Canker sores can be defined as shallow but painful sores in the mouth. They are generally red or may sometimes have a white coating over them. One might get them on the inside of the lips, inside of the cheeks, the base of the gums or under the tongue.

Canker sores are generally confused with fever blisters those occur on the outside the lips or on the corners of the mouth.

Canker sores can occur to anyone but generally women and people in their teens and 20s are more susceptible to have them. Canker sores may run in families i.e. they might be considered as a hereditary disease, but they are not contagious in nature. The causes for canker sores are yet to be known but they can be triggered by stress, poor nutrition, food allergies and menstrual periods.

Causes for canker sores

• Irritation due to rough dentures
  
• Some dental braces
  
• Vigorously brushing the teeth  
  
• Certain food allergies
  
• Pregnancy - some women become more susceptible to have canker sores during pregnancy.
  
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
  
• Folic acid deficiency
  
• Emotional distress
  
• Streptococcus sanguis
  
• Infection due to other microorganisms
  
• Stress or anxiety
  
• Premenstrual syndrome
  
• Dietary deficiencies
  
• Pickles (due to fermentation)
  
• Spicy and oily food
  
• Using certain mouthwash that contains sodium lauryl sulfate.

Home Remedies For Canker Sores

One can take 2-4 acidophilus capsules four times a day preferably with lukewarm milk. But then, make it sure that tablets contain living organisms. The milk is an activating culture medium for those bacilli. This reduces the pain and speeds up healing. Eating plain yogurt (in the form of acidophilus) with live cultures will enhance friendly bacteria to the mouth and will also help in healing by batteling with the bad bacteria. Yogurt seems to stimulate the immune system.

One of the best home remedy for canker sore is aloe juice as a mouth freshener and then rinse several times a day.

The preservative alum is being put on the affected area. It may burn for a few minutes and make the mouth pucker, but it relieves the pain quickly and so helps clear the sore up quickly. Rinse the mouth with plain water after a few minutes. Repeat the entire therapy one to two times a day. Alum can be easily found in the spice section of any grocery store.

Antacid formulas like Mylanta and Milk of Magnesia can be used as a mouthwash and then rinse it after few minutes. This will relieve the pain and speed healing.

Baking soda is another great home remedies for canker sores. It can either be used as a powder directly on the affected area or it can also be made into a paste or then applied there. For better results, one should use the formula several times a day. In some cases, it may sting a bit, but it will work by reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth. You can also prepare another method by baking soda mixing with ½ cup of lukewarm water and use as a mouthwash solution many times a day, especially after meals and before retiring to the bed. The pain should be lessening in 24 hours and the sore must disappear within three days. One should note that as the baking soda contains a high level of sodium, those who must restrict their sodium intake should rinse their mouth thoroughly after using it.

One of the trusted home remedies for canker sores is Copper sulfate. It is an astringent and was also called as "lunar caustic." It may sting upon application, but the canker sores must go within a day or two.

Another proven home remedy for canker sore is DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). One should put it on affected area with fingers or a cotton ball.

Grapefruit seed extract is a wonderful natural antimicrobial product and it is excellent disinfectant. For this one can have five to six drops in a glass of water and use as a mouthwash once a day. This is also a useful diet for canker sores.

Chemically proven that hydrogen peroxide also works an effective mouthwash. Taking that and swish a capful around in the mouth two times a day and spit it out. Another effective home remedy canker sore suggests to use three parts water to one part hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is very good bactericidal, but one should use it sparingly unless recommended by a dentist as It can kill large number of good bacteria and give rise to other dental problems.

Home remedy for canker sores includes application of raw onion to the sore.

Canker sores can be treated by sucking on or chewing several papaya tablets two to three times a day. Fresh papaya fruit is also good, too instead of unavailability of tablets. This is also a good diet for canker sores.

Canker sores cures - Have two tbsp of fresh plum juice and then use it as a mouth rinse for some minutes. For a bad sore, one can soak a cotton ball in plum juice and then use it as a compress for 10-20 minutes.

Another good canker sores remedy is using a used tea bag on the canker. Press it on the sore as a wad of chewing tobacco and then press it there as long as you can. The tannic acid present in the tea is an astringent and relieves a pain and aids healing.

The oil derived from the leaves of the native Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree is useful canker sores treatment. It contains antiseptic compounds those are very effective skin disinfectant. Depending upon severity, use 5-15% solutions daily. 

Salt water is another natural remedy for canker sores one can use. For this, mix two tbsp of salt in a 6-ounce glass of lukewarm water and then use as a mouthwash three times a day. Both alum and salt helps drawing fluid from the canker and help it to heal.

The herb called as myrrh (Commiphora myrrah) will help curing canker sores. It can be taken into a tea or its powder can be applied over the sore. To make the tea, add 2 sprigs of coarsely chopped parsley, 3 whole spice cloves, one tsp of powdered myrrh, and ¼ tsp powdered goldenseal to one pint of boiling water. Steep it well and stir in between while cooling. Strain and use as a mouthwash. This tea helps with bad breath and sore throats. To use the powder directly onto the affected area, empty two capsules on a clean surface, moisten cotton ball, dip it into the powder, and then apply directly onto the affected area. Do this two times a day for maximum benefit. This is one of the best canker sores treatment.

Another simple natural remedy for canker sore is using Sage (Salvia officinalis) made into a tea and used as a mouthwash. The herb has astringent and drying properties that was used by Native Americans healing sores and cleanse the mouth. One can also apply a bit of powdered sage to the sore.

Useful canker sores remedy is taking a fresh coconut and grating it. Extract the milk out and gargle it at least three to four times a day. Coconut serves as an excellent healer for canker sores.

Gargling alternatively with one glass of chilled water and one glass of warm water is beneficial in treating canker sores.

One can take two cups of water and then bring to a boil. Add one cup of fenugreek leaves into it and then remove from fire. Let it be cool for sometime and then strain the water and gargle it twice or thrice a day.

Another good home remedy for canker sore is having one cup of water with one tsp of coriander leaves and boiling it. Remove when it is slightly warm and then strain. Gargling this solution 3-4 times a day is very beneficial in canker sore.