The mucous tissue inside the mouth is easily susceptible to sores or otherwise known as mouth ulcers. Although not serious, these sores can seriously affect your quality of life as they are very painful when you’re eating and even when you’re talking.
The Anatomy of an Ulcer
An aphthous ulcer is a white, red or greyish wound with a red border. It occurs inside the mouth that as well as along the inside of your lips. In some cases, these sores can also appear on the tongue, soft palate or even inside the cheek.
Minor ulcers vary in size ranging from 2 to 8mm. These usually disappear in 10-14 days. On the other hand, major ulcers are bigger and deeper. They cause a raised bump or a deep indentation, which often remains as a scar once the ulcer heals. Large sores take much longer to heal.
One thing mouth ulcers have in common is the pain and discomfort they cause, especially when eating, drinking, and brushing your teeth.
Owing to the fact that ulcers can be triggered by various causes, 1 in 5 people deal with this minor condition on a regular basis.
The list of common causes of mouth sores includes ulcers, such as chronic Canker sores, gingivostomatitis, herpes simplex, the cold & flu, chickenpox, leukoplakia, oral cancer, oral lichen planus, oral thrush, and histoplasmosis .
Other causes include:
- Nutritional deficiency
- Crohn’s disease
- Coeliac disease
- Reactive arthritis
- Weakened immune system
- Behçet’s disease
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Nicorandil
- Beta-blockers
- Chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Cellulitis of the mouth
- Dental infections (tooth abscesses)
- Oral cancer
- Stress
- Injury
- Acidic fruits
- Poor hygiene
- Hormonal imbalance
Natural Remedies
The conventional treatment for mouth ulcers includes an antibiotic mouthwash or ointment that helps clear the sore. However, it’s important to know that mouth ulcers cannot be treated in this way as these therapies don’t address the underlying cause and often contribute towards antibiotic resistance in the patient.
On the other hand, these natural remedies can effectively alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by mouth sores. Best of all, they are completely natural and safe to use.
- Coconut
Coconut oil is an amazing natural antiseptic. It’s also abundant in healthy that hydrate and nourish your mouth forming a protective barrier over the sore.
What you do is swish around some coconut oil after every meal then spit it out. You can also drink fresh coconut milk 3-4 times a day.
- Coriander
Use coriander to make a gentle mouthwash. Start by adding a handful of coriander or cilantro leaves in 1-2 cups of water. Boil for 20 minutes. Strain then let the infusion cool. Store in sealed glass jars and keep refrigerated. Use it as a rinse several times a day.
- Hot/Cold Water
This is another effective, yet really simple method of speeding up the healing process of mouth ulcers. Gargle a glass of cold water following up with a glass of lukewarm water. For optimal results, do this several times a day.
- Fenugreek Mouthwash
Boil two cups of water with a generous amount of fenugreek leaves for 15 minutes. As with the coriander rinse, strain and store in sealed glass container. Refrigerate for no longer than a week. Use 3-4 times a day, preferably after eating.
- Aloe
Applying some aloe gel directly on your sore several times a day as well as taking aloe vera gel 3 times a day can be extremely beneficial for speeding up the healing process. Make sure you always use a clean finger when applying the gel.
- Basil
Chewing fresh basil or holy basil leaves regularly can treat and prevent ulcers. This is especially suited to those who are always on the go.
- Tomatoes
Gargling tomato juice three times daily or eating raw tomatoes, preferably with every meal can help you get rid of ulcers.
- Turmeric
You can easily make an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic paste if you mix 1 tsp. honey and ¼ tsp. turmeric. Apply this on the sore.
- Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is extremely helpful for eliminating bad mouth bacteria and speeding up the healing process. Drink a glass of cranberry juice with every meal.
- Salt Rinse
One of the simplest ways to deal with mouth sores is making salt rinse. This may be painful at first as salt will irritate your sores, but salt is highly effective in reducing and eliminating stubborn sores. Mix 1 tbsp. sea salt in a glass of lukewarm water and gargle before and after ever meal.
Speak to a doctor immediately if your sores take very long to heal or don’t heal at all, if they become unusually large or start spreading within your mouth, cause unbearable pain or are accompanied by a high fever.
