17 Rapid Home Remedies for Canker Sores

If your mouth ulcers or canker sores are giving you a tough time while eating and talking, you must treat them, of course with home remedies unless they are not older than ten days. Because canker sores are most painful in the first 3-4 days and go away in about 10 days at the most. More than ten days and they can be symptoms of something serious than sores. You should then visit your dentist or physician. Also, you should know how to differentiate between canker sores and cold sore or fever blisters. While cold sores more often appear on lips and face, canker sores attack the inside of your mouth. These tiny mouth ulcers with the white-grey centre and a well defined red border can be there inside your lips, cheeks and sometimes, though rarely, on your tongue. It’s essential to recognize these canker sores by differentiating them with cold sores because then only can you apply the right home remedies for them.

Home Remedies for Canker Sores

1. Salt and Baking Soda for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Salt- 2 tsp or Baking soda- 1 tsp
• Warm Water- 1 Glass

Do this:

• Mix salt/ baking soda with warm water.
• Rinse your mouth twice or thrice every day with this water daily till you get rid of canker sores.

You may also make a paste by mixing baking soda with a little water and apply this to your canker sores.

2. Onion Remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Onion slices

Do this:

• Place onion slices on your canker sores.
• Let them sit there for about 15 minutes.
• Wash your mouth with cold water.

You might feel a little uncomfortable initially but onions remedy is good for healing sores as well as relieving yourself of pain.

3. Coriander Leaves Remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp
• Water- 1 glass

Do this:

• Add coriander leaves to water.
• Boil the water with leaves in it.
• Strain and let it cool off till it becomes lukewarm.
• Rinse your mouth with this water three times a day.

4. Spicy Sweet Natural Drink for Canker Sores

Sometimes when you suffer from constipation or indigestion, you may get canker sores. If you get mouth ulcers when you are also suffering from constipation or indigestion, make these tasty Ayurvedic drink as your remedy for canker sores.

Get this:

• Coarsely ground coriander seeds – 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
• Milk – 1 glass
• Jaggery or cane sugar- 1 tsp sugar or a little jaggery

Do this:

• Add coriander seeds, cumin and jaggery/cane sugar with milk.
• Boil this milk till it is reduced to half its quantity.
• Drink this spiced sweet milk twice a day.

5. Honey for Canker Sores Pain

If you want to relieve yourself of the pain that accompanies canker sores, you can use honey. Take a little honey on the tip of your finger. Now apply this honey on the ulcers inside your mouth. Do this about 4 times a day. You may initially feel as if your sores are burning when you apply honey on them but after a few seconds only, you’ll be relieved of the pain.

6. Black Tea Remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Black tea bag- 1
• Lukewarm water- enough to dip the teabag

Do this:

• Dip the tea bag in lukewarm water.
• Take it out and place it on your canker sores.
• Press gently to release the tea water.
• Do this for 10-15 minutes.

7. Raisin Remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Raisins- a handful of them
• Water- 1 cup

Do this:

• Soak raisins in water overnight.
• In the morning, take out the raisins form the water and have them.

8. Plum Juice remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Plum juice- 3-4 tbsp

Do this:

• Rinse your mouth with plum juice.
• Do this 2-3 times a day.
• Alternatively, soak a cotton ball in plum juice and hold this cotton ball against your canker sores for few minutes.

9. Alum Remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Alum Powder- ½ to 1 tsp

Do this:

• Place some alum powder on the canker sores inside your mouth to get relief from pain.
• It may give you a burning sensation initially which disappears within few seconds.
• Do this 2-3 times a day.

Grapefruit remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Grapefruit juice- 5-6 drops
• Water- 1 glass

Do this:

• Add grapefruit drops to water and mix well.
• Rinse your mouth with this water twice a day.

10. Slippery Elm Remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Slippery elm powder
• Water

Do this:

• Mix slippery elm powder with water to get a paste.
• Apply some paste on your canker soars.

11. Aloe Vera Remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Aloe Vera Juice

Do this:

• Rinse your mouth with aloe vera juice to get relief from the pain of canker sores.
• Do this thrice or four times a day.

