are commonly mistaken as cold sores, but they are different as cold sores (lip sores) appear on the lip area or outside the mouth.

Another misconception about mouth sores is that they are caused by the herpes simplex virus.  That is totally wrong as its real cause is yet unknown.  But it can’t be denied that having one to experience canker sores is really painful and you will be restricted to eat certain foods.  But don’t worry because in this post, we’ll give you tips and specific interventions on how to treat mouth sores.  The tips will help you reduce and eliminate canker as well as alleviating the pain it gives.  But before that, let’s take a look at what causes it first.

Causes of Canker Sores

• Trauma to the mouth such as wounds from braces or dentures
• Oral thrush in children
• Poor oral hygiene
• Stress
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Spicy food
• Cancer-related treatment such as from chemo
• Hereditary
• Spicy food
• Menstrual cycle in females
• A sign of oral cancer such as in leukoplakia
• Tartar on the teeth’s surface

How to Cure Mouth Sores

1. Avoid all the things that can trigger the occurrence of canker such as spicy food.
2. Observe proper oral hygiene.  Brush using soft-bristled toothbrush as well as your choice of toothpaste that will aid in lessening the occurrence of mouth sores.
3. Among the home remedies, the most common is to gargle with saltwater solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt into a cup of water.  You can also use sodium bicarbonate or baking soda to your mouth sores. These aid in healing your canker gently by removing its alkalinity as well as the bacteria formed in the mouth.
4. Consume a well-balanced diet consisting of green leafy vegetables and fruits to help in reduction of the severity of your canker.
5. Using a cotton swab, dab a small amount of milk of magnesia on the affected area to help reduce the pain and speed up its healing process.
6. Apply crushed ice or over the counter medications that can be used temporarily to numb the pain.

In instances when your mouth ulcers persist and becomes chronic, it is best advised that you talk to your doctor as there may be an underlying condition for this incident.  You an also ask prescription to your doctor regarding the medication on how to treat mouth sores.

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