Painful, irritating and tiresome – mouth ulcers can be a nightmare. Whether they’re ruining a special meal out or keeping you up at night, it’s never a pleasant experience. While some may get them chronically through genetics, there are still ways to stop them developing as harshly. To give you a hand, we’ve created 5 top tips to help you get over those maddening canker sores.
Move away from foods high in acidity or spice
Figuring out which foods may be causing your mouth ulcers takes a bit of time and experimentation. If your diet is high in sugars, acidity or spice, you may see a turn in your fortunes if you decide to cut them out. Crunchy, hard foods are also a prime suspect when it comes to ulcers, as well as being bad for your teeth anyway.
Use a softer toothbrush
Hard toothbrushes are one of the big culprits for mouth ulcers developing. Using a tough toothbrush can seriously damage your gums, which in turn creates the perfect place for mouth ulcers to grow. Try searching for a softer toothbrush – not only will this stop your ulcers developing, but your oral hygiene will take a boost too.
Visit your dentist more often
To put it simply: if you’ve got poor oral hygiene, you’re going to get ulcers. Paying regular visits to the dentists should be normal anyway, but trust us when we say it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you’re seeing your dentist routinely your mouth is more likely to be ulcer free. Who doesn’t want that?
Use antimicrobial mouthwash
If you’re starting to notice the spread of mouth ulcers, using antimicrobial mouthwash may be the route to take. This will ensure that the infection rate inside your mouth is slowed down, while also speeding up the healing process. We wouldn’t recommend this treatment for smaller children but adults will see the obvious benefits.
Mouth ulcers can be incredibly frustrating, but following these tips will stop their development and at least soften their blow. If you’re still struggling to stop them and they last longer than 3 weeks, it’s best to book an appointment with your dentist.