Mouth ulcers are areas of erosion in the lining of the mouth tissue. Although they’re harmless, they can be a painful annoyance for many people. Here are our top tips to help you get rid of them.
Avoid certain food and drink
Sorry for fans of spicy food, fruit juice or crisps because all of these will have to be cut out if you want to speed up healing. Spice, acid and sharp-cornered foods will all aggravate the inflamed area in and around the ulcer. So, plain soft foods – and of course: water – are better alternatives.
Use a medicated mouthwash
Using a medicated mouthwash is the ideal way to keep your mouth clean, reduce the pain and it may also help the ulcer to heal more quickly. There are a number of options in the pharmacy, although you may want to ask the pharmacist what they recommend for you before purchasing.
Take Vitamin B supplements
There is some evidence that shows people who have a diet that is low in B-12 may suffer more from mouth ulcers than others. According to a small 2017 study, B-12 supplements reduce the number of mouth ulcers and help to reduce pain.
Rinse your mouth with warm, salty water
Rinsing with salty water should not be used in place of medication but it can be a natural remedy for mouth ulcers. Simply add a teaspoon of salt to half a pint of warm water and stir until the salt is dissolved. Then swish the water around your mouth and spit out into a sink. The saltwater helps to kill off bacteria, preventing the ulcer from getting worse.
Use natural remedies
There are plenty of home remedies out there, which may or may not help mouth ulcers and they should not be a direct substitute for professional medical advice. However, chamomile, honey and echinacea (mainly in tea-form) have been cited by many as helping to reduce the pain of mouth ulcers.
Mouth ulcers might not be serious but that doesn’t prevent them from being a painful nuisance. Try our top tips to get rid of mouth ulcers above and we’re sure you’ll see some improvement. However, if you get regular painful ulcers and want more professional advice, contact your dentist to make an appointment.
