Canker sores are small, painful boil like ulcers which are shallow. These ulcers form inside the mouth and make eating and talking very uncomfortable and painful. The ulcers or "canker sores" may occur on any oral part inside the mouth, tongue, lips, cheeks, soft palate, or even base of the gums.

Canker sores occur on the internal soft tissues of the mouth and are not contagious. Canker sores are common, but the cause in many cases is unknown. Canker sores can occur at any age, but often they first appear when you are between 10 and 40 years of age.

It has been believed in Indian herbal medicine history, that canker sores are usually formed due to "heat" generated in the body. The expulsion of heat gives rise to canker sores.

Most of the time, treatment isn't necessary for canker sores. Pain usually decreases after several days, and canker sores typically heal within one to three weeks.

HOME REMEDIES FOR CANKER SORE

· Eat plenty of salad with raw onions. Onions contain sulfur and have healing properties.

· Diet should include yogurt and other soured products, such as cottage cheese, and buttermilk.

· Prepare a solution by adding 2 oz hydrogen peroxide, 2 oz water, and 1 tsp each of salt and baking soda. Rinse the mouth with this solution. Do not swallow.

· Rinse your mouth with milk of magnesia to coat sores.

· Orange juice is helpful in preventing the canker sores of the mouth. Drink it up in 2 or 3 days it will go away. Lack of vitamin C causes them. You can also take Vitamin C pills if you don't want to drink all that orange juice.

· Cover the ulcer with a wet tea bag; the tannin will help dry up the sore.

· Mix Sodium bicarbonate powder with water. It is a very effective first aid remedy. This mixture can be used as a mouth rinse as well as swallowed to help make the body more alkaline.

· Use a toothpaste containing sodium bicarbonate instead of the standard toothpastes high in fluoride and other chemicals.

· Antacids can soothe canker sores by reducing the acidity in your mouth that can irritate them.

· Combine equal parts of the liquid form of Kaopectate or Milk of Magnesia (both antacids) with Benylin or Benadryl (both mild anesthetics). Apply the mixture to the canker sore with a cotton swab. You'll cut down on painful acidity in your mouth and numb the sore too.

· Try stress-relieving acupressure exercises. Avoid constant stress. Take time to exercise, sleep and relax.

· Avoid eating fish or meat of any kind for two weeks. The consumption of animal protein increases the body's acidity, which slows healing.

· Avoid chewing gum, lozenges, mouthwashes, tobacco,
coffee, citrus fruits, and any other foods that you know trigger these sores.

· Avoid hard toothbrush bristles or sharp-edged foods such as potato chips or dry bread crusts. Too much acid from fruits and vegetables, and spicy foods can also trigger mouth sores.

· Keep the bowels regular to prevent toxic buildup. Walk regularly walking in fresh air to oxygenate the body and stimulate bowel movement.

· To avoid getting canker sores, it is important to maintain a proper balance of minerals, acidity, and alkalinity in the body.

· Do not use the same toothbrush for longer than one month.

· Application of peppermint oil helps, as it is an anesthetic agent.

· Mix coconut milk with honey and massage the gums 3 times a day.

· Take 1 tsp finely powdered Indian Gooseberry root bark, mix with honey. Apply to affected areas frequently

· Grate some fresh coconut. Extract the milk and gargle with this 3-4 times a day.

· Keep 1 glass of chilled water and 1 glass of hot water ready at hand. Gargle alternately with hot and cold water.

· Boil 2 cups of water. Add 1-cup fenugreek leaves and remove. Cover and keep for sometime. Strain the water and gargle 2-3 times a day.

· Boil 1 tsp of coriander seeds in 1 cup of water. Remove when slightly warm gargle. Repeat 3-4 times a day.

· Chew on 5-6 tulsi (holy basil leaves) and sip some water. Repeat 5-6 times a day.

· Raw tomatoes help rid mouth ulcers. Gargle with tomato juice 3-4 times a day also helps.

· Mix 7 parts of sugar candy (mishri) with 1 part of camphor. Apply on the blister.

· Mix a pinch of turmeric powder to 1 teaspoon of glycerin and apply.

· Avoid hot or spicy foods to minimize discomfort. Mild mouth washes such as salt water or over-the-counter mouthwashes may help.

· Apply hydrogen peroxide (1 part hydrogen peroxide and one part water with a cotton swab) on the canker sore

· Pouring salt directly on the ulcer can prove effective, however this can be extremely painful and can scar.

· Rinse mouth and especially the affected area with sage tea 3 times a day. The improvement can be seen within 24 hours.

· 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.

· Make a paste of baking soda and water—apply directly to the sores