9 best remedies for mouth ulcers and cold sores
Mouth sores make every little thing you do painful and difficult. There are numerous reasons why you have these sores it can be caused by an infection, irritation, injury to the mouth, stress, highly acidic foods, hormonal changes, etc. Some are infectious such as cold sores but most of them are not (canker sores).
One of the ways to identify a cold sore is that it is pus-filled and shows up outside the mouth while other mouth sores or mouth ulcers appear inside the mouth and look more like a round, white open wound.
If you are like me and prefer natural healing to healing with harmful chemicals, this post is for you. I will be discussing how I heal my mouth sores naturally and all the tips you need for quick relief and cure. These remedies work for kids and toddlers too. They are very safe. Let us begin:
Tips for faster relief and prevention
- Change your toothbrush – To be on the safe side, change your toothbrush once you notice the mouth sore and change it again after it has healed to prevent it from recurring
- Use a very soft toothbrush – Considering that the mouth sore is a tender wound, you need to use a very soft brush to avoid aggravating it and also brush carefully around it and not on the wound itself
- Avoid touching it with bare fingers – Do not touch the sore with your bare fingers to avoid transferring the germs on the fingers to the sore. Always use an applicator like a Q-tip. Also, avoid touching it or disturbing the wound regularly.
- Avoid spicy foods – Spicy foods can aggravate or disturb mouth sores which will slow down its healing process
- Boost your immunity – A low immunity is often a cause by itself or a big contributing factor to the development and recurrence of mouth sores. Here is a post to guide you on how to boost your immunity quickly and naturally
- Reduce stress – During these times, you need to have good stress management routines else, these mouth sores will only keep coming back.
Natural Remedies For Mouth Sores
Tomatoes and salt
This is the remedy that my grandmother used for healing mouth sores and it was taught to me by my mother.
During my research, I learned that tomatoes contain antioxidants, vitamins, and anti-inflammatory properties which explains why it is so effective.
Slice a fresh tomato horizontally, dip the sliced side in salt and rub it directly on the mouth sore. Allow the remedy to stay in the mouth without washing or swallowing it away. Repeat 3-4 times a day especially as the last thing at night depending on the severity of the sore.
It might sting a little but you will definitely get quickly relief. This remedy heals in less than 3 days.
salt and water rinse
This solution is often used to clean wounds, disinfect and fasten healing in many mouth ailments. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in warm water and use it to rinse your mouth well. Swish it around and spit it out. Never swallow it
Honey
Honey contains anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties that enable it to heal open wounds very well. This is why it is often used to heal burns and prevent scarring.
Carefully dab some quality honey with a q-tip (cotton bud) on the sore. Avoid using your finger to not further contaminate the sore area.
Remedies For cold sores
The following remedies are not just recommended by me but by many people on the internet through blogs, forums such as quora, Reddit, etc. They really do work.
Teatree oil
Tea tree oil is one of the best remedies you can find for cold sores. It has antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Use a q-tip to dab the essential oil and apply it to the cold sore 2-3 times a day. Prepare for it to sting though. You can slightly dilute 3-4 drops of the oil with a teaspoon of coconut oil if your skin is the sensitive type.
Teabags
Green tea, white tea, black tea, etc. are all teas that provide relief for cold sores. It contains astringents that cool and dries out the sore faster making it barely visible to the naked eye.
After making your tea, allow the tea bag to cool. Once very cool, place the tea bag on the sore.
ice
For cold sores, ice is ridiculously helpful in reducing and calming the sore. Simply hold an ice cube to the sore to reduce the inflammation, pain, and size of the sore. Do not reuse the ice or ice pack. Throw it away
Some advise using the ice as soon as you feel the familiar tingly sensation on your lip before the sore forms. Using the ice prevents it from forming in the first place
baking soda
Baking soda is used as a drying agent to dry out the pus of the cold sore and stop it from spreading. Mix a little baking soda with water and place the paste on the cold sore. It stops its progress.
Repeat 2-3 times a day or until it dries out.
apple vinegar
Apple vinegar is used for over a dozen ailments and that includes cold sores, not mouth sores. Use a dab of this vinegar without diluting it on the cold sore to dry it out just like it dries out pimples.
Some also use white vinegar for cold sores but I cannot vouch for its effectiveness, try it and let me know in the comments section.
garlic
Garlic as a remedy for cold sores did surprise me when I was reading the reviews but then I remember that garlic has antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
Simply crush a single clove of garlic and place it on the sore for as long as you can hold. Repeat 2-3 times a day. This remedy hurts a lot but if you can stand it, go for it.
Conclusion
Mouth sores often called canker sores and cold sores differ in their cause and remedy. Once you understand the type of sore you have, the above remedies will help you heal faster and relieve you of the pain that usually accompanies it.
Don’t forget to keep to the tips mentioned above to reduce the likelihood of its recurrence.
If you have has success with other remedies beyond the mentioned ones, share them with us in the comments section below.
Thank you for reading until the end. Have a nice day.
