Realizing you have a canker sore is never fun. For almost two weeks, it bothers you when you brush your teeth, eat, and talk. However, there are solutions.
Individuals aged ten to 20 years old are more likely to experience canker sores. The most common causes of the sores include vitamin deficiency, compromised immune system, and consuming highly acidic fruits and vegetables.
A canker sore is a tiny ulcer that develops on your lip. It’s not a contagious lesion. If it lasts up to six weeks, you’re experiencing a severe case. Recurring sores merit a visit to the doctor’s office.
Keep in mind that dental appliances such as braces can cause sores too. On the other hand, jaw pain isn’t a symptom of canker sores. It is a symptom of other factors. JS Dental Lab offers additional jaw pain information here.
For those who experience mild cases of canker sores, the following are seven ways to get rid of the tiny ulcer lesions.
1. Salt Water Rinse
To get rid of a canker sore, the goal is to reduce the amount of acid in your mouth. These lesions result from added stress to the mouth’s tissue. Once you notice the sore developed, prevent it from reaching its full size. If it’s already grown, help it heal faster.
A salt water rinse is a common remedy for canker sores. Grab a glass. Pour one teaspoon of salt into it. Fill half the glass with warm water. Give the salt a few seconds to dissolve.
Next, take a gulp. Swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds. It’s going to sting! However, it’s also going to help. Lastly, spit out the rinse.
The salt helps lessen the acid level in your mouth. In turn, it helps dry out the sore. Repeat at least twice a day. Ideally, repeat the process once every four to five hours.
2. Baking Soda Rinse
Baking soda helps balance the pH balance in your mouth. Experts believe that it also reduces inflammation associated with canker sores.
This remedy also causes stinging; it also provides relief. For some people, baking soda numbs the impacted area. Thus, it may provide relief for a few hours too.
Grab a cup. Drop one teaspoon of baking soda inside. Fill the glass half-way with warm water. Allow the baking soda to dissolve.
Now, take a gulp of the baking soda rinse. Swish it in your mouth for 30 seconds. Then spit out the rinse.
Repeat the process as needed.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse
Hydrogen peroxide is a multi-faceted oral health tool. It targets the bacteria found in your mouth. After dental surgery or treatment, hydrogen peroxide keeps the impacted area clean. By targeting bacteria, it lessens the possibility of an infection in an open wound.
For canker sores, pour hydrogen peroxide into a glass and an equal part in warm water. Rinse your mouth with the solution. You can also dip cotton balls into the rinse. Then, place the soaked cotton balls directly onto the sore.
Repeat the process several times a day for maximum results.
4. Vitamin B Supplements
Canker sores result from a vitamin deficiency. One way to get rid of the lesions is to consume vitamin B supplements. Children develop vitamin deficiencies because they’re growing. Thus, their bodies require more vitamins.
That’s also why sores are more common among kids.
The supplements help get rid of the lesions and prevent them.
5. Change Your Diet
A diet high in acidic foods leads to the development of sores. However, it’s not the acidity alone. Acid coupled with stress on the tissue causes them.
If there’s an existing injury to the mouth, lower the number of acidic foods being consumed until the injury heals.
6. Maintain a Solid Oral Hygiene Habits
Solid oral hygiene habits help get rid of canker sores and prevent them. Your mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, acid, and plaque. If the combination sits in your mouth even for 24 hours, it stresses the tissue in your lips. The result is a lesion.
Brushing your teeth knocks off the plaque from your teeth. Plus, it gets rid of the bacteria and acid hanging out in your mouth.
7. Reduce Your Stress Level
The human body reacts to stress in several ways. Sometimes stress shows up as headaches. Other times it shows up as fatigue. Stress can make its presence known in your mouth.
If it’s not jaw pain from teeth grinding, it could be an uncomfortable canker sore in your mouth. Therefore, reduce your stress level to get rid of them and prevent them in the future.
Conclusion
Remember that canker sores have remedies. At the moment, they’re extremely uncomfortable and painful. Once they dissipate, you feel much better. Learning how to prevent them is the best solution. Reducing the amount of acid, plaque, and bacteria in your mouth is a great start.