Mommy Medicine: Finding relief for canker sores

Mommy Medicine: Finding relief for canker sores


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SALT LAKE CITY — Cankers of the mouth are very common. They can appear as a single pale or yellow ulcer with a red outer ring or as a cluster of these sores, causing both pain and irritation.

Women seem to get cankers more than men, but the sores are not contagious. While their exact cause is not known, it may be related to:

  • A weakness in your immune system (from the cold or flu, for example)
  • Hormone changes
  • Stress
  • Lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the diet, including vitamin B12 or folate
  • Food allergies
  • Use of abrasive mouth wash or aggressive teeth brushing
  • The nervous habit of biting the inside of your mouth (which can happen in your sleep)
  • Mouth jewelry (such as a tongue ring)
  • Cancer and/or cancer treatments

Ask Nurse Suzy
Do you have a question for Nurse Suzy, or maybe a topic you'd like her opinion on? Email her at nursesuzyksl@gmail.com.

It is common to see cankers in patients who are undergoing cancer treatment because the treatments kill both bad and good cells at a fast rate. This causes the lining of a patient’s mouth to become extremely thin, and canker