How to cure mouth sores and canker sores (in 8 steps)
The dreaded canker sores are a little bit of hell for the person who suffers from them. What remedies to use?
Most of the population will have had, at some time in their lives, a mouth sore.
These types of lesions are usually painful and annoying in many common activities of daily life, such as eating and oral communication.such as eating and oral communication. Therefore, in this article we proceed to visualize eight steps or indications in order to accelerate the healing of mouth sores or canker sores. First, however, we will examine what canker sores are and consider some possible reasons why they may occur.
Canker sores: what are they?
We call canker sores or aphthae those ulcer-like lesions that appear inside the oral cavity, often on the inner lips.frequently on the inside of the lips and cheeks. These lesions tend to cause tingling, burning and pain, and episodes of fever may also occur.
Although they are a nuisance to the sufferer, they are not usually a serious problem, are not contagious and in fact tend to disappear on their own.
Possible Causes
The causes that can originate these ulcers are very diverse, highlighting the following:
1. physical friction or injury 2.
The cause of the appearance of sores in the oral area can be very varied.. In this sense, it is frequent that they appear due to physical injuries, such as bites. It is also common for sores, canker sores and other ulcers to appear in people who wear orthodontics, due to the continuous rubbing against the walls of the mouth.
2. Infection
Another possible etiology of aphthae can be found in the bacterial infectionwhich may have been produced by many different causes.
3. Nutritional deficiencies
Lack of iron, vitamins, minerals and other essential elements in our diet can also cause canker sores.The lack of iron, vitamins, minerals and other essential elements in our diet can also cause canker sores by producing a weakness of the body and the immune system and the body does not have enough nutrients to function properly. In fact, it tends to be one of the most frequent causes of canker sores, and it is advisable to visit a doctor so that he/she can indicate more efficient dietary guidelines.
4. Stress
Situations of continuous stress can cause a weakening of the immune system. This causes the body to be weaker to bacterial attacks and problems such as anemia and nutritional deficiencies appear more frequently, being for this reason more frequent the appearance of canker sores in situations of high stress. In addition, stress can provoke the performance or cessation of behaviors that increase the risk of canker sores.
5. Other causes
Hormonal changes, changes in the pH of the digestive tract or even food allergies have also been linked to the formation of sores in the oral cavity. The etiology is, as can be seen, very varied.
Eight steps or remedies to cure sores and canker sores
Having contemplated what they are and how they can be produced, it is legitimate to ask ourselves what we can do, it is legitimate to ask ourselves what we can do when faced with this uncomfortable phenomenon..
1. Use of salt
This is a traditional, inexpensive and effective remedy.. Simply dissolve a tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse with it. It is recommended to do this process two to three times a day. The reason for its effectiveness is that sodium chloride is a highly effective natural antiseptic.
2. Use of baking soda
Also a highly effective antisepticIn the case of a sore, you can make a small poultice with water and baking soda, which can be applied in the area of the sore, and then rinse the mouth. Rinses can also be made with it, as in the previous case. As with salt, it acts as an antiseptic that reduces the alkalinity of the mouth.
3. Application of hydrogen peroxide
It also serves to prevent infections. On this occasion it is only necessary to apply the product on an ear stick or absorbent cotton and then apply it on the sore itself, several times a day. It is a fast healing method, and the sore may disappear in two or three days. It is important to be careful not to swallow the hydrogen peroxide, since it can be dangerous.
4. Pain treatment: ice
The use of ice is an effective way to soothe the pain caused by canker sores, as well as to reduce inflammation.as well as to reduce inflammation. However, it tends to be a somewhat slower healing process.
5. Mouthwash
Like salt and baking soda, it acts as an effective antiseptic, reducing the risk of infection.reducing the risk of infection. You can use commercial mouthwash or simply use a mixture of vinegar and water. It is recommended to rinse twice a day.
6. Lowering the oral pH: consumption/application of yogurt
The ingestion of this product allows you to change the bacterial composition of the mouth and change its degree of acidity by acting on the pH. It can be applied directly on the lesion, although the simple consumption of the product already has a positive effect.
7. Milk of magnesia
Serves to change the pH of the mouth, thus combating the bacteria that cause ulceration.. The way to use it is to apply it on the sores several times a day, hindering the bacterial infection that can cause the sore by lowering the acidity of the mouth.
8. Changes in the diet
The formation of sores can often be caused by a lack of essential nutrients in our body. essential nutrients in our organism. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a varied diet that includes iron, vitamins and minerals. Eating fruits, vegetables and cereals are useful, simple and preventive tips. It is also recommended to avoid acidic or spicy foods.
Other similar lesions
Canker sores are very frequent lesions that 80% of the population has had or will have at some time in their lives, often recurrently.in many occasions in a recurrent way. However, there are other alterations that have a similar presentation with which they can be confused. Two of them are the following:
1. Oral herpes
The differentiation between canker sores and oral herpes is complex since the physical appearance of the ulcerative lesion is similar.. However, herpes and canker sores differ in what causes them: herpes is caused by a virus, is contagious and can also appear in areas of the face other than the mouth. In the case of canker sores, the lesion is confined to the oral area and since they are not caused by a virus, they are not contagious.
2. Syphilitic chancre
It is a painless and solitary ulceration, red and usually rounded, which appears as the first manifestation of a syphilitic chancre.which appears as the first manifestation of syphilis. Although it tends to appear on the sexual organs, it can also appear on the labia if unprotected oral sex has occurred. Like the sores, with the passage of time disappears, but in the case of syphilis to proceed to affect the virus to the whole organism.
Caution!
While the presence of mouth sores is common in the population, the presence of these very frequent or continuous may be indicating the presence of a medical problem..
Therefore, if this is the case, it would be advisable to seek medical attention, since it is possible that you have anemia, disease or an unhealthy dietary or hygienic habit that facilitates ulceration.
(Updated at Apr 13 / 2024)