Getting rid of mouth ulcers

This has been taken from the other post, with similar information on getting rid of mouth ulcers.

Mouth ulcers normally heal without treatment within seven to ten days. The best start is to make sure you have good oral hygiene and avoid spicy/acidic/salty foods and drinks as they may irritate existing ulcers. In addition, one can treat the pain with several pain-relieving gels like Anbesol, Bonjela, Campho-Phenique, Orabase B, or Kanka, available in drugstores. Some people claim that such gels also accelerate the healing of their sores. Additionally, holding moderatly-concentrated alcohol in the mouth over the area of the ulcer is widely purported to be an effective remedy, presumably because of alcohol's diuretic effect (and, likewise, the more concentrated, the more diuretic), although there is no direct evidence to support this.

Another useful remedy is to use a sticky balm named Dexaltin Oral Paste (Dexamethasone 1 mg/g).

Triamcinolone Acetonide dental paste can be very effective - the steroid reduces the immune system's response in the area of the sore. It is available by prescription only.

Use of a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouthwash can help to clean debris and bacteria that can accumulate in an ulcer, thus reducing complications associated with its presence. This treatment is widely available at pharmacies from companies such as Colgate, whose product is called Peroxyl. Recently, the Oral-B product Amosan has become an increasingly popular oral cleanser. A recent double-blind crossover study has suggested that its use may prevent or retard the colonization and multiplication of anaerobic bacteria, such as those which are known to inhabit oral wounds.

Other home remedies vary in efficacy. Certain techniques heal sores for some people, but there are no treatments with widespread medical support. Most seem to be based on an antiseptic (mild antibiotic), an antacid, or both. Antiseptic techniques suggested include the following:

* Gently clean the sores by roughening with a toothbrush and when clean, apply antiseptic
* Swab the sores with sea-buckthorn fruit oil or hydrogen peroxide
* Rinse the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash (e.g. Listerine). This can relieve pain for a few hours.
* Pouring salt directly on the ulcer can prove effective, however this can be extremely painful and can scar. Avoiding pressure on the ulcer after applying the salt minimizes the pain.
* Apply glyoxide directly to the sores and swish around mouth
* Rinse the mouth with salt water—1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water (aka. a saline solution)
* Take Lysine-L supplements
* Rinse mouth and especially the affected area with sage tea 3 times a day. The improvement can be seen as early as within 24 hours.
* Paint half-strength gentian violet solution on sore.
* Gargle a mouthful of warm vinegar with half tablespoon of salt for about 30 secs, 3 times a day. Extremely painful but healing can be seen in about 2 days.
* Apply oil of cloves using a cotton swab or Q tip. This is initially very painful, but will result in a period of time where the affected area is quite numb, allowing painless chewing or talking.

Antacid techniques suggested include the following:

* Swab the sores with milk of magnesia
* Apply powdered alum directly to the sores—available in the spice aisle at your grocery store (this can be very painful, but is proven to work)
* Make a paste of baking soda and water—apply directly to the sores
* Make a paste of crushed Tums (antacid) and water—apply directly to the sores
* Rinse the mouth with a baking soda-Water mix—1 teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water
* Avoid acidic foods such as tomato, citrus, soft drinks, and vinaigrette salad dressings.

Combination therapies tell you to use the antiseptic first, and then the antacid, i.e., swab sores with hydrogen peroxide and then swab them with milk of magnesia.

A good temporary remedy for the pain of the canker sore is to numb the affected area with ice. Although this may cause intense pain in the beginning, it is highly effective and lasts for about half an hour, depending on the number of ice cubes used and the time spent using said ice cubes.

Prevention

Mouth ulcers normally heal without treatment within seven to ten days. The best start is to make sure you have good oral hygiene and avoid spicy/acidic/salty foods and drinks as they may irritate existing ulcers. In addition, one can treat the pain with several pain-relieving gels like Anbesol, Bonjela, Campho-Phenique, Orabase B, or Kanka, available in drugstores. Some people claim that such gels also accelerate the healing of their sores. Additionally, holding moderatly-concentrated alcohol in the mouth over the area of the ulcer is widely purported to be an effective remedy, presumably because of alcohol's diuretic effect (and, likewise, the more concentrated, the more diuretic), although there is no direct evidence to support this.

Another useful remedy is to use a sticky balm named Dexaltin Oral Paste (Dexamethasone 1 mg/g).

Triamcinolone Acetonide dental paste can be very effective - the steroid reduces the immune system's response in the area of the sore. It is available by prescription only.

