Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms and CausesHome RemediesOTC TreatmentsPrescriptionsWhen to See a Dentist
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms and Causes
Home Remedies
OTC Treatments
Prescriptions
When to See a Dentist
Canker sores are small mouth ulcers that usually form on the gums. Knowing how to get rid ofcanker soreswith home remedies and over-the-counter treatments can limit pain and discomfort.
Also calledaphthousulcers, canker sores may clear up within a few days, but several treatments can speed up healing, including:
When such remedies aren’t enough, a prescription canker treatment liketetracyclinemay be needed.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
It’s unclearwhat causes canker sores, but there are some common triggers, including:
1:27Click Play to Learn About the Potential Causes of Canker Sores
1:27
Click Play to Learn About the Potential Causes of Canker Sores
Are Cankers Contagious?Canker sores are not contagious. You can’t catch them from someone else or give them to someone else.
Are Cankers Contagious?
Canker sores are not contagious. You can’t catch them from someone else or give them to someone else.
The main symptom of a canker sore is pain. However, when they first start to erupt, you may feel just a tingling sensation.
Round or oval sores then appear with a raised border and a yellow, gray, or white center. Whenever something touches the sore, it can cause intense pain, which may make it hard to talk, eat, or drink.
Home Remedies for Cankers
Avoiding canker sore triggers is a good place to start. You can also try home remedies to reduce pain and help the sores heal.
How Long Do Canker Sores Last?Canker sores usually heal on their own within four to 14 days.Home remedies may reduce inflammation and bacteria, making the sores hurt less until they get better.
How Long Do Canker Sores Last?
Canker sores usually heal on their own within four to 14 days.Home remedies may reduce inflammation and bacteria, making the sores hurt less until they get better.
Canker sores usually heal on their own within four to 14 days.
Home remedies may reduce inflammation and bacteria, making the sores hurt less until they get better.
Salt Water and Baking Soda
This creates an environment that makes it harder for bacteria to grow, which can help the healing process. Saltwater rinses can also promote healthy gums.
How to Make a Salt Water Rinse
Never put salt directly on an ulcer. Doing so will be very painful and won’t help it heal.
How to Make a Baking Soda Paste
Mix a littlebaking sodawith a small amount of water until it thickens. Put the paste on your canker sore(s). Repeat as often as needed while your mouth heals.
Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic that can help keep your sore free of bacteria, which will help it heal.
How to Make a Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with one part water. Dab the solution on your canker sore with a cotton swab.
If you’re using a hydrogen peroxide solution to rinse your mouth,do not swallow it.
Honey
Studies have found that honey hashealing properties, including for canker sores.
How to Use Honey
Applying honey to the sore several times daily can help reduce pain and decrease ulcer size and redness.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oilcontains lauric acid, which can help fight harmful bacteria in the body.These properties can promotegum healthand help get rid of canker sores.
How to Rinse With Coconut Oil
Daily swishing with about a tablespoon of coconut oil—a practice known asoil pulling—may help reduce bacteria in the mouth and aid the healing process.
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Another antibacterial household staple isapple cider vinegar.This can be used in a rinse to help heal your canker sores.
How to Make an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Mix 1 teaspoon of the vinegar into 1 cup of water. Swish the solution around your mouth for up to a minute. Then spit and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
An apple cider vinegar rinse may sting. Don’t want to use the rinse more than once a day because vinegar is highly acidic and can damagetooth enamel.
Sage
While research has not shown sage to help canker sores specifically, it has been found effective as an anti-inflammatory agent.Therefore, using a mouthwash made with sage might help soothe a canker sore.
Sage mouth rinses are available OTC and can also be made at home.
How to Make a Sage Mouth Rinse
Take about six sage leaves or 1 tablespoon of dried sage and boil in water, then drain so the sage is removed. Let cool. Swish in your mouth for around a minute, then spit out.
Ice
How to Use Ice
Chop large ice cubes into smaller pieces and hold them against the canker sore until it is numb. You can also try cold water or ice pops for relief.
OTC Canker Treatments
You can find several non-prescription treatments for canker sores in the dental care section of your supermarket or drugstore.
Oral Health Products
Various products are marketed to help heal and manage canker sores. These include the following types of medications:
Milk of Magnesia
The best way to put milk of magnesia into a canker is with a cotton swab. You can apply it three to four times a day. You may want to wear it after rinsing your mouth with hydrogen peroxide.
Benadryl
You can combine liquid Benadryl with milk of magnesia to make an oral rinse. Mix one part of each and rinse with the solution for one minute, then spit it out. Do not swallow it.
