8 Remedies that May Help Heal Mouth Ulcers
Everyone has suffered from mouth ulcers at least once. The good news is that there are remedies to help remove them, or at least to relieve the annoying symptoms.
Causes and symptoms of mouth ulcers
First of all, let’s talk about how ulcers appear. They appear for several different reasons, and some of them are:
- Injuries from biting yourself.
- Harsh oral cleansers.
- Emotional stress.
- Hormonal changes.
- Allergies.
- Vitamin B12, iron, or folic acid deficiency.
- Viral infections.
Mouth ulcers usually take 7 to 12 days to clear up on their own. Some of their characteristics are:
- Reddish and painful blemishes or bumps.
- A white or yellow-colored center.
- Discomfort.
- Stinging and localized pain.
Additionally, if the mouth ulcers don’t heal properly, they can lead to complications and cause fever, general discomfort,swollen lymph nodes, and infections.
Therefore, it’s important to treat them with remedies for mouth ulcers that may help speed up the healing process.
If you’d like to know some remedies that may help treat mouth ulcers, keep on reading!
Remedies to cure mouth ulcers
1. Salt
Salt has antiseptic and healing properties which are great for helping to heal mouth ulcers. It’s an inexpensive, effective, and convenient remedy. You just need to follow these steps:
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- A glass of warm water
Preparation
- Pour the water and salt into a pot.
- Stir well until the salt dissolves.
- Bring to a boil and let boil for at least 5 minutes.
- Let sit for 2 minutes.
How to apply
- Rinse out your mouth with the mixture while it’s still warm.
- Keep it in your mouth and gargle for 3 minutes.
- Repeat many times throughout the day.
In the following days, you’ll see how the pain should disappear together with the ulcer.
2. Baking soda
Like salt, baking soda is a great antiseptic and it can help heal and regenerate ulcers quite quickly. Here’s the method…
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of baking soda
- ¼ glass of water
Preparation
- Pour the water into a pot, then let it boil for 3 minutes.
- Let it sit until it cools down.
- Transfer the water into an airtight plastic container and add the baking soda.
- Mix well until a paste forms.
How to apply
- Apply the baking soda paste to the mouth ulcers.
- Leave on for 40 minutes and rinse off with cold water.
3. Ice
Ice is an excellent way to help heal mouth ulcers. It acts as a sedative that helps relieve pain and also significantly reduces swelling.
You just need to apply the ice cube directly to the affected area, pressing down gently until the ulcers cool down. You can use this remedy 3 to 4 times a day.
4. Hydrogen peroxide
When you have mouth ulcers that are difficult to treat, hydrogen peroxide is a great option. It may also eliminate and prevent your risk of possible infections. To use it correctly, simply apply it directly to your ulcer with a cotton swab. For fast results, we recommend doing this at least three times a day.
Recommended reading: 7 Home Treatments to Speed Up Recovery of Mouth Sores
5. Mouthwash and ulcers
Despite not being a natural remedy, using a mouthwash can bring short-term relief to the discomfort caused by mouth ulcers.
You may use it as follows:
- As usual: rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth.
- Apply it with a cotton swab.
This could interest you: Get Relief from Mouth Ulcers with These 6 Natural Remedies
6. Yogurt
Yogurt contains lactic acid and bacteria that will help regulate your mouth’s pH levels. This helps to prevent the growth of the ulcers and new ones appearing.
Therefore, we recommend:
- Eating 2 yogurts (250 ml) a day until the ulcers completely disappear.
- Applying the yogurt directly to the ulcers with a cotton swab.
7. Onions
Onions are high in sulfur, which not only helps clean wounds, but also may help heal them. Here’s a great remedy for you:
Ingredients
- 1 large onion
- ½ glass of water
- 1 teaspoon of salt
Preparation
- Cut the onion into small pieces and put them in a pot.
- Add water and salt and boil for 3 minutes.
- Let it sit until it cools down.
- Take the onion out of the water with a strainer.
How to apply
- Dip a swab in the prepared water and apply directly to the mouth ulcers.
- Leave on for 5 minutes and rinse off with cold water.
8. Sage and rosemary mouthwash
While sage has antibiotic, bactericidal, and antiseptic properties that may help heal mouth ulcers quickly, rosemary is an antiseptic and antispasmodic that helps relieve pain.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of sage
- ½ liter of water (500 ml)
- 3 tablespoons of rosemary
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients in a pot and boil for 20 minutes.
- Afterward, remove from the heat and let it sit.
How to apply
- While it’s still warm, rinse out your mouth with the mixture.
- Keep it in your mouth and gargle for 3 minutes.
- Repeat many times throughout the day.
These remedies will help you to relieve the pain and heal mouth ulcers quickly. This is preferable to resorting to medication that may alter your body’s natural balances.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Velly, A. M., Franco, E. L., Schlecht, N., Pintos, J., Kowalski, L. P., Oliveira, B. V., & Curado, M. P. (1998). Relationship between dental factors and risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer. Oral Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1368-8375(98)00003-7
- World Health Organization. (2015). Oral health information systems.
- Common mouth sores. (2001). Journal of the American Dental Association (1939). https://doi.org/10.14219/jada.archive.2001.0097
