Best Cure For Mouth Ulcers

Most mouth ulcers resolve themselves in less than a week. Only the most severe and stubborn cases where there are multiple lesions and extreme pain may call for more vigorous action. Normally various home remedies for mouth ulcer treatmentwill suffice.

Home Treatment

Home mouth ulcer remedies usually involve over-the-counter-medications to deal with the pain and irritation. Creams or gels like Orabase B or Orajel will temporarily numb the area and relieve your discomfort. A hydrogen peroxide based antiseptic mouthwash will help to keep bacteria and other irritants away from the ulcer while it heals.

Some people swear by simply applying a dab of toothpaste on the sore several times throughout the day while others claim that taking Lysine-L tablets from the health food store works. Whether you use a rinse made of a mild solution of baking soda or just rely on Listerine, the truth is that most likely it is time that heals the ulcer. Other measures simply reduce the pain temporarily and make the individual feel better because they are doing something.

Severe Cases

Severe cases of ulcers in the mouth may require more strenuous treatments like antibiotics (tetracycline) or steroids (dexamethasone elixir). If the pain is particularly severe you may be given a local anesthetic such as lidocaine or the physician may cauterize the sores with a laser or silver nitrate to close them and to facilitate healing. Sulphuric acid solutions like debacterol may also be used as a treatment.

Prevention

Good oral hygiene is the number one way to prevent mouth ulcers. You may also find that some foods will cause an outbreak. Tomatoes, for instance, are irritating to some people whereas others get mouth ulcers from hot or spicy foods. The general belief is that the acidity of the particular food disrupts the chemistry of the mouth. The solution is simple. Stop eating something that repeatedly causes painful mouth ulcers.

You may also want to try switching your brand of toothpaste if you begin to have frequent outbreaks of ulcers or begin taking Lysine-L tablets available at your health food store. They seem to have the effect of balancing the mouth’s chemistry. (Zinc may work in this regard as well.) And, as with any condition linked to stress, try to get enough sleep and a regular amount of exercise in conjunction with a balanced diet. Your whole body will thank you.

When Do I Need to Visit a Dentist?

Be aware that ulcers in the mouth can indicate more serious conditions including the yeast infection known as thrush and other oral inflammatory disorders. Even problems in the bowel, like ulcerative colitis can cause outbreaks in the mouth. As a general rule of thumb, if your mouth ulcers do not respond to home remedies, do not heal after two weeks, or immediately reappear, it would be a good idea to visit your dental care physician.

Thankfully, however, aphthous stomatitis rarely represents a serious problem. Normally ulcers in the mouth are an irritation, albeit a painful one, that will respond to time and to simple home remedies.