Natural treatment for mouth ulcers is considered a complementary therapy in mild and moderate cases which can help in pain reduction and healing promotion, in severe cases you may need to visit the doctor.
India is considered a pioneer country in using natural treatments for mouth ulcers such as coconut oil, Turmeric, and garlic.
Mouth Ulcers:
Mouth Ulcers (Mouth lesions) which are commonly known as (Canker sores) are mainly developed in the mouth or gum as painful and small lesions.
The definite causes aren't known but lesions usually appear after:
1- Insects bite.
2- Dental work.
3- Hard brushing.
4- Sports injury.
You May Notice That Symptoms Exaggerated After:
1- Sodium lauryl sulfate-containing mouthwash or toothpaste.
2- Foods with avidic PH as: Strawberries, Pineapple, and Citrus.
3- Chocolate and coffee.
4- Lack of essential vitamins such as B12, iron, zinc, and folic acid.
5- Hormonal change due to menstruation.
6- Virus, Bacteria, and Fungal infections.
7- Emotional stress.
Mouth Ulcer May Be A Warning Alarm For A Serious Condition As:
1- Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
2- Diabetes mellitus.
3- Behcet's disease ( inflammatory condition throughout the body)
4- AIDS due to HIV.
5- Immune system disorders after virus/ bacteria attacks.
Some Suggestions As A Natural Treatment For Mouth Ulcers:
1- Saltwater:
Saltwater is a very cheap natural treatment for mouth ulcers, it has an antiseptic effect as it can promote healing and reduce pain sensation.
The saltwater solution is easy to prepare by mixing one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.
You should gargle with this solution for 15 to 30 seconds each time, then you can gargle with water to remove the salty taste from your mouth.
2- Baking Soda Paste:
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a chemical compound that is commonly used as a home cleaning substance as well as a natural treatment for mouth ulcers.
Baking soda paste is prepared by mixing equal amounts of sodium bicarbonate and water to form a paste.
The paste is applied directly to the ulcer and let until completely drying, finally rinsing your mouth with water.
3- Ice:
Ice is the cheapest method to relieve pain and discomfort quickly.
In case that another natural treatment for mouth ulcers is not available, Ice will be an optimum choice.
4- Aloe Vera Gel:
Aloe vera gel is called the first-aid plant as it has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and healing properties, it also can reduce the pain of mouth ulcers.
Aloe vera gel has a soothing and cooling effect, so it's considered an excellent natural treatment for the mouth.
5- Honey:
Honey plays a great role as a natural treatment for mouth ulcers due to its beneficial properties.
Honey not only reduces the ulcer but also has an antimicrobial effect so it can eliminate any bacteria infection to the ulcer.
6- Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar is a popular natural treatment for mouth ulcers as it can destroy bacteria.
Apple cider vinegar is prepared by mixing one teaspoon of vinegar with one cup of water, then gargling with the solution for 30 to 60 seconds, finally rinsing your mouth with water to prevent tooth enamel damage.
7- Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil gargle is a natural treatment for mouth ulcer treatments.
Coconut oil is one of the essential oils that have antimicrobial activity so it's very powerful against harmful bacteria strains.
Coconut oil also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects so applying this oil onto the lesions can reduce the pain.
Coconut oil application as a natural treatment for mouth ulcers is most common in India.
8- Clove Oil:
Clove oil which is extracted from the flower has a great role as a natural treatment for mouth ulcers and toothache.
Clove oil mainly contains eugenol which is the best use in oral cavity issues because of its antimicrobial activity.
Clove oil also has a certain analgesic effect so that it helps in reducing pain and discomfort sensation.
You should remember to rinse your mouth with water before Clove oil application.
9- Orange Juice:
Orange juice is considered a double-edged weapon in the case of mouth ulcers.
It is considered to be useful as an immune booster because oranges are the main source of vitamin C.
At the same time, eating oranges can exaggerate the pain sensation due to its acidity.
The Best option is to drink about 2 glasses of orange juice daily.
Vitamin C is associated with collagen production, elasticity and wound healing so that if you suffer from vitamin c deficiency, your mouth ulcer will have a long time to heal.
10-Yogurt:
As mouth ulcers may be due to Helicobacter pylori, Probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus can help in eradicating H.pylori and speed up the healing process.
11- Garlic:
Garlic is mainly used as a natural treatment for mouth ulcers in India.
Garlic contains Allicin that has an antimicrobial effect, you should cut the clove into small pieces then apply them directly to the infected lesion, finally, you should rinse your mouth with water to remove the garlic odour.
12- Turmeric Powder:
Turmeric is a natural treatment for mouth ulcers in India due to its powerful antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effect.
Turmeric paste is prepared by mixing equal amounts of turmeric and water.
You should apply the paste to the ulcer for a few minutes, then rinse with water to remove Turmeric yellowish colour.
13- Black Tea:
Black tea contains a large number of tannins which are astringent materials.
Right application for tea bags can be useful to remove all dirt and residents.
You must be sure the tea bags are not extremely hot or the lesions will be worth it.
14- Supplements:
If the ulcer symptoms are due to zinc, vitamin C, iron, folate or vitamin b12 deficiency, taking your necessary supplements will be a must.
14.a) Zinc Lozenges:
Immune system deficiency will directly affect mouth ulcer healing as zinc has a role as immune booster which helps the immune system to overcome the canker causing bacteria.
Zinc lozenges which contain echinacea are very powerful immune system stimulants.
14.b) Vitamin B12:
In 2017, Studies had proved if you take 1000 microgram of vitamin b12 daily, you will get fewer canker outbreaks and less pain, however there is no evidence how it works.
When You Should Visit The Doctor:
In most cases, a mouth ulcer heals without causing any concern, but you should call the doctor if:
1- The ulcer remains for more than 2 weeks.
2- The ulcer became larger.
3- The ulcer became more painful.
4- The ulcer spreads to your lips.
5- New sores form before the old ulcer heals
Summary
If you want a natural treatment for mouth ulcers, you find more options, however, you should know that what works for someone does not properly show the same result for you.
If your ulcer is not healed or gets worse you should call the health care provider.
Any natural treatment for mouth ulcers can irritate the skin so you should do patch test before using any treatmeant.
If any irritation, redness or discomfort occurs you should stop the natural treatment immediately.
Esraa Hassan Khamis
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