How to Treat and Prevent Mouth Ulcers
WHAT ARE MOUTH ULCERS?
Mouth ulcers (stomatitis) are small erosions in the lining of the oral cavity or the tongue. They tend to be recurrent. They usually disappear in about 7-10 days but can cause a lot of discomfort in the interim. Mouth ulcers are sometimes also called aphthous ulcers, canker sores, or oral ulcers. They are a relatively common problem, and there are many potential causes. The pain is unbearable. One cannot speak, eat, or drink properly.
CAUSES OF MOUTH ULCERS:
- Emotional stress.
- Local trauma in the form of ill-fitting dentures or a sharp tooth.
- Allergy to local applications like toothpaste.
- Vitamin deficiency, especially B-complex, folic acid.
- In females, sometimes in association with the menstrual cycle.
- Hereditary and familial tendencies are also seen.
- Smoking.
- Poor oral hygiene such as not brushing teeth regularly.
- Alcohol.
- Spicy food.
- Drugs like antibiotics.
- Low immunity in any illness from TB to AIDS.
- Infectious origin like some bacteria or virus.
- Tartar in tooth surface.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MOUTH ULCERS:
- Tiny shallow erosions in the lining of the mouth or on the tongue.
- The base may be white or grey in colour.
- Increased salivation.
- Pain, burning sensation especially on contact with food or water.
- There may be bleeding from the ulcers.
- Mild fever if infection is the cause.
- Bad odour from the mouth.
HOW TO PREVENT MOUTH ULCERS:
- Maintain good oral hygiene.
- Brush teeth at least twice a day.
- Do not brush too vigorously and use a soft toothbrush.
- Clean the tongue regularly but not harshly. Use toothpaste, mouthwash which suits you, and if you feel you are getting the problem due to it, change it. You may be allergic to it.
- Visit your dentist if you have a sharp tooth or a denture, which does not fit well.
- Avoid mental stress. Learn to relax and deal with stress.
- Avoid spicy hot food, alcohol and smoking.
- Avoid self-medication with antibiotics.
- Vitamin B complex and folic acid supplement will help.
- Have a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and cereals.
- You can use a cool mouthwash for temporary relief of pain.
- Consult your doctor if the ulcers bleed a lot.
My grandmother's home remedy for a mild-to-moderate mouth ulcer:
My grandmother told me about this remedy which I am sharing with you.
Take two teaspoonful of honey. Gargle it for a while, then swallow or spit out (diabetic patients are not allowed to swallow honey). Do it twice a day for two to three days, and the ulcer will be cured.
Even though mouth ulcers are gastric in origin, the above remedy will help you treat the symptoms.
My grandmother is not here with us anymore, but she told me one more thing to do. She told me to keep on drinking water again and again so that my mouth would not be dry for a single second. I tried this, and it helped a lot. You can also try this out. Keep a glass of water always with you, and drink water every 5-10 minutes. I am not saying that you have to drink a full glass after every 5-10 minutes, just a sip.
Try both of these remedies, and let me know the results in the comments section below.
Finally, I would say that for more severe conditions, you should consult your family doctor or a good ENT specialist in your area.
Cold sore cures and home remedies for mouth ulcers
Resources from the web on treatment and prevention of mouth ulcers
- Treatment and Prevention of Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers. Ouch. Just saying the phrase can make your mouth hurt. Most people have experienced the pain of mouth ulcers at some point in their lives. That's due in part to the fact that there are so many... - Mouth Ulcers Causes, Prevention & Treatment
Read about Causes for Mouth Ulcers and Treatment. Also know about the Prevention for Mouth Ulcers
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
Questions & Answers
Comments
Healthy Information..
Ulcers are common in heat, this insight will definitely help us from this health issues. When I had ulcers, taking food was the main issue my Dietitian at eVaidya.com he suggested me good diet at that point of time ..
Thank you for sharing this health problem and its solution..
i have an ulcer but i have no honey ! any ideas ?