Use of a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouthwash can help to clean debris and bacteria that can accumulate in an ulcer, thus reducing complications associated with its presence. This treatment is widely available at pharmacies from companies such as Colgate, whose product is called Peroxyl. Recently, the Oral-B product Amosan has become an increasingly popular oral cleanser. A recent double-blind crossover study has suggested that its use may prevent or retard the colonization and multiplication of anaerobic bacteria, such as those which are known to inhabit oral wounds.

Other home remedies vary in efficacy. Certain techniques heal sores for some people, but there are no treatments with widespread medical support. Most seem to be based on an antiseptic (mild antibiotic), an antacid, or both. Antiseptic techniques suggested include the following:

* Gently clean the sores by roughening with a toothbrush and when clean, apply antiseptic
* Swab the sores with sea-buckthorn fruit oil or hydrogen peroxide
* Rinse the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash (e.g. Listerine). This can relieve pain for a few hours.
* Pouring salt directly on the ulcer can prove effective, however this can be extremely painful and can scar. Avoiding pressure on the ulcer after applying the salt minimizes the pain.
* Apply glyoxide directly to the sores and swish around mouth
* Rinse the mouth with salt water—1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water (aka. a saline solution)
* Take Lysine-L supplements
* Rinse mouth and especially the affected area with sage tea 3 times a day. The improvement can be seen as early as within 24 hours.
* Paint half-strength gentian violet solution on sore.
* Gargle a mouthful of warm vinegar with half tablespoon of salt for about 30 secs, 3 times a day. Extremely painful but healing can be seen in about 2 days.
* Apply oil of cloves using a cotton swab or Q tip. This is initially very painful, but will result in a period of time where the affected area is quite numb, allowing painless chewing or talking.

Antacid techniques suggested include the following:

* Swab the sores with milk of magnesia
* Apply powdered alum directly to the sores—available in the spice aisle at your grocery store (this can be very painful, but is proven to work)
* Make a paste of baking soda and water—apply directly to the sores
* Make a paste of crushed Tums (antacid) and water—apply directly to the sores
* Rinse the mouth with a baking soda-Water mix—1 teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water
* Avoid acidic foods such as tomato, citrus, soft drinks, and vinaigrette salad dressings.

Combination therapies tell you to use the antiseptic first, and then the antacid, i.e., swab sores with hydrogen peroxide and then swab them with milk of magnesia.

A good temporary remedy for the pain of the canker sore is to numb the affected area with ice. Although this may cause intense pain in the beginning, it is highly effective and lasts for about half an hour, depending on the number of ice cubes used and the time spent using said ice cubes.

Mouth Ulcer Treatment

Mouth ulcers normally heal without treatment within seven to ten days. The best start is to make sure you have good oral hygiene and avoid spicy/acidic/salty foods and drinks as they may irritate existing ulcers. In addition, one can treat the pain with several pain-relieving gels like Anbesol, Bonjela, Campho-Phenique, Orabase B, or Kanka, available in drugstores. Some people claim that such gels also accelerate the healing of their sores. Additionally, holding moderatly-concentrated alcohol in the mouth over the area of the ulcer is widely purported to be an effective remedy, presumably because of alcohol's diuretic effect (and, likewise, the more concentrated, the more diuretic), although there is no direct evidence to support this.

Another useful remedy is to use a sticky balm named Dexaltin Oral Paste (Dexamethasone 1 mg/g).

Triamcinolone Acetonide dental paste can be very effective - the steroid reduces the immune system's response in the area of the sore. It is available by prescription only.

Use of a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouthwash can help to clean debris and bacteria that can accumulate in an ulcer, thus reducing complications associated with its presence. This treatment is widely available at pharmacies from companies such as Colgate, whose product is called Peroxyl. Recently, the Oral-B product Amosan has become an increasingly popular oral cleanser. A recent double-blind crossover study has suggested that its use may prevent or retard the colonization and multiplication of anaerobic bacteria, such as those which are known to inhabit oral wounds.

Other home remedies vary in efficacy. Certain techniques heal sores for some people, but there are no treatments with widespread medical support. Most seem to be based on an antiseptic (mild antibiotic), an antacid, or both. Antiseptic techniques suggested include the following:

* Gently clean the sores by roughening with a toothbrush and when clean, apply antiseptic
* Swab the sores with sea-buckthorn fruit oil or hydrogen peroxide
* Rinse the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash (e.g. Listerine). This can relieve pain for a few hours.
* Pouring salt directly on the ulcer can prove effective, however this can be extremely painful and can scar. Avoiding pressure on the ulcer after applying the salt minimizes the pain.
* Apply glyoxide directly to the sores and swish around mouth
* Rinse the mouth with salt water—1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water (aka. a saline solution)
* Take Lysine-L supplements
* Rinse mouth and especially the affected area with sage tea 3 times a day. The improvement can be seen as early as within 24 hours.
* Paint half-strength gentian violet solution on sore.
* Gargle a mouthful of warm vinegar with half tablespoon of salt for about 30 secs, 3 times a day. Extremely painful but healing can be seen in about 2 days.
* Apply oil of cloves using a cotton swab or Q tip. This is initially very painful, but will result in a period of time where the affected area is quite numb, allowing painless chewing or talking.

