How to treat and prevent mouth ulcers
81My grandmother's home remedy from India
What are mouth ulcers?
Mouth ulcers (stomatitis) are small erosions in the lining of the oral cavity or the tongue. They tend to be recurrent. They usually tend to disappear in about 7-10 days but cause a lot of discomfort. Mouth ulcer is also called an aphthous ulcer, canker sore, or an oral ulcer and is a relative common problem, so there are many causes for this ulces. The pain is unbearable. One cannot speak, eat, or drink properly.
CAUSES OF MOUTH ULCERS:
- Emotional stress.
- Local trauma in the form of ill-fitting dentures or a sharp tooth.
- Allergy to local applications like toothpaste.
- Vitamin deficiency, especially B-complex, folic acid.
- In females, sometime in association with menstrual cycle.
- Hereditary, familial tendencies are also seen.
- Smoking.
- Poor oral hygiene such as not brushing teeth regularly.
- Alcohol.
- Spicy food.
- Drugs like antibiotics.
- Low immunity in any illness from TB to AIDS.
- Infectious origin like some bacteria or virus.
- Tartar in tooth surface.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MOUTH ULCERS:
- Tiny shallow erosions in the lining of the mouth or on the tongue.
- The base may be white or grey in color.
- Increased salivation.
- Pain, burning sensation especially on contact with food or water.
- There may be bleeding from the ulcers.
- Mild fever if infection is the cause.
- Bad odor from the mouth.
HOW TO PREVENT MOUTH ULCERS:
- Maintain oral hygiene.
- Brush teeth at least twice a day.
- Do not brush too vigorously and use a soft toothbrush.
- Clean the tongue regularly but not harshly. Use toothpaste, mouthwash which suits you, if you feel you are getting the problem due to it, change it. You may be allergic to it.
- Visit your dentist if you have a sharp tooth or a denture, which doesn't fit well.
- Avoid mental stress. Learn to relax and deal with stress.
- Avoid spicy hot food, alcohol, and smoking.
- Avoid self medication with antibiotics.
- Vitamin B complex and folic acid supplement will help.
- Have a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, cereals.
- You can use a cool mouthwash for temporary relief of pain.
- Consult your doctor if the ulcers bleed a lot.
HOME REMEDY FOR MILD-TO-MODERATE CONDITIONS:
My grandmother told me about this remedy which I am sharing with you.
Take two teaspoonful of honey and gargle it for a while and swallow or spit out (diabetic patients are not allowed to swallow honey). Do it twice a day for two to three days and it will be cured.
Even though mouth ulcers are gastric in origin, in order to heal the ulcer, the above remedy will help you in curing the symptoms.
My grandmother is not there with us anymore but she told me one more thing to do. She told me to keep on drinking water again and again so that my mouth would not be dry for a single second. I tried this and it helped a lot. You can also try this out, keep a glass of water always with you and drink water after every 5 to 10 minutes, just a sip, I am not saying that you have to drink a full glass after 5 to 10 minutes, just a sip.
Try both of these remedies and let me know the results in the comments section below.
At last I would say that for more severe conditions, you should consult your family doctor or a good ENT specialist in your area.
Different types of mouth ulcers in the oral cavity
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Resources from the web on treatment and prevention of mouth ulcers
- http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Ways-to-Treat-Mouth-Ulcers&id=1164987
- Treatment and Prevention of Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers. Ouch. Just saying the phrase can make your mouth hurt. Most people have experienced the pain of mouth ulcers at some point in their lives. That's due in part to the fact that there are so many... - Prevention and treatment of mouth ulcers - by Vinay Sagar - Helium
Mouth Ulcer a small problem but a big inconvinience.First lets know how it is caused 1.Stress (most common) 2.Vitamin Deficiency 3.Tooth trauma ..., Vinay Sagar - Mouth Ulcer Cure | Mouth Ulcer Treatment The Easy Way
Mouth Ulcer Treatment The Easy Way - My mum always has mouth ulcer problems The days when ulcers infest her mouth, she gets really temperamental, and I ll have a hard time smoothing her bad temper Are you also having ulcer problems regularly Here are - http://doctor.ndtv.com/topicsh/Mouth%20ulcers.asp
- http://forums.sulekha.com/forums/personal/A-sure-cure-for-mouth-ulcers-276472.htm
- Health Guide: Mouth ulcers | FitSugar - Fitness, Health & Well-Being.
- Mouth Ulcers Causes, Prevention & Treatment
Read about Causes for Mouth Ulcers and Treatment. Also know about the Prevention for Mouth Ulcers
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Cold sore cures and home remedies for mouth ulcers
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Comments
Eileen, mouth ulcers can be caused by various vegetables, fruits, drinks, medicines such as antibiotics, etc. Some people experience mouth ulcers with weather changes also. I think the best thing is prevention like you have done. If you have an allergy to bananas, just get rid of them, try some other fruit has a lot of iron contents like bananas, for example, pomegranate. By the way, thanks for reminding me of vegemite, yes I have heard it is very useful on ulcers, just apply some vegemite on those bad ulcers and they are gone. Thanks for the input.
