Mouth Ulcers: Natural Remedies, Treatments, and How to Get Rid of Them Fast

Are you prone to having mouth ulcers and getting them frequently, or maybe experiencing them for the first time?

Mouth ulcers/ canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers, are painful lesions that develop inside your mouth. They are usually small, red or yellow in colour. You can see these lesions on or under your tongue, as well as on the inner sides of your cheeks and lips.

These ulcers might seem small in size, but can make you extremely uncomfortable while eating, drinking and brushing your teeth. However, the good news is that most mouth ulcers heal quickly with simple home remedies, such as Krishna’s Ayurveda Mulethi Powder or basic treatments.

What Causes Mouth Ulcers?

The definite cause for mouth ulcers is unknown and may vary from person to person. However, here are some common factors and triggers that may aggravate mouth ulcers.

• Minor mouth injury caused by hard brushing, dental work (braces), sharp teeth, accidental bite on the cheek or tongue, sports injury, ill-fitted dentures, etc.
• A deficiency of essential vitamins such as B-12, zinc, folate, and iron.
• Citrus and acidic fruits and vegetables like lemon, pineapples, strawberries, tomatoes, etc.
• Toothpaste and mouthwashes containing sodium lauryl sulphate.
• Hormonal changes during puberty (body changes that occur when you becomes sexually mature), menstruation (monthly periods), pregnancy and menopause (end of the menstrual cycle).
• Medications like painkillers and antibiotics (chemicals that kill bacteria and stop their growth).
• Due to some underlying diseases like anaemia (a condition in which red blood cell count is reduced).
• Diseases that affect the lining of your digestive tract, like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, etc.
• Diseases that affect your immune system, like cold, flu, HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), systemic lupus erythematosus (a disease in which the immune system attacks its own healthy tissue), Behçet’s disease (a disease that causes swelling in your blood vessels) or an organ transplant.
• Oral cancer (abnormal cell growth in any part of your mouth).
• Stress, anxiety or lack of sleep.
• Smoking cessation.

What Are The Symptoms of Mouth Ulcers?

You might have a feeling of tingling or a burning sensation before a mouth ulcer appears. Soon, you will notice a small red bump that will burst after a day or so. It will leave a red-bordered open, shallow white or yellowish wound. This wound is painful and might cause irritation when you eat salty or spicy foods.

Some less common and severe symptoms of mouth ulcers are:

• High fever and diarrhoea
• Swollen lymph nodes (small bean-shaped  masses of tissues that protect your body from infections)
• Weight loss
• Sluggishness

What is The Treatment For Mouth Ulcers?

Topical medications:

Mouth ulcers usually do not require any treatment and resolve on their own within 10 to 14 days. However, if you frequently get ulcers that are painful and take time to heal, your doctor may recommend that you use some topical treatments like mouthwash, ointment or gel. These treatment options can not speed up the healing of the ulcers, but will help to manage the symptoms associated with them.

Oral medications:

If the ulcers are associated with fever, severe pain and if there is a possibility that the canker sore is becoming infected with bacteria, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics and painkillers.

Natural Remedies For Mouth Ulcers

When a mouth ulcer shows up, you can feel it with every sip of water or bite of food. That’s why gentle, familiar remedies often work better than anything harsh.

1. Mulethi

If the cause of your ulcers is stomach or digestive issues, mulethi can be the best remedy to calm the irritated skin inside your mouth.

Take 2 mulethi sticks and boil them in around 300 ml of water, let it cool down, and then add honey if you want, drink it to cleanse your digestive system.

Another way to use mulethi is to apply a paste of it. Take Krishna’s Ayurveda Mulethi Powder and add some honey to make a paste of it. Over time, it reduces irritation and makes the ulcer feel less sensitive during eating or talking.

2. Alum

When your mouth ulcer feels sharp and refuses to settle, alum can help. Alum/phitkari contains astringent compounds that tighten the tissue and help the ulcer shrink faster. You can lightly touch a small piece of alum to the sore for a few seconds and then rinse your mouth. It may sting briefly, but that usually means it’s working. Don’t overdo it; using alum once or twice is enough to dry the ulcer and reduce pain.

3. Aloe Vera

If the ulcer feels hot, swollen, or just very uncomfortable, aloe vera helps calm it down. Fresh aloe gel feels cooling the moment you apply it, and that itself brings relief. You can take a little gel and gently place it on the sore with your finger. It helps the skin inside your mouth recover and reduces that stretched, irritated feeling. When you use it a couple of times a day, the ulcer usually feels less painful and starts healing.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin, which helps reduce swelling and keeps infection from worsening around a mouth ulcer. Take a small pinch of turmeric and mix it with honey to make a smooth paste. Apply it gently to the ulcer and let it stay for a few minutes, and then rinse your mouth. It won’t give instant relief, but when you use it once a day, the soreness reduces, and the ulcer starts healing more comfortably over the next few days.

5. Clove Oil

Clove oil contains eugenol, which dulls pain, which is why dentists use it too. When an ulcer hurts too much, you can take a cotton bud, dip it lightly in clove oil, and just touch the sore. It burns for a moment, but then the area goes numb, and the pain settles. Don’t use it again and again; clove oil is strong. Keep it for those moments when the ulcer is really bothering you.

Best Tips to Get Rid of Mouth Ulcers Fast

It is not possible to heal the ulcers overnight, but you can follow some tips to get relief from their pain. These are:

• Rinse your mouth with clean water, especially after meals, to remove any food deposits on the ulcers.
• Apply honey to the ulcers. Honey has antibacterial (reduces bacterial growth)  and anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling) properties, which help in reducing the pain, size, and redness of the ulcers.
• Use baking soda to rinse your mouth; it helps in reducing the swelling and restores the pH balance (acid-base balance).
• Place a damp chamomile tea bag on your mouth ulcers. Chamomile has antiseptic (prevents the growth of microorganisms) properties, which will help to reduce the swelling.
• Rinse your mouth with saltwater. Add a pinch of salt in lukewarm water and swirl it in your mouth for 20-30 sec and spit it out. This might cause some pain, but it will help to dry out the ulcers.
• Apply some coconut oil to the ulcers, it has antimicrobial (kills or stops the growth of microorganisms) properties which help in reducing pain, redness and swelling.
• Use an ice cube to numb the ulcers.

Mouth ulcers are quite common; however, this does not mean you need to ignore them. If you have had persistent ulcers in your mouth for more than 3 weeks, consult a doctor to know the exact cause.