I always has problem with mouth ulcers, they remain for days , i tried oral gels but still it doesn't go away .. will honey really help me ??
i had suffer from mouth ulcer!!! its hurt i can't eat or drink
i suffer often from mouth ulcer & its really pain full...i drink alot of water,eat fruits and vegetables..keep my oral cavity clean.....in spite of all these,i've again caught by this painful disease...what's the way to heal it permanently?
hai I am arshia I am feeling so much pain bcoz of these mouth ulcers I am not feeling well bcoz of them I haven't take food for two days it's to difficult to take food I am starving & I really miss my mom bcoz I am in hostel
Thanks dear for sharing the facts about ulcer...
I m also a medical students and suffers from very stress and tense situations during exame.
so I always suffers from mouth ulcers during my preparation.
Now plz tell me what should I do to face these stressful situations and ulcers?
1)Try to apply dento gel in the early stage of an ulcer
2) wash ur mouth for evry hour wid a pinched salt dissolved it it
3) drinking cool drink , smokin and alcohol consumption shud be strictly avoided
4) amla , rich in c vitamin shud be taken
5) use tooth powders when u brush
6) spit out saliva fOr every hour and drink water in large amount and then apply the pain reliver gels
Am sure dat ur ulcers wud vanish within a day or two
thanks for informations.
I try using backing soda. It helps me big time. You should try it
i am 10 month years old . my mother have mouth ulcers for a long period of time . i am an infant child. so i am also suffered from mouth ulcer . so behind the reason is genetically . so please tell me how i prevent from mouth ulcers . thanks.
can eating curd decrease mouth ulcers ? please help me fast , because its a lot pain
I have been getting mouth ulcers for years and nothing is helping, it starts off on a gum them spreads rapidly over my lips. Its so bad i cant even close my mouth. My lips have lost the top layer of skin and are all crusty and scabby, i can hardly talk and cant eat unless i try and chuck tiny bits of food to the back of my throat. Every time i cough or sneeze my lips burst open! My face is swollen and its agony. Every docotor i have seen has told me a different thing. It takes up to 3 weeks to heal and i loose so much weight im even more sick!
For over 20 years I have suffered with mouth ulcers, stomach problems and other health related items. A few months ago I quit using most toothpastes (I had tried many brands) quite by accident a friend offered me some toothpaste to try. It worked no more problems seems that most of the other toothpastes I had been using contained fluoride and other items. The toothpaste I was loaned and tried contains not of these detrimental chemicals.
If you have been searching for an answer to crap toothpaste look at the following website
http://www.grantsofaustralia.com.au/herbalAndMiner...
to read about the great toothpaste (Toxic free) I am now using.
Many mouth ulcers are caused by sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). It is a common foaming agent in most tooth past and mouth wash. Switch to a tooth paste that is SLS free and your mouth ulcers may go away and never return! Hope that helps.
I am suffering from mouth ulcers since my childhood. My mother always scolds me for not having plenty of water. Bt I always remember this by the pain odf the ulcers in my mouth. I am sharing wd u 1 home remedy told by my mother which can help:-
soak Canna Edulus( Sabja) for 10-15 mins in small amount of water. Mix them with coold milk. Add some sugar if you want. And have it like a cold- coffe. :-)
It really helps to reduce the pain.
Thanks
I can cure mouth ulcers by naturopathy.Pl contact at my emailID: bajajrakesh@hotmail.com
Sipping water regularly does help. Great info!
I was suffering from mouth ulcers for the last thirty years. I tried Allopathic,Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic treatment but of no avail.By taking naturopathic treatment I am fully cured . I have cured many persons.To know more pl contact at my emailID:bajajrakesh@hotmail.com
hey i get mouth ulsers all the time but i notice that it is always after a night out drinking...?
hey guys mouth ulcers can also be healed temporary by pomegranate sauce, its a thick sauce that stings the ulcer and helps it heal quicker. just handle the pain for a couple of seconds and doing this twice a day will help heal it in no time. the sauce is usually used in middle eastern foods and can be bought from any african or middle eastern shop. hope this helps!
I've had mouth ulcers for over 30 years. I would suggest swilling the mouth with warm milk or a milk based drink to aleviate the pain and brush your teeth with a natural toohtpaste as regular toothpaste contains Sodium lauryl sulfate which is an irritant. Personally I feel alcohol is a major culprit along with stress. Hope this helps...
FYI: Bacteria can not grow in honey, that maybe the reason it helps with mouth ulcers because so much bacteria develops in the mouth. With the use of honey it cuts the bacteria content of the mouth allowing the ulcer to heal.
