Home Remedies for Mouth Ulcers

Posted on October 4, 2007 - Filed Under Digestive System

Mouth or oral ulcer is a very common phenomenon. It is described as an open sore that appears inside the mouth. It is different from cold sores that occur due to a viral infection. Mouth ulcers are very painful and bring about much discomfort. Hence it is always useful to have a proper knowledge on the home remedies for mouth ulcers, causes and symptoms, so that you can prevent and treat such ulcers whenever required.

Causes of Mouth Ulcers
A mouth ulcer is caused by a rupture in the mucous membrane or the epithelium on the inside surface of the mouth, i.e. tongue, gum or inside the cheeks, etc. Some of the primary clinical causes of mouth ulcers are:

  • Deficiency of iron, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C
  • Inferior dental hygiene
  • Change in hormonal balance due to menstruation
  • Stress, fatigue
  • Allergy and sensitivity to specific foods containing preservatives and other food chemicals
  • Drugs like nicorandil are also known to be the cause of mouth ulcers
  • Viral infections like herpes simplex, chicken pox, HIV, etc can lead to mouth ulcers
  • Bacterial infections such as tuberculosis are also responsible for mouth ulcers

Symptoms of Mouth Ulcers
There are various symptoms for mouth ulcers. As it appears it exhibits some typical symptoms, whereas severe attacks show other symptoms.

Following are the symptoms at the onset of ulcers:

  • Sharp stinging or burning sensation
  • Red spot or swelling on the gum surface
  • Pain or discomfort with some foods

In case of severe ulcers following are the main symptoms of mouth ulcers:

  • Inflamed lymph glands near the jaws in the upper region of the neck
  • Fever accompanied with pain

In general mouth ulcers have the following symptoms:

  • Round or elliptical in shape
  • White, grey or yellow in color with red border

Home Remedies for Mouth Ulcers
Usually mouth ulcers last for seven to ten days. If it takes more than two weeks to heal then you should consult a doctor and take prescribed medicines. However initially you can make use of some effective home remedies for mouth ulcers. Following are some of the popular home remedies for mouth ulcers:

  • Gargle with lukewarm salt water
  • Gargle with fresh coconut milk
  • Gargle alternatively with cold and hot water
  • Eat raw tomatoes or gargle with tomato juice
  • Apply a mixture of a pinch of turmeric and glycerin on the ulcer
  • Sodium bicarbonate or cooking soda can be dabbed on the ulcer to get relief
  • You can rub alum on your ulcer to get good result
  • Consume mulberry juice
  • Peppermint oil can give relief from pain and burning
  • Chewing basil leaves twice daily is a powerful home remedy
  • Rinse your mouth with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, water, salt and baking soda.

Following these basic home remedies you will definitely get relief from mouth ulcers.

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