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Mouthwash
Considered a holistic remedy, you can usually find this type of mouthwash at organic and holistic specialty stores.
Derived from licorice root, which is used in both Eastern and Western medicine to treat a variety of illnesses,deglycyrrhizinatedlicorice (DGL) refers to an extract that does not have glycyrrhizin, which is known to cause unwanted side effects in some licorice remedies.
Rinses made with DGL may offer some relief for canker sores, but no definitive studies have been done to prove this.
Can I Use Listerine or Other OTC Mouthwashes?Using a mouthwash like Listerine that has alcohol in it can irritate sores or sensitive areas in your mouth.Instead, choose rinses that will reduce bacteria and ease pain associated with canker sores.
Can I Use Listerine or Other OTC Mouthwashes?
Using a mouthwash like Listerine that has alcohol in it can irritate sores or sensitive areas in your mouth.Instead, choose rinses that will reduce bacteria and ease pain associated with canker sores.
Echinacea
Another holistic remedy for canker sores isechinacea, an herbal remedy that seems to support a stronger immune system.
While research is limited, some studies show that taking echinacea tablets can reduce the frequency of canker sores and support quicker healing.
Prescription Treatments for Cankers
Prescription medication is sometimes necessary to treat persistent or infected canker sores.
One treatment your dentist can prescribe is tetracycline suspension (liquid). You must hold the medicine in your mouth for two to five minutes before swallowing it.
Tetracycline is usually not prescribed for children with canker sores because it can causepermanent discolorationin developing teeth.
Corticosteroids
Your dentist may prescribe corticosteroids like prednisone and dexamethasone for severe canker sores.
Dexamethasone suspension (liquid) can be used as an oral rinse that you hold in your mouth, and then spit out.
Gel treatments with fluocinonide may also be recommended.
Cauterization
In some instances, your healthcare provider may recommend cauterizing recurrent canker sores.This involves using a cautery, an instrument or chemical substance, that burns and destroys the tissue.
Additional topical solutions may need to be applied to the burned tissue to help with healing.
When to See a Dentist for a Canker Sore
You might need something else if you have a canker sore that does not improve with home remedies or OTC treatment.
Summary
You can reduce canker sore pain and support healing with some OTC and at-home remedies like salt water rinses, honey, and oral health products.
If you have canker sores that hurt or return, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. They can find out why you have cankers and prescribe the best treatment.
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Altenburg A, El-Haj N, Micheli C, Puttkammer M, Abdel-Naser MB, Zouboulis CC.The treatment of chronic recurrent oral aphthous ulcers.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014 Oct 3;111(40):665-73. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2014.0665American Academy of Family Physicians. Familydoctor.org.Canker sores.American Cancer Society.Mouth sores and pain.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Fever blisters & canker sores.Madeswaran S, Jayachandran S.Sodium bicarbonate: a review and its uses in dentistry.Indian J Dent Res. 2018;29(5):672-677. doi:10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_30_17Huynh NC, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843Rashed HT.Evaluation of the effect of hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash in comparison with chlorhexidine in chronic periodontitis patients: a clinical study.J Int Soc Prev Community Dent.2016;6(3):206–212. doi:10.4103/2231-0762.183114MedlinePlus.Canker sore.Poison Control.Hydrogen peroxide.El-Haddad SA, Asiri FY, Al-Qahtani HH, Al-Ghmlas AS.Efficacy of honey in comparison to topical corticosteroid for treatment of recurrent minor aphthous ulceration: a randomized, blind, controlled, parallel, double-center clinical trial.Quintessence Int. 2014;45(8):691-701. doi:10.3290/j.qi.a32241Rafieian N, Abdolsamadi H, Moghadamnia A, et al.Efficacy of alum for treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.Caspian J Intern Med. 2016;7(3):201-205. PMID:27757206Seyyedi SA, Sanatkhani M, Pakfetrat A, Olyaee.The therapeutic effects of chamomilla tincture mouthwash on oral aphthae: a randomized clinical trial.J Clin Exp Dent. 2014;6(5):e535-8. doi:10.4317/jced.51472Shilling M, Matt L, Rubin E, et al.Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids onClostridium difficile.J Med Food. 2013;16(12):1079-1085. doi:10.1089/jmf.2012.0303Yagnik D, Serafin V, J Shah A.Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):1732. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18618-xGhorbani A, Esmaeilizadeh M.Pharmacological properties ofSalvia officinalisand its components.J Tradit Complement Med. 2017 Jan 13;7(4):433-440. