How to Prevent and Treat Cankers

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Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-and-done cure for cankers, which is sad because cankers are obnoxious and always seem to stay around forever! There are numerous things that can cause cankers and actually quite a few things that can help both prevent and treat cankers when they pop up. Here are just a few of the remedies that can help ease your pain.

Avoid Acidic Foods

If you feel a canker coming on, do your best to avoid acidic foods like citrus. The acid only makes the canker worse and lets it fester, too. Give the acidic foods a rest for a few days and you’ll definitely appreciate it!

Avoid Spicy Foods

Also consider avoiding any spicy foods. The chemicals and ingredients can really make the canker worse and make it burn and sting for even longer. Instead, try eating bland and soft foods for a while to give your mouth a chance to heal.

Don’t Chew Gum

While this may seem like a good idea, chewing gum can irritate the canker through all the movement and the gum rubbing up against the sore. Keep your mouth as still and empty as you possibly when can when a canker appears; it will help the healing process.

 

Brush and Floss

When you have a canker, remember to brush after every meal. This will keep your teeth clean and prevent any food particles from getting into the sore. Also make sure to floss daily because it helps keep your mouth clean and fresh.

Seal It

Use something to seal the canker off so that you don’t irritate it and so that it has time to heal. You can use aloe gel or any oral medication for mouth sores.

Chewable Tums

If you have Tums or any other chewable medicine that helps neutralize acid, then consider this. Chew the tablet to create a paste and then, with your tongue, apply it to the canker. This will help neutralize the acid in the sore, allowing it to be soothed and heal faster.

Homemade Mouth Rinse

Keeping your mouth fresh and clean is vitally important when it comes to speeding up the healing process for a canker. Make a homemade mouth rinse with two ounces of hydrogen peroxide, two ounces of water, one tablespoon of salt, and one tablespoon of baking soda. Mix everything together, swirl it in your mouth and then spit it out. Repeat as necessary.

Yogurt

Yogurt can help soothe the pain and burning of a canker. Make sure the yogurt you’re eating has acidophilus culture in it, because that’s the best kind for helping treat a canker.

Alum

Some people swear by alum, saying that it can heal your canker in one day. So, you might as well give it a try. Take a bit of alum, dab it onto the canker, let it sit for 100 seconds, and then spit it out. Make sure not to swallow the alum, you just want it to sit on the sore and then wash it out of your mouth.

Vitamin C

While you shouldn’t eat any citrus, you can still use Vitamin C as a source to help heal your mouth. Consider using Vitamin C tablets so you can get the nutrients without all the acid.