12. Myrrh Goldenseal Remedy for Canker Sores

Make this herbal tea to get rid of canker sores.
Get this:

• Myrrh powder- 1 tsp
• Goldenseal powder- ¼ tsp
• Parsley (coarsely chopped)- 2 sprigs
• Cloves- 3
• Water- 2 cups

Do this:

• Boil water
• Add parsley, cloves, myrrh and goldenseal to it.
• Steep for 10 minutes.
• Let it cool down.
• Strain and rinse your mouth with this tea. Not only is this a good remedy for canker sores but also for bad breath.

You may also add 1 tsp each of myrrh powder, goldenseal powder and cayenne pepper into a cup of water and wash your mouth with this water.

13. Sage Remedy for Canker Sores

Sage has been used by Native American traditional medicine to cure sores and also as mouth cleanser.

Get this:

• Sage leaves- 1 tsp
• Water- 1 cup

Do this:

• Boil water and add sage leaves to it.
• Put off the flame after 2-3 minutes.
• Let it steep for 5 minutes.
• Strain the tea.
• Let it cool down.
• Rinse your mouth with this tea. It will dry out the canker sores in your mouth.

14. Tea Tree Oil Remedy for Canker Sores

Australian tea tree oil not only relieves pain but also heals your canker sores.

Get this:

• Tea tree oil- 3-5 drops
• Warm water- ¼ cup
• Cotton ball

Do this:

• Mix tea tree oil in warm water.
• Soak the cotton ball in this water.
• Hold this cotton ball against your canker sores.
• Do this 3-4 times a day.

15. Sorrel Herb Remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Sorrel herb- a fresh piece of it

Do this:

• Take the piece of sorrel herb and hold it against the canker sores until they become soggy.
• After a minute remove it and then repeat the process.

This is a very quick remedy for canker sore pain though the herb is bitter and you’ll have to tolerate the bitterness.

16. Chamomile remedy for Canker Sores

Get this:

• Dried chamomile flowers – 3 tbsp
• Water- 1 cup

Do this:

• Boil water.
• Add dried chamomile flowers to it.
• Let it boil for 2 more minutes.
• Steep for 5-7 minutes.
• Let it cool down till its lukewarm.
• Strain and have it.

Drink this chamomile tea 3-4 times a day to heal your canker sores fast.

17. Diet Remedies for Canker Sores

1. Most of the traditional medicinal streams of the world consider malnutrition as one of the main causes of canker sores. The modern researches too have endorsed this belief. The modern theory for the causes of canker sores says that deficiency of essential nutrients in the body such as Vitamin B 12, zinc, folic acid and iron is responsible for the appearance of canker sores in your mouth. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to have a healthy and all-inclusive diet to keep the mouth ulcers at bay.
2. Have lots of water during the day. Water washes away your body toxins, cures constipation, and also releases the water-soluble vitamins in your body that you have but your body cannot use them in lack of water.
3. Have drinks and foods that keep your body cool like coconut water, cucumber, yogurt, fruit juices etc. Avoid colas and sodas.
4. Do not have acidic and spicy foods that will only increase your pain and discomfort which you already have due to canker sores.
5. Have more yogurt. The good bacteria in yogurt not only heal your mouth ulcers but also prevent them from reoccurring.
6. Have foods that are richer sources of B vitamins such as whole grains, green leafy vegetables etc.
7. Avoid foods that are known for their allergic properties. Check for your insensitivity towards foods like gluten etc. and avoid them if they trigger the formation of ulcers.
8. Restrict taking more of citrus fruits, spices, dairy products, animal proteins, salty foods, sweets and oily foods as well as caffeinated beverages.

Not only deficiency of nutrients in your diet but stress too lead to canker sores. Try to destress whenever you feel pressure. Exercise and relax through various means. Have soothing tea, pursue hobbies, do meditation or massage with relaxing essential oils. Researches have established a relationship between stress and eruption of ulcers in your body including canker sores.