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.12.014Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Canker Sores.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Benzocaine.Mount Sinai.Licorice.Cedars Sinai.Canker sores.Khozeimeh F, Saberi Z, Tavangar A, Badi FF.Effect of HerbalEchinaceaon Recurrent Minor Oral Aphthous Ulcer.Open Dent J. 2018;12:567-571. Published 2018 Aug 31. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010567Edgar NR, Saleh D, Miller RA.Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a review.J Clin Aesthetic Dermatol. 2017;10(3):26-36. PMID:28360966Mount Sinai.Mouth sores.Suter VGA, Sjölund S, Bornstein MM.Effect of laser on pain relief and wound healing of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a systematic review.Lasers Med Sci. 2017;32(4):953-963. doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2184-z
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Altenburg A, El-Haj N, Micheli C, Puttkammer M, Abdel-Naser MB, Zouboulis CC.The treatment of chronic recurrent oral aphthous ulcers.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014 Oct 3;111(40):665-73. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2014.0665American Academy of Family Physicians. Familydoctor.org.Canker sores.American Cancer Society.Mouth sores and pain.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Fever blisters & canker sores.Madeswaran S, Jayachandran S.Sodium bicarbonate: a review and its uses in dentistry.Indian J Dent Res. 2018;29(5):672-677. doi:10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_30_17Huynh NC, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843Rashed HT.Evaluation of the effect of hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash in comparison with chlorhexidine in chronic periodontitis patients: a clinical study.J Int Soc Prev Community Dent.2016;6(3):206–212. doi:10.4103/2231-0762.183114MedlinePlus.Canker sore.Poison Control.Hydrogen peroxide.El-Haddad SA, Asiri FY, Al-Qahtani HH, Al-Ghmlas AS.Efficacy of honey in comparison to topical corticosteroid for treatment of recurrent minor aphthous ulceration: a randomized, blind, controlled, parallel, double-center clinical trial.Quintessence Int. 2014;45(8):691-701. doi:10.3290/j.qi.a32241Rafieian N, Abdolsamadi H, Moghadamnia A, et al.Efficacy of alum for treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.Caspian J Intern Med. 2016;7(3):201-205. PMID:27757206Seyyedi SA, Sanatkhani M, Pakfetrat A, Olyaee.The therapeutic effects of chamomilla tincture mouthwash on oral aphthae: a randomized clinical trial.J Clin Exp Dent. 2014;6(5):e535-8. doi:10.4317/jced.51472Shilling M, Matt L, Rubin E, et al.Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids onClostridium difficile.J Med Food. 2013;16(12):1079-1085. doi:10.1089/jmf.2012.0303Yagnik D, Serafin V, J Shah A.Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):1732. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18618-xGhorbani A, Esmaeilizadeh M.Pharmacological properties ofSalvia officinalisand its components.J Tradit Complement Med. 2017 Jan 13;7(4):433-440. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.12.014Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Canker Sores.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Benzocaine.Mount Sinai.Licorice.Cedars Sinai.Canker sores.Khozeimeh F, Saberi Z, Tavangar A, Badi FF.Effect of HerbalEchinaceaon Recurrent Minor Oral Aphthous Ulcer.Open Dent J. 2018;12:567-571. Published 2018 Aug 31. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010567Edgar NR, Saleh D, Miller RA.Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a review.J Clin Aesthetic Dermatol. 2017;10(3):26-36. PMID:28360966Mount Sinai.Mouth sores.Suter VGA, Sjölund S, Bornstein MM.Effect of laser on pain relief and wound healing of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a systematic review.Lasers Med Sci. 2017;32(4):953-963. doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2184-z
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Altenburg A, El-Haj N, Micheli C, Puttkammer M, Abdel-Naser MB, Zouboulis CC.The treatment of chronic recurrent oral aphthous ulcers.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014 Oct 3;111(40):665-73. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2014.0665American Academy of Family Physicians. Familydoctor.org.Canker sores.American Cancer Society.Mouth sores and pain.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Fever blisters & canker sores.Madeswaran S, Jayachandran S.Sodium bicarbonate: a review and its uses in dentistry.Indian J Dent Res. 2018;29(5):672-677. doi:10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_30_17Huynh NC, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843Rashed HT.Evaluation of the effect of hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash in comparison with chlorhexidine in chronic periodontitis patients: a clinical study.J Int Soc Prev Community Dent.2016;6(3):206–212. doi:10.4103/2231-0762.183114MedlinePlus.Canker sore.Poison Control.Hydrogen peroxide.El-Haddad SA, Asiri FY, Al-Qahtani HH, Al-Ghmlas AS.Efficacy of honey in comparison to topical corticosteroid for treatment of recurrent minor aphthous ulceration: a randomized, blind, controlled, parallel, double-center clinical trial.Quintessence Int. 2014;45(8):691-701. doi:10.3290/j.qi.a32241Rafieian N, Abdolsamadi H, Moghadamnia A, et al.Efficacy of alum for treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.Caspian J Intern Med. 2016;7(3):201-205. PMID:27757206Seyyedi SA, Sanatkhani M, Pakfetrat A, Olyaee.The therapeutic effects of chamomilla tincture mouthwash on oral aphthae: a randomized clinical trial.J Clin Exp Dent. 2014;6(5):e535-8. doi:10.4317/jced.51472Shilling M, Matt L, Rubin E, et al.Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids onClostridium difficile.J Med Food. 2013;16(12):1079-1085. doi:10.1089/jmf.2012.0303Yagnik D, Serafin V, J Shah A.Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):1732. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18618-xGhorbani A, Esmaeilizadeh M.Pharmacological properties ofSalvia officinalisand its components.J Tradit Complement Med. 2017 Jan 13;7(4):433-440. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.12.014Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Canker Sores.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Benzocaine.Mount Sinai.Licorice.Cedars Sinai.Canker sores.Khozeimeh F, Saberi Z, Tavangar A, Badi FF.Effect of HerbalEchinaceaon Recurrent Minor Oral Aphthous Ulcer.Open Dent J. 2018;12:567-571. Published 2018 Aug 31. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010567Edgar NR, Saleh D, Miller RA.Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a review.J Clin Aesthetic Dermatol. 2017;10(3):26-36. PMID:28360966Mount Sinai.Mouth sores.Suter VGA, Sjölund S, Bornstein MM.Effect of laser on pain relief and wound healing of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a systematic review.Lasers Med Sci. 2017;32(4):953-963. doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2184-z
Altenburg A, El-Haj N, Micheli C, Puttkammer M, Abdel-Naser MB, Zouboulis CC.The treatment of chronic recurrent oral aphthous ulcers.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014 Oct 3;111(40):665-73. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2014.0665
American Academy of Family Physicians. Familydoctor.org.Canker sores.
American Cancer Society.Mouth sores and pain.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Fever blisters & canker sores.
Madeswaran S, Jayachandran S.Sodium bicarbonate: a review and its uses in dentistry.Indian J Dent Res. 2018;29(5):672-677. doi:10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_30_17
Huynh NC, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843
Rashed HT.Evaluation of the effect of hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash in comparison with chlorhexidine in chronic periodontitis patients: a clinical study.J Int Soc Prev Community Dent.2016;6(3):206–212. doi:10.4103/2231-0762.183114
MedlinePlus.Canker sore.
Poison Control.Hydrogen peroxide.
El-Haddad SA, Asiri FY, Al-Qahtani HH, Al-Ghmlas AS.Efficacy of honey in comparison to topical corticosteroid for treatment of recurrent minor aphthous ulceration: a randomized, blind, controlled, parallel, double-center clinical trial.Quintessence Int. 2014;45(8):691-701. doi:10.3290/j.qi.a32241
Rafieian N, Abdolsamadi H, Moghadamnia A, et al.Efficacy of alum for treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.Caspian J Intern Med. 2016;7(3):201-205. PMID:27757206
Seyyedi SA, Sanatkhani M, Pakfetrat A, Olyaee.The therapeutic effects of chamomilla tincture mouthwash on oral aphthae: a randomized clinical trial.J Clin Exp Dent. 2014;6(5):e535-8. doi:10.4317/jced.51472
Shilling M, Matt L, Rubin E, et al.Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids onClostridium difficile.J Med Food. 2013;16(12):1079-1085. doi:10.1089/jmf.2012.0303
Yagnik D, Serafin V, J Shah A.Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):1732. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18618-x
Ghorbani A, Esmaeilizadeh M.Pharmacological properties ofSalvia officinalisand its components.J Tradit Complement Med. 2017 Jan 13;7(4):433-440. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.12.014
Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Canker Sores.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Benzocaine.
Mount Sinai.Licorice.
Cedars Sinai.Canker sores.
Khozeimeh F, Saberi Z, Tavangar A, Badi FF.Effect of HerbalEchinaceaon Recurrent Minor Oral Aphthous Ulcer.Open Dent J. 2018;12:567-571. Published 2018 Aug 31. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010567
Edgar NR, Saleh D, Miller RA.Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a review.J Clin Aesthetic Dermatol. 2017;10(3):26-36. PMID:28360966
Mount Sinai.Mouth sores.
Suter VGA, Sjölund S, Bornstein MM.Effect of laser on pain relief and wound healing of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a systematic review.Lasers Med Sci. 2017;32(4):953-963. doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2184-z
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