How to Get Rid of Canker Sores Safely

Canker sores are small ulcers in the lining of your mouth that are not contagious and usually heal on their own within about two weeks. You can ease the pain at home with rinses, topical products and gentle habits, and you can ask a healthcare professional about prescription options if your sores are severe or keep coming back. Most people do not need tests or a procedure to get rid of a canker sore.

• A soft-bristled toothbrush and waxed floss
• Toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate, such as a canker sore toothpaste
• Salt or baking soda for a homemade rinse
• Milk of magnesia
• Over-the-counter topical products with ingredients such as benzocaine or hydrogen peroxide
• Ice chips
• A list of your symptoms, medicines and health conditions if you plan to see a healthcare professional or dentist

1. Confirm what you are dealing with. A canker sore is a white, gray or yellow ulcer with a red border, usually on the base of your gums, on or under your tongue, or inside your lips or cheeks. It is not a cold sore, which is caused by a contagious virus.
2. Give it time if it is minor. Minor canker sores are usually less than one centimeter across and heal within a few weeks without scarring. Treatment is usually not needed for minor sores.
3. Rinse your mouth several times a day. Mix 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) of table salt in 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of warm water, or mix 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of baking soda in 1/2 cup (118 milliliters) of warm water.
4. Apply a small amount of milk of magnesia to the sore a few times a day.
5. Try an over-the-counter topical product. Common active ingredients include benzocaine, hydrogen peroxide, and fluocinonide. These come as pastes, creams, gels or liquids that you put on the sore as soon as it appears.
6. Use an over-the-counter mouth rinse that does not contain alcohol.
7. Let ice chips slowly dissolve over the sore to numb it.
8. Eat soft, bland foods that are easy to swallow, such as yogurt or cream soup. Cut food into small pieces or mash or puree it.
9. Drink cold fluids and use a straw so the liquid does not touch the sore.
10. Brush your teeth gently with a soft toothbrush, and try a toothpaste without a foaming agent such as sodium lauryl sulfate.
11. Avoid foods that are rough, acidic or spicy, and skip coffee, chocolate, citrus fruits or juices, nuts, seeds and tomatoes while the sore heals.
12. Ask your healthcare professional or dentist about prescription options if your sores are large, very painful, or do not heal. These may include a dexamethasone mouth rinse, a lidocaine rinse, a chlorhexidine mouth rinse, a corticosteroid ointment, or oral medicines such as colchicine or sucralfate.
13. Ask about cautery if your sore is severe. Chemical cautery uses a substance placed on the sore, and low-level laser therapy is also an option.
14. Ask about nutritional supplements if testing shows low levels of folate, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 or zinc.
15. See your healthcare professional or dentist if a sore does not go away after two weeks of home care, gets worse, or if you get canker sores more than two or three times a year.

• Canker sores are not contagious, and experts do not know exactly what causes them. They may run in families.
• Possible triggers include stress, minor injury to the inside of your mouth, acidic or spicy foods, caffeine, eggs, cheese, peanuts, almonds, hormonal changes during your period, and toothpastes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate.
• Some health conditions are linked to canker sores, including celiac disease, HIV/AIDS and inflammatory bowel disease. Some medicines, such as beta-blockers, immunosuppressants and NSAIDs, can also be a factor.
• Nutritional deficiencies, especially low vitamin B12, vitamin D, folate, iron or zinc, may play a role.
• Minor canker sores usually heal in one to two weeks. Major canker sores are bigger than one centimeter, extremely painful, can take months to heal and may leave scars. Herpetiform canker sores are rare, appear as tiny pinpoint sores that cluster together, and usually heal within about two weeks without scarring.
• To lower your risk of getting another one, practice good oral hygiene, avoid your trigger foods, ask your healthcare provider about possible nutritional deficiencies, try a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate, and use stress reduction techniques such as mindfulness and meditation.
• Do not give aspirin to children or teens. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• Ask your doctor before using mouth-numbing medicine for children of any age. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that some of these can be dangerous.
• If you have a fever, trouble swallowing, or your canker sores keep coming back, talk to your doctor. You may have another problem causing your symptoms.

Are canker sores contagious? No. Canker sores are not contagious, unlike cold sores, which are caused by a contagious virus.

How long do canker sores last? Minor canker sores usually heal within one to two weeks. Major canker sores can take months to heal and may leave scars.

When should I see a doctor or dentist? See a healthcare professional if a sore does not go away after two weeks of home care or gets worse, if you get canker sores more than two or three times a year, or if you have symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, headache or a skin rash along with the sore.

Can I prevent canker sores? There is no surefire way to prevent them, but you can try to notice your triggers and avoid them. Good oral hygiene, a soft-bristled toothbrush, waxed floss, trigger-free eating, and stress reduction may help.

What can I eat while I have a canker sore? Soft, bland foods that are easy to swallow, such as yogurt or cream soup, are good choices. Avoid rough, acidic or spicy foods, coffee, chocolate, citrus fruits or juices, nuts, seeds and tomatoes.