Soni these were excellent tips for mouth ulcers and very useful to me as it happens to me always
Thanks shinujohn for taking interest in this hub and finding it useful.
Thanks for this nice article on mouth ulcers soni. I tried to drink lots of water and it is helping me out. I will also try applying honey on these ulcers.
I was told to use Vegemite by my friend. I was in pain. But it definately has helped! I hate it when I bite my ulcers. It hurts a lot!
Hi Britty vegemite is helpful for some people with mouth ulcers but not for all, so I would request you to use the honey next time it happens. Next time, also try to prevent having these ulcers with the tips I have listed in the hub above.
I am suffering from mouth ulcers every 15 days, but without seeing this, on my own, i tried honey, because i was having burning sensation in my mouth, i drank honey like water, for 2/3 days, and I get relief for 15 days only. what's the best way to cure it permanently? can anyone suggest any remedies?
Hi Bala first of all, its really good that you have tried honey on your ulcers as it is very beneficial and has no side effects. I think you can try over-the-counter gels for eradicating these ulcers but the best way, which I would suggest for people like you who have chronic ulcers, is not drinking but sipping water every 5 minutes to keep your mouth wet and avoid dryness of the oral membranes.
In chinese culture we always say that ulcers are a indication that your body is 'hot' or 'heaty'. Drinking lots of water usually works, and also brewing a bunch of chinese tea's and eating fruits that are deemed 'cold' to counter the 'heatiness'. Applying salt to the wound also helps kill bacteria on the infection and it often shrivels up quickly from then on. It hurts a bit though. Chinese herbal medicine has a wintermelon powder which I apply whenever I have an ulcer, and by far that's worked the best in addition to drinking lots of water.
Yes I agree with you Tina that ulcers are sometimes caused by heat created inside our body but there are many other things also involved like infection, stomach related problems, and other things which I have written in the hub and discussed in the comments above. I have not heard about applying salt to the wound helps kill bacteria and cures infection, that's a new thing which I came across. I do not know much about chinese herbal medicines and would be highly grateful if you can give me the link where I can get wintermelon powder for curing mouth ulcers or stomatitis.
I do not know what either vegemite or wintermelon are but will look them up. I do know that sometimes if you take a probiotic powder or capsule and suck it around in your mouth repeatedly, it sometimes heals faster. And the more water suggestion is good also. Thanks for a lot of info!
you are welcome frogyfish.
Thank you for this hub-it has helped me recognise some things that may cause ulcers.I usually get them from eating sour things like sweets and eating food that rub against the top of my mouth like lollipops-which also sometimes have sharp and rough edges which is also another way i get ulcers.I find that rubbing salt on help it to heal faster and has a temporally numbness effect.I will try the honey.
Thanks Ashley for such a nice comment and for sharing your problem over here. I agree that salt helps a lot when applied on the mouth ulcers and it has a numbing effect for sometime, but for long-term cure, try honey.
HU-Tricks or Hub-Treats...I rated your Hub UP of coarse! Send a trick or treat to another hubber in the spirit of this Hub Halloween! Great info on mouth ulcers, caused by acid...can lemon juice help?...It sure does burn!!!
Thanks a lot Doborah for the visit and ratings. I will definitely pass on the favor to another hubber in the spirit of Hub Halloween.
I am right now suffering from these dreadful mouth ulcers. They keep coming back every month. my family (maternal side) has a long history of mouth ulcers. I also feel like they come full force just before my menstrual cycle. I will definitely try out the honey and water remedy. hope it works for me.
Yes it will work K Kiss. Don't get upset. These ailments are very common and most people experience these. Don't worry you will be alright with the use of honey and water remedy. Best of luck. Wish you good health.
I ussually have mouth ulcers during cold sessons,this time round i experience a very hard time,had this mouth ulcers which lasted for 2 weeks,i couldnt eat nor talk,they were very painful.in our family only mum and i have this problem.what medicine should we buy
I think you should purchase Boiron Homeopathic Medicine Borax, 6C Pellets, 80-Count Tubes (Pack of 5) here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7QZT6?ie=UTF
@ Eileen Hughes (#1)
Same here - I get mouth ulcers after eating bananas - no one believes me when I say so -- but good to find another person who has the same allergy
Srikanth, welcome to hubpages. Sometimes people experience allergies to things which are very doubtful just like you and Eileen are experiencing mouth ulcers with eating bananas. It is a matter of fact and no one can deny it that everything which happens in this world is not only common but can change from a person to person. There are individual differences. Some people are allergic to fish oil as discussed in my new hub, "side effects of fish oil" and other experience benefits from it. Bananas are rich in iron and are considered to be very good for our health but then also it is not the fact for everyone. Even one hubber, I think exellus, has published in his hub that the eating banana increases sexual drives but this also differs in person to person.
Thanks for the guide! Will try out this. Also, swilling hot water around the ulcer us painful but soothes it for a good while after. Thanks again!
It's my pleasure Bukurago. Happy New Year.
Eileen Hughes says:
13 months ago
my mouth ulcers are caused from an alergy. I finally found out that every time I eat a banana I would get a mouthful of ulcers. Hence no more bananas. theyare painful. sometimes I put vegemite on them it sure stings but helps to rid my mouth of them.