How to get rid of Mouth Ulcers

Ice can be an excellent way to soothe oral mucosa and reduce the pain and inflammation associated with mouth ulcers, especially those caused by burns and injuries. It gives a cooling sensation to your mouth and helps in suppressing ulcer growth. You can also use ice-cold water in place of ice or just have a scoop of ice cream.

Here is how you can use ice to relieve mouth ulcers:

Direct Application

Requirements:

• An ice cube
• A bowl
• Mirror

Procedure:

• Take an ice cube out of the fridge
• Keep it in a clean bowl
• Go to the mirror
• Looking into the mirror, apply ice on the affected area
• Reapply after some time according to need

Ice water gargle
Here is another way to use ice for mouth ulcer:

Requirements:

• Ice-cold water
• Ice particles
• Clean glass

Procedure:

• Take some ice-cold water in a glass
• Keep some small ice pieces in the water so it stays cold enough
• Gargle your mouth using this water
• Repeat again as required

Tip: If you do not have ice-cold water, take some ice cubes and let them melt in the glass. Use it when only small ice particles are left.

Deficiency of vitamin B12 can be a reason for mouth ulcer. So, it is important to take sufficient amount of vitamin B12 or cobalamine in your diet to avoid mouth ulcer. Intake of this variety of Vitamin B can also help in quick recovery from mouth ulcers. There are many marketed Vitamin B tablets and supplements. You can consume any of them according to the recommended dose. Apart from these, you can also take this vitamin from foods such as Fish( tuna and trout)

• Milk
• Poultry
• Swiss Cheese
• Yoghurt

Note: Never take any supplements without consulting a doctor. A doctor may ask for a vitamin B12 test to ascertain the presence of deficiency and prescribe the correct dosage as per your needs.

Folic acid is another name for vitamin B9. Just like vitamin B12, a deficiency in this vitamin may be the underlying reason if you constantly suffer from mouth ulcers. Oral dose of folic acid can work well in this case. Folic acid tablets are easily available in the market. However, it is best that you talk to a doctor before taking them. Apart from supplements, you can also add folic acid rich foods in your regular diet to avoid mouth ulcer and discomforts due to it. Some food items rich in folic acid are:

• Meat liver
• Nuts
• Almonds
• Soya products
• Potato
• Whole grain bread
• Cabbage
• Broccoli

Tip: In case you are taking tablet supplements of vitamins, you can choose a combination of vitamin B-12 and folic acid to avoid taking two different tablets.

Epsom salt can be an excellent way to relieve mouth ulcers caused due to infections and microbial overgrowth. Accumulation of bacteria in the mouth due to poor oral hygiene can damage your oral mucosa, leading to lesions and inflammation. Epsom salt is said to have great anti-microbial powers. It helps draw out the infection and helps maintain the overall microbial load of your oral cavity. Here is how you can use Epsom salt:

Requirements:

• Epsom salt (1 teaspoon)
• Water
• Glass

Procedure:

• Take a cup of water
• Add a teaspoon of Epsom salt to it
• Stir well
• Gargle your mouth with this solution
• Repeat this at least twice daily until the ulcer is there

Baking soda is one of the most popular remedies for relieving mouth ulcer symptoms. Studies suggest that this compound exhibits great anti-microbial potential. So, baking soda may help suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity, preventing the condition from worsening. It also soothes inflammation and pain, providing relief from these distressing symptoms. Here is how you can use baking soda to get rid of  mouth ulcer:

Requirements:

• Baking soda (1 teaspoon)
• Water
• Glass

Procedure:

• Take a cup of water
• Add a teaspoon of baking soda to it
• Stir well
• Now use this solution as a mouth wash
• Do this at least two times in a day for quick results

Oil pulling is a traditional Indian folk remedy, which offers several health benefits. It generates antioxidants, which rupture microbe wall leading to suppression of microbial growth in your mouth. Oil pulling also cleanses your palate and improves the overall health of your oral mucosa. Olive oil or coconut oil can be a great option for oil pulling.

Olive oil is said to have antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and antioxidative properties. Hence, it can eliminate microbes, soothe swelling and reduce pain caused by mouth ulcers. Though you can choose any oil for this procedure, it is best to opt for an oil with antimicrobial properties so that it works better in killing microbes. Follow these steps to learn the technique of oil pulling:

Requirements:

• Oil (any)
• Spoon

Procedure:

• Take a tablespoon of oil
• Squish it all around your mouth for 15 minutes.
• Do not swallow the oil.
• Spit the oil when done

 Note: It is important to perform oil pulling for at least 5 minutes to get the required results.

Honey is loaded with therapeutic and medicinal properties that truly make it an elixir of life. It is an excellent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent and is also effective in hydrating and soothing your oral cavity so as to provide complete relief from all the symptoms of mouth ulcers. When consumed daily, honey has a nourishing effect on the body, it is an excellent source of vitamin B and hence helps in preventing mouth ulcers. Furthermore, honey strengthens your immune system, making it strong enough to ward off infections without the need for external help. And the best part is that it tastes divine! Here is how you can use honey to treat mouth ulcers.

Requirements:

• Honey
• Soap
• Water

Procedure:

• Clean your hand properly with soap and water
• Take pea size honey drop on the tip of your finger
• Apply this honey on the ulcer
• Do not swallow the honey immediately
• Try keeping honey on the ulcer for as long as possible
• Reapply regularly for quick result

Tip: It is advised not to retouch unused honey with the same finger to avoid contamination of honey bottle with saliva.

Basil, also known as tulsi, is a common Indian plant with an array of medicinal properties. Using tulsi as a mouth wash can prove to be one of the best therapies for oral problems including mouth ulcers. In studies, it has been found that basil based mouthwashes have the same antimicrobial effect as some chemical based mouthwashes including 0.2% Chlorhexidine and Listerine. Tulsi is a rich source of anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds. So, it can provide relief from swelling and pain associated with mouth ulcers. A basil mouth wash can easily be prepared at home by the following method: 

Requirements:  

• Basil leaves
• Honey
• Water
• Glass
• Clean utensil
• Gas stove

Procedure:

•  Take some water in a utensil
• Add some basil leaves
• Boil them to get an infusion
• Strain out basil leaves and leave the solution to cool down after some time, when the solution comes to room temperature, add some honey to it
• Stir well
• Take some of this liquid in a glass
• Gargle with this mouthwash twice a day to get noticeable results

Another traditional effective remedy for the treatment of mouth ulcer is coriander. Corriander has a lot of medicinal properties. It contains Linalool and linalyl acetate, which helps reduce the growth of harmful microbes in your oral cavity. Corriander leaves and seeds both can be used for this purpose. This herb also has anti-inflammatory properties, which reduces swelling around the ulcer. Here is how you can use coriander:

Requirements:

• Corriander leaves or seeds
• Water

Procedure:

• Take a handful of coriander seeds or leaves
• Soak it in water overnight
• Strain the water in a glass
• Now, you can use this water as a mouth wash
• Repeat as required

Tips:

• It is a traditional belief that coriander helps in keeping your stomach and body cool, which further helps in preventing ulcers. You can add some amount of coriander in your daily diet to get this benefit
• You can also directly apply coriander on the affected site by making a paste of its leaves