If you're prone to canker sores, check your pantry for the following home remedies: hydrogen peroxide, chamomile (or any type) tea, honey, slippery elm, baking soda, antacid, and vitamin E.
Canker sores are a very common affliction and can arise from any cause, ranging from stress to hormones to vitamin deficiencies. But that doesn’t make them any less painful to deal with. We’ve got eight home remedies to get rid of canker sores fast, plus one tip to prevent future sores.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide may help reduce and relieve canker sores. Simply mix one part peroxide with one part water, then dab on any affected areas several times a day or swish around in your mouth for as long as possible.
Chamomile
How to get rid of a canker sore fast: the same chamomile tea that soothes a sour stomach can also calm canker sores. Allow the tea to cool, and then swish it around your mouth for a minute. Chamomile contains chamazulene, a natural anti-inflammatory agent, which will help accelerate the healing process.
RELATED: opens in a new windowWhat Is a Cold Sore?
Tea
Hold a damp tea bag over the area. Tea bags are filled with healthful tannins. Cool the bag for even more relief.
Honey
Dabbing unpasteurized honey on canker or cold sores four times a day will help them disappear fast, thanks to the enzymes it contains.
RELATED: opens in a new windowNutrition Tips for Preventing Cold Sores
Slippery elm
Native Americans have been using slippery elm for centuries to treat mouth, throat, stomach, and digestive ailments. Today you can buy slippery elm lozenges, available at health-food stores, which will provide lasting relief for canker sore pain. They’re also effective for coughs and sore throats too!
Baking soda
A natural antacid, baking soda is a great canker sore remedy. Dissolve ½ teaspoon baking soda in a half cup of warm water, then swish it around your mouth. Baking soda is alkaline, so it will neutralize the acids in your mouth and relieve pain. A simple salt water rinse will help heal the sore as well.
Antacid
If you need on-the-go relief, a chewable antacid tablet is an ideal alternative to a baking soda or salt rinse. Just as antacids neutralize the acids in your stomach, so too will they temporarily neutralize the pain of a canker sore.
Vitamin E
To help heal a canker sore more quickly, dab a little vitamin E oil on the spot several times a day. The easiest way to do this is to break open a vitamin E capsule and apply it. The oil will coat the painful area and protect it.
Prevention: Your mouth is filled with bacteria, both good and bad. To make sure the good bacteria are on the winning team, eat a half-cup of plain yogurt every day. It can help prevent painful canker sores from ever forming in the first place.