I love pineapples
Recently ,I have a big painful cut on my lip ,and I so know that it's gonna turn into an ulcur cuz' I've had ulcurs all my life (11 years). It's Saturday , so I have the whole Sunday to fuss over it. I've written a full page about how to cure them ;I've got my jug of honey ,a cup of wintermelon tea, a can of salt , a gallon of water with 2 cups( one for backup ),and finally -highlighted ,printed ,read copy of the instructions from Soni2006. I am prepared to do this.
Is Vegemite available in India?
I seem to have the banana allergy too...out of no where! Bummer!
my tongue is cuts many space and I am pain in cuts but not wound why i treat to this probles i am very mischief man . i am very cheap please help me iam completely faildown , very sad i not to meet any one with my personal problems
Yes l have tried salt to burn off any mouth ulcers and l think it does work but you have to do it like 6 times a day to give you some relief and speed up the healing process.
Vegimite should work to the same degree as it is very high in salt content.Use the normal vegemite and not the newer cheesymite which is blended with a cheese mixture.
l am suffering at the moment and started the day with salt and salty water treatments and ended up using manuka honey. l have some relief and hope these will cure them much quicker.
I'm suffering from Mouth Sore for three days.Please help me to cure it.
I usually get my ulcers near the throat, its really irritating as i cant swallow anything, and usually when the ulcers are near my throat i usually get high fever, is that possible soni, and i cant seem to find the real thing to what i am allergic to, need advice somi thnx
gargle with salt water really does help~although is a bit painful~take loads of fruits especially things like watermelon~~C:
i have two ulcers in my mouth and it really helps if you just put salt straight on it. it hurts like hell but it works real good. salt mixed with warm water helps too. :)
is it normal for an ulcer to go inwards like a crater? because i have one that goes in like a hole :( please help!
thanks a million for the info it was really helpful
thanks a million for the info it was really helpful
Omg, the wintermelon powder soothes my ulcers all the time! You should really try it! It's like oral aid but the only difference is that it doesn't hurt when you apply it on your ulcers. I really recommend it.
Thanks soni! I have a really painful mouth ulcer on the back of my tongue. I just had quite a big filling done on the toothe next to it and all of a sudden it feels quite sharp, is that because it is and has caused the ulcer or because my ulcer's more sensitive than the rest of my mouth? Also thanks for telling us about the honey thing, I won't have to go and get corsodyl tomorrow! :D
Excellent Tips soni. Thanks for sharing
I think guys you all should try applying glycerin it will pain a little but it will cure your ulcer quickly.
A good remedy. Thnx to ur grandmother!
A month back I had a bout of mouth ulcers and its come up again (a month later). Been to a couple docs etc.. So far.. This what I've been advised.. When you feel it starting, take acyclovir which helps reduce severity.
I had it bad so I've been on prednizone and Zelitrex.
Warm salt water for gargling burns open sores but add a bit of bicarbonate soda.. its more alkaline so doesn't burn.. gives some temporary relief.
And I've smeard some honey on before sleeping which burns and tingles a bit at first..
But with all that... It seems 2 weeks is what it takes to clear!
I think were just going to have to deal with them
Bananas are the main cause for me as well. Same with Dubble Bubble gum and to some extend chocolate.
Tried it ... So far so great .. Thanx lots love
Ok, so i think I had an allergic reaction to some medicine and now I have 100's of ulcers in my mouth.. I have tried everything, Listerine, Honey, peroxide, water, saltwater, yogurt, medication... and they are actually increasing in number.
and this is the first time in my life that it has been like this.
I feel so bad for you fellow humans that have to deal with this sh!t every month or so.
I have to say that i can't even think of life without this pain... I cannot talk, eat, sleep...
what have I done to deserve this???
Oh Lord help me!!!
I am gonna try prayer as well.
Tell my wife I love her man!
i have this ulcer today this is a very painfull i am drinking coold water and milk but i am not right now. i think this is a couse of stomach ulcer .
What a lovely and helpful site. I'm off to try some honey now! Thank you.
