How to cure sores and canker sores in the mouth in 8 steps
Most of the population will have had, at some time throughout their lives, a sore in the mouth.
These types of injuries are often painful and annoying in many activities that are very common in everyday life , how to eat and communicate orally. For this reason we proceed in this article to visualize eight steps or indications in order to accelerate the healing of sores or mouth sores. However, first we proceed to examine what canker sores are and to consider some possible reasons why they may occur.
Canker sores: what are they?
We call sores or canker sores those ulcerative-like lesions that appear inside the oral cavity , frequently in the inner area of lips and cheeks. These lesions tend to cause tingling, burning and pain, and it is possible that episodes of fever also appear.
Although they are a nuisance for the sufferer, they do not usually pose a serious problem, they are not contagious and in fact they tend to disappear on their own.
Possible causes
The causes that can cause these ulcers are very diverse, highlighting the following:
1. Rash or physical injury
The cause of sores in the oral area can be very varied . In this sense, they often appear due to physical injuries, such as bites. It is also common that sores, canker sores and other ulcers appear in people who wear orthodontics, due to the continuous friction with the buccal walls.
2. Infection
Another of the possible etiologies of canker sores can be found in the bacterial infection , which may have been produced by very different causes.
3. Nutritional deficiencies
The lack of iron, vitamins, minerals and other essential elements in our diet can also cause thrush , by producing a body and immune system weakness and not having enough nutrients in the body to function properly. In fact, it tends to be one of the most frequent causes of sores, and it is advisable to visit the doctor so that he can indicate more efficient dietary guidelines.
4. Stress
Continuous stress situations can cause a weakening of the immune system. This causes that the organism is weaker to bacterial attacks and that problems like anemias and nutritional deficits appear with more assiduity, being for this reason more frequent the apparition of thrush in situations of high tension. In addition, stress may cause the performance or cessation of behaviors that enhance the risk of sores.
5. Other causes
Hormonal changes, changes in the pH of the digestive tract or even food allergies have also been related to the formation of sores in the oral cavity. The etiology is, as can be seen, very varied.
Eight steps or remedies to treat sores and canker sores
Having contemplated what they are and how they can be produced, It is legitimate to ask ourselves what we can do when faced with this uncomfortable phenomenon .
1. Use of salt
It is a traditional, economic and effective remedy . Just dissolve a tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse with it. It is recommended to do this process between two and three times a day. The reason for its effectiveness is that sodium chloride is a highly effective natural antiseptic.
2. Use of bicarbonate
Also a highly effective antiseptic , you can make a small poultice with water and bicarbonate, which can be applied in the area of the sore, to later rinse the mouth. You can also rinse with it, as in the previous case. As with salt, it acts as an antiseptic that reduces the alkalinity of the mouth.
3. Application of hydrogen peroxide
It also serves to prevent infections . On this occasion it is only necessary to apply the product on a toothpick or a cotton ball and then apply it on the wound itself, several times a day. It is a quick method of healing, and the sore in question can disappear in two or three days. It is important to be careful not to swallow hydrogen peroxide, as it can be dangerous.
4. Pain treatment: ice
The use of ice is an effective way to calm the pain that canker sores produce , as well as to lower the inflammation. However, it tends to be a somewhat slower healing process.
5. Mouthwash
Like salt and bicarbonate, it acts as an effective antiseptic , reducing the risk of infection. You can use commercial rinsing or simply use a mixture of vinegar and water. It is recommended to rinse twice a day.
6. Lower the oral pH: consumption / application of yogurt
The ingestion of this product allows to vary the bacterial composition of the mouth and change its degree of acidity by acting on the pH.It is directly applicable to the injury, although the simple consumption of the product already has a positive effect
7. Milk of magnesia
It serves to change the pH of the mouth, thereby fighting the bacteria that cause ulceration . The way to use it is to apply it on the sores several times a day, making the bacterial infection that the sore can cause by lowering the acidity of the mouth difficult.
8. Changes in diet
The formation of sores can be caused many times by lack of nutrients essential in our body. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a varied diet that includes iron, vitamins and minerals. Eating fruits, vegetables and cereals are useful, simple and preventive tips. It is also recommended to avoid acidic or spicy foods.
Other similar injuries
Canker sores are very frequent lesions that 80% of the population has had or will ever have throughout his life , often on a recurring basis. However, there are other alterations that have a similar presentation with those that can be confused. Two of them are the following:
1. Herpes buccal
The differentiation between aphtha and oral herpes is complex given that the physical appearance of the ulcerative lesion is similar . However, herpes and thrush differ in what produces them: herpes is produced by a virus, being contagious and can also appear in other areas of the face other than the mouth. In the case of canker sores, the lesion is limited to the oral area and since they are not due to viruses, they do not cause infection.
2. Syphilitic chancre
It is a painless and solitary ulceration, red and usually rounded , which appears as the first manifestation of syphilis. While it tends to appear on the sexual organs, it can also appear on the lips if unprotected oral sex has occurred. Like sores, with the passage of time disappears, but in the case of syphilis to proceed to affect the virus throughout the body.
Caution!
Although the presence of oral ulcerations is common in the population, the presence of these very frequently or continuously may be indicating the presence of a medical problem .
Therefore, should it be the case it would be advisable to go to medical services, since it is possible that you have some anemia, illness or an unhealthy food or hygienic habit that facilitates ulceration.