Antacid techniques suggested include the following:

* Swab the sores with milk of magnesia
* Apply powdered alum directly to the sores—available in the spice aisle at your grocery store (this can be very painful, but is proven to work)
* Make a paste of baking soda and water—apply directly to the sores
* Make a paste of crushed Tums (antacid) and water—apply directly to the sores
* Rinse the mouth with a baking soda-Water mix—1 teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water
* Avoid acidic foods such as tomato, citrus, soft drinks, and vinaigrette salad dressings.

Combination therapies tell you to use the antiseptic first, and then the antacid, i.e., swab sores with hydrogen peroxide and then swab them with milk of magnesia.

A good temporary remedy for the pain of the canker sore is to numb the affected area with ice. Although this may cause intense pain in the beginning, it is highly effective and lasts for about half an hour, depending on the number of ice cubes used and the time spent using said ice cubes.

Causes

The exact cause of mouth ulcers is unknown, but in some cases they are thought to be caused by an overreaction by the body's own immune system. Factors that appear to provoke them include stress, fatigue, illness, injury from accidental biting, hormonal changes, menstruation, food allergies and deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron and folic acid. Some drugs, e.g. nicorandil, have been linked with mouth ulcers.

Canker sores are thought to form when the body becomes aware of and attacks chemicals which it does not recognize. The presence of the unrecognized molecules garners a reaction by the lymphocytes, which trigger a reaction that causes the damage of a canker sore.

Trauma to the mouth is a common cause of mouth ulcers. Physical trauma, such as toothbrush abrasion, poking with sharp food, accidental biting, or dental braces can cause mouth ulcers by breaking the mucous membrane. Other factors such as chemical irritants or thermal injury may also lead to the development of ulcers. In many cases, the precise cause is unknown.

A common cause of ulcers is gluten intolerance, in which case consumption of wheat, rye or barley can result in chronic mouth ulcers. If gluten intolerance is the cause, prevention means taking most breads, pastas, cakes, pies, cookies, scones, biscuits, beers etc. out of the diet and substituting gluten-free varieties where available. Artificial sugars, such as those found in diet cola and sugarless gum have been reported as causes of mouth ulcers as well.

Other disorders can cause mouth ulcers, including oral thrush, leukoplakia, gingivostomatitis and oral lichen planus. Mouth ulcers are also associated with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, coeliac disease (gluten sensitivity), bullous pemphigoid, and Behçet's disease. Repeat episodes of mouth ulcers can also be indicative of an immunodeficiency, signalling low levels of immunoglobulin in the mucous membrane of the mouth. Chemotherapy is a common cause of mouth ulcers. The treatment depends on the cause.

A common urban myth is that mouth ulcers are directly connected to the onset of the herpes simplex virus, but in reality ulcers associated with herpes (or cold sores) are of an entirely different nature from mouth ulcers.

Unlike cold sores, mouth ulcers are not contagious.

[source: wikipedia]

Symptoms

Mouth ulcers often begin with a tingling or burning sensation at the site of the future sore. In a few days they often progress to form a red spot or bump, followed by an open ulcer.

The mouth ulcer appears as a white or yellow oval with an inflamed red border. Sometimes a white circle or halo around the lesion can be observed. The grey, white, or yellow coloured area within the red boundary is due to the formation of layers of fibrin, a protein involved in the clotting of blood. The ulcer, which itself is often extremely painful when agitated, may be accompanied by a painful swelling of the lymph nodes below the jaw, which can be mistaken for toothache.

Mouth ulcers are classified according to the diameter of the lesion. Minor aphthous ulcers, the most frequent type, are less than 10 mm in diameter and typically heal in 1-2 weeks without scarring. Major aphthous ulcers are greater than 10 mm in diameter and are incredibly painful. They usually take more than a month to heal and frequently leave a scar. Herpetiform ulcers are small, usually less than 1-2 mm in diameter, and form clusters. They typically heal in less than a month without scarring.

[source: wikipedia]

What is a Mouth Ulcer?

A mouth ulcer or canker sore is a painful open sore inside the mouth caused by a break in the mucous membrane. The condition is also called aphthous stomatitis or aphthous ulcer, especially if there are multiple or recurring sores. Ulcers are generally 3-5mm diameter but can develop to the area of your little finger's nail (1cm+)

They are most common on the inner cheek, inner lip, tongue, soft palate, floor of the mouth, and occasionally found at the back of the throat.