HI all, there is a trusted way 2 get rid of mouth ulcers.try once there is 100 percent cure . in the morning on empty stomach drink lots of water, after 2 minutes with your brush or fingers throw out all water , u vill feel bitter water coming out . u vil also feel bit tired , repeat it every week , even there vill b no foul smell from mouth, ulcers happens because of bad stomach , try 2 eat fibre , at least must give it a try once
hii
i Have an ulcer from last couple of yrs....i took medicine but it not work....i need permanent solution for this.What should i do??
will the honey treatment sting? Be honest because I have an ulser so bad I can't smile, laugh, barely talk or eat and I'm starving.! So does it sting.?
hii
av been having mouth ulcers ever since i filled my tooth.
I feel a lot of pain and also the tooth that i filled pains too i need help. how do i finish this disease? its so irritating.
author you probably mislead me and the other hundreds of thousands of other people who are honestly looking for a remedy for mouth ulcers yet all you did is made a BIG lie by telling us that honey would cure it but IT DIDN'T! LIAR!
Hi. I have two ulcers on my top lip. Have tried many things, including Iglu. Not much good to be honest. Had ulcers all my life but can go 6 weeks or so without any. But when they come back, they come back with a vengeance! Not tried honey. Do i apply it to the ulcer as they are on my lip? TCP used to speed up recovery, but not this time round. :(
Dear Soni, you did a wonderful job by writing and sharing this hub. I would like to convey my hats-off to you. Share more like this hubs. You are very welcomed to this place.
Best Wishes,
Nick
hi i just had an ulcer 1 week ago and it came back( on my lower lip near the gum) and it husrt if i hold my lower lip and eat(it may seam disgusting) but when iget bored i find myself eatin smethin not eating disorder
on the symptoms u described i get 1-4 but not 5-7
i have no problem taking or drinking just eating
is it bad if it comes back on the very spot it was on
i brush daily and eat many fruits eg banana, oranges, mango, watermelon, strawberry, cheries(am a party girl)and balance my diet and i have no stress at all
hi again, i tried using honey like you suggested to the others..i actually felt some pain at the ulcer beside my wisdom tooth..so in this case is it still something abnormal?
if using honey, how many days does it take to heal?
can i apply bonjela after using honey or vise versa?
hi, im having mouth ulcer now..i have a total of 3 mouth ulcers..2 at the side of my lips and 1 just beside my wisdom tooth..when i apply bonjela, the 2 from the lips will sting..but the 1 beside my wisdom tooth doesn't feel a thing..is it even a mouth ulcer? how do i treat it? i cant eat or bite, cuz it has become sore and whenever i open my mouth i will touch it..please help me
I have faced mouth ulcer lot of time previously. I was able to overcome it lot by taking food that increases the alkalainity of my stomach inspite of high stressful life.
Below is good site with nice introduction about ph, acidity and alkalanity.
Hi , thank you for this subject....
I have problem since when I child frequent ulcer in the mouth... if I eating spicy food it is comes .. and any gad drink as Coca-Cola.
also I take many medications for treatment but If I take new medication and treated the ulcer and come again it will be not treated.
ulcer take along time in my mouth two to three weeks.
I often have mouth ulcer ( roughly every 3 months) even though I drink 8 glasses of plain water every day. May be due to work stress or lack of vitamin of B complex.
Hi all, a quick update. A week on & NO ULCERS. even after biting my cheek while eating which usually always results in a whopper.
Hope others are enjoying similar improvements.
sir...one of my frnd is havng prblm frm last 2-3 days...his mouth is bleedin nd cough nd vomit are comin outt,,,today on 13 april we chckd out frm docters bt report will be come out 2mmrw can u plzz help wat r dis signs of??
Hi all you fellow ulcer sufferers. Bananas do appear to be a catalyst for me which is a bummer because i love them !! However i love more NOT having ulcers so Goodbye bananas.
I am just into my Banana free period & all is good so will keep you posted. I have used various treatments all of which help the pain but never treat the cause.
Yeah I bit my mouth twice a few days ago, one on my upper lip and one on my lower lip. They have both become some nasty ulcers and they are really really annoying. I just feel like tearing my lips off!
i have mouth sores all over my mouth it is so painful.i suffered for almost 1 a year. it cures after i take medrol for 1 week..but when i stop taking medrol my sores returned again .i suffered to much what will i do? please help me
I often get ulcers on the corners of the bottom lip, but as of late I've been getting ulcers on my gum that leaves me in excruciating pain.
