Canker Sores

Symptoms

Canker sores are not a form of herpes, however, they are often confused and mistaken for Cold Sores.

Home remedies

• Eat two servings of yogurt a day until the sores clear.
• Sauerkraut juice is a home remedy worth considering. A tablespoon of juice gets swished around the mouth a few times a day and then swallowed.
• Chamomile is a herb that has been used traditionally for thousands of years. It has been used to treat a variety of conditions such as sore throats, gingivitis, eczema, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, colds, abscesses, and ulcerative colitis.
• L-Lysine : Lysine is an essential amino acid. Meaning, it is an amino acid that is not processed in the human body and therefore should be received from foods. Some people have low amounts of lysine in their body due to their limited diet. When there is a low supply of lysine, arginine, another type of essential amino acid, is increased. Take note that arginine is being used by viruses to reproduce. So with less lysine and more arginine, viruses increase. Theories have it that canker sores are due to the viruses that invade the injured mucus membrane. To prevent such occurrence therefore, a person must have an increased ingestion of foods that are rich in lysine, such as meats, cheese, fish, eggs, nuts, and soybeans. Several dental practitioners are also recommending L-lysine in capsule, tablet, cream and liquid forms to prevent canker sores or hasten the healing process.
• Vitamin B complex :Vitamin B-complex means all types of Vitamin B are present in one food or food supplement. B vitamins have specific functions. But over-all, the eight kinds of Vitamin B can facilitate in the enhancement of the immune system, it can promote the growth of the cell as well as its division, and it can support the metabolism of the body. Vitamin B complex also helps in the synthesis of proteins. So if a certain protein is useful for preventing canker sore, then it follows that vitamin B has also helped in the prevention of such condition.
• Vitamin B complex is found mostly in meat products and increasing your intake of these foods will give you healthy hair and skin, including the mucous membrane that covers your mouth.A certain study singled out Vitamin B12 as an effective solution to decrease the recurrence of canker sores. With a nightly dose of Vitamin B12, the number of canker sores of patients has diminished within five to six months of therapy.
• Vitamin C : Vitamin C is almost always the suggested solution when one has canker sores. In fact, when you present a canker sore to a non-medical person, their suggestion will always be to increase Vitamin C intake. Vitamin C is an essential vitamin; it is not synthesized by the human body, therefore it should be taken from foods. Food sources that are rich in vitamin C are oranges, limes, red pepper, broccoli and parsley. You can also receive vitamin C from supplementations through tablet or capsule form. Vitamin C is an important nutrient in the formation of connective tissues and bone. It is also an antioxidant, and it is largely helpful in healing wounds since it assists the body in the formation of collagen, the protein the acts like glue between two cell structures.
• Amylase, combined with certain herbs, relieves herpes of any kind, including canker sores, genital herpes, shingles, and chickenpox. Combined with certain skin-healing herbs, it can heal acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
• Garlic : Allium sativum, or garlic, is known as a natural antibiotic and can help in the stimulation of the immune system of the human body. Aside from that, garlic has the capability to decrease inflammation and antagonize the process of oxidation. Garlic also has high levels of selenium. Several studies have shown that those who have low levels of this particular element are more prone to getting canker sores than those who have enough in their blood.
• Echinacea when diluted with water and gargled in the mouth can help in the numbing down of the pain caused by the canker sore.
• Goldenseal, which can also be used as a mouthwash, is perfect as an astringent and antiseptic; thereby preventing the occurrence of the sore.
• Licorice is high in tannin, which can be useful in faster healing as it functions as an antiseptic.
• Myrrh also has tannins that are good for the sore. There are still more, and most of them can help in alleviating the pain and in the prevention of formation of a canker sore.
• The herb lady's mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) has been used as a folk remedy for mouth and throat infections, menopausal ailments, painful menstrual periods, and skin rashes.
• Onions : Some people are using onions to help in hastening the healing of canker sores. They slice a raw onion and apply it to the inflamed region of the mouth. There is no clear study made as to the rationale behind the treatment, but several people claimed that, despite the pungent odor coming from the mouth, onion is an effective remedy for faster healing of the sore.
• Red Raspberry Tea : The tannic acid contained in the tea bag is implicated in the faster healing of canker sores as well as in reducing the pain felt during the course of the disease. In particular, the leaf of the red raspberry plant is rich in vitamins, minerals and tannins. So for centuries, the tea leaves are being used in several natural remedies including the faster healing of the canker sore. Aside from the vitamins, minerals and tannins, raspberry tea also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B complex, flavonoids and ellagic acid which serves as an antioxidant.
• Kiwifruit reverses Canker Sores.
• (Diluted) Tea tree oil is primarily used in products that heal gum infections and canker sores

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.