Most people will have had a mouth sore at some point in their lives.

This type of lesions are usually painful and annoying in multiple activities very common in everyday life , such as eating and oral communication. Therefore, in this article we proceed to visualize eight steps or indications in order to accelerate the healing of mouth sores or canker sores. However, we first examine what mouth sores are and consider some possible reasons why they may occur.

Canker sores: what are they?

We call sores or canker sores those ulcer-type lesions that appear inside the oral cavity , often on the inside of the lips and cheeks. These lesions tend to cause a tingling, burning and painful sensation and fever may also appear.

While they are a nuisance to sufferers, they are not usually a serious problem, are not contagious and in fact tend to disappear on their own.

Possible causes

The causes that can originate these ulcers are very diverse, highlighting the following:

1. Friction or physical injury

The cause of sores in the mouth area can be very varied . In this sense, it is frequent that they appear due to physical injuries, such as bites. It is also frequent for sores, canker sores and other ulcers to appear in people wearing braces, due to the continuous rubbing of the mouth walls.

2. Infection

Another possible etiology of canker sores can be found in the bacterial infection , which may have been produced by many different causes.

3. Nutritional deficiencies

The lack of iron, vitamins, minerals and other essential elements in our diet can also produce canker sores , by producing a weakness of the body and the immune system and not possessing the body enough nutrients to function properly. In fact, it tends to be one of the most frequent causes of sores appearing, and a visit to the doctor is recommended so that he/she can indicate more efficient dietary guidelines.

4. Stress

Situations of continuous stress can cause a weakening of the immune system. This causes the organism to be weaker to bacterial attacks and problems such as anaemia and nutritional deficiencies to appear more frequently, which is why canker sores appear more frequently in situations of high tension. In addition, stress can cause the realization or cessation of behaviors that increase the risk of sores.

5. Other causes

Hormonal changes, changes in the pH of the digestive tract or even food allergies have also been linked to the formation of sores in the oral cavity. The aetiology is, as can be seen, very varied.

Eight steps or remedies to cure sores and canker sores

Having contemplated what they are and how they can come about, it is legitimate to ask ourselves what we can do when faced with this uncomfortable phenomenon .

1. Use of salt

It is a traditional, economic and effective remedy . Simply dissolve a spoonful of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse with it. It is recommended to do this process between two and three times a day. The reason for its effectiveness is that sodium chloride is a highly effective natural antiseptic.

2. Use of bicarbonate

Also a highly effective antiseptic , a small poultice can be made with water and bicarbonate, which can be applied to the area of the sore, and then rinse the mouth. Rinses can also be made with this, as in the previous case. As with salt, it acts as an antiseptic that reduces the alkalinity of the mouth.

3. Application of oxygenated water

It also serves to prevent infections . On this occasion it is only necessary to apply the product on an ear stick or cotton wool and then apply it to the sore itself, several times a day. It is a quick method of healing, and the sore in question can disappear in two or three days. It is important to be careful not to swallow the hydrogen peroxide, as it can be dangerous.

4. Treatment of pain: ice

The use of ice is an effective way of calming the pain caused by canker sores , as well as reducing inflammation. However, it tends to be a somewhat slower healing process.

5. Mouthwash

Like salt and bicarbonate, it acts as an effective antiseptic , reducing the risk of infection. You can use a commercial rinse or simply use a mixture of vinegar and water. It is recommended that the rinse be done twice a day.

6. Lowering the oral pH: consumption/application of yogurt

The ingestion of this product allows to vary the bacterial composition of the mouth and to change its degree of acidity by acting on the pH. It can be applied directly to the lesion, although the simple consumption of the product already has a positive effect

7. Milk of Magnesia

Serves to change the pH of the mouth, thus combating the bacteria that cause ulceration . The way to use it is to apply it to the sores several times a day, making it difficult for the bacteria to infect the sore by lowering the acidity of the mouth.

8. Changes in feeding

The formation of sores can often be caused by a lack of essential nutrients in our body. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a varied diet that includes iron, vitamins and minerals. Eating fruits, vegetables and cereals is useful, simple and preventive advice. It is also recommended to avoid acidic or spicy foods.

Other similar injuries

Canker sores are very frequent lesions that 80% of the population has had or will have at some time during their lives , in many cases in a recurrent manner. However, there are other alterations which have a similar presentation with which they can be confused. Two of them are the following:

1. Oral herpes

The differentiation between thrush and oral herpes is complex because the physical appearance of the ulcer is similar . However, herpes and thrush differ in what they produce: herpes is produced by a virus, being contagious and may also appear in other areas of the face other than the mouth. In the case of canker sores, the lesion is limited to the mouth area and since they are not due to viruses, they do not produce contagion.

2. Syphilitic chancre

It is a painless and solitary, red and usually rounded ulcer , which appears as the first manifestation of syphilis. Although it tends to appear on the sexual organs, it can also appear on the lips if unprotected oral sex has taken place. Like the sores, it disappears over time, but in the case of syphilis to proceed to affect the virus to the entire body.

Caution!

Although the presence of mouth ulcers is common in the population, the presence of these very frequently or continuously may be indicating the presence of a medical problem .

Therefore, it is advisable to seek medical attention, since it is possible that you may have some anemia, illness or unhealthy eating or hygiene habits that facilitate the ulceration.