Currently I have one on my cheeck, 1 on my gum (on my bottom row of teeth), 1 right next to the previous ulcer though it is right on the part of my mouth where my lip attaches to my gum and I also have another one coming through on my gum in the center of my bottom row of teeth.
I have no allergies and it hurts to brush the ulcers but I think tomorrow I'm going to get honey, salt, vegemite and maybe even some bonjella because I feel as if I can't even live with these ulcers. I can't talk for long periods of time because the over-movement of my mouth writhes me in pain, and when I eat I can only open my mouth the tiniest bit due to the ulcer on my gum/lip.
when i get ulcer, i usually used bonjela =) it works for me... just feel numb for 3mins and the pain goes, few hrs later the ulcery thing disappear
I googled 'banana cause ulcer' and ended up here! Hahaha! It's uber comforting to know that i'm not weird and there're others like me! Lalala!
I've had consistent ulsers since I can remember, i'm 17 now and i'm trying to figure out if i'm allergic to something like toothpaste or something.
I heard that brushing it to release the blood and then applying salt could help. truth or fact?
I'm am only 11 and ulcers kill me. I hate them. I read the comments above and none of those things happen to me. Except maybe get stressed. I hate them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
betadine gargle really help me when i get mouth ulcers, just gargle 3-4 times a day and its a lot better.
Hi,thank u very much for valuable advices n experiences sharing. me too constanly suffer from ulcer.. So many thing I came to know like use of honey,drinking yes I m bad on this anyway I am changing my habites,I think banana also another reason which I usualy have during my fasting and after that I suffer.
I would like to share I usualy feels burning sensation on stomatch and feel heavines on stomatch after that I started feeling pain spot bubbles on toung and then became ulcer..
Lets see if I could heal permanently by following above remedies.. thanks...
i have a mouth ulcer right now
mine are caused by bad diets cos i dont eat fruit or veg and i forget to brush my teeth reguraly so yea i feel very bad but plz dont upset me im only 12 and i get them all the time can someone plz find a cure?
try cardamom powder...it burns but ulsers are out within hours
Cammomile extract poured directly on a swab and then applied to the sore helps a lot to reduce pain (after initial application!) and heal fast.
I have been havin MU for all my childhood but My MU disappeaed 10 years back when i Started Smoking, but 6 mothes back it became to appear again from the next week I stopped smoking.
What do you think?
Hi same here, after eating banana I get a lot of mouth ulcers, that's why, now I stay away from them
You might try to see if you can get a medicine called Aphthasol (generic name amlexanox). It won't prevent the sores but it helps to greatly cut down their length and severity.
I'm starting to wonder if bananas are my problem. I've been getting these things non-stop again after quite a while free of them. I notice that after I eat a banana my mouth stings/tingles a little. Anyway, thanks for the info.
very helpful thank to you and you granny
Will the honey thing work if you just apply it to the ulcer? Or do u have to gargle it?
Also, you can get your doctor to prescribe you viscous lidocaine. It doesn't heal the ulcer, but it numbs it very, very, very, very well.
hey hub. great pages but i was wondering if you knew of any treatments that could get rid of the ulcer in 24 hours? I have tried the honey trick and it doesn't work. thanks
hi hub,
i have a mouth ulcer at the moment. It makes me really stresed when it doesn't go away. i have had it for adleast 2 months now and every night and morning i do the salt water trick. sometimes it will go down but then it will quickly get big again. i try not to bite it and sometimes skip meals so that the food doesn't irratate it. Nothing works and i am begginging to get really depressed about it. sometimes i even cry. i am embarrased to kiss my boyfriend because of it. i really need it gone by this week but it just keeps getting bigger! i have been to the docter and he said it will go away otherwise they could do a medical procedure on it where they cut it off but i cant deal with pain and i dont know how long it will take to heal. please, please help me!!! i almost cry every night because of it. i hate it and i want it to go away!
sir soni how to use honey?
any kind of honey is ok to use?
mr soni!
my mom asking if oralhealth avamin melts is already available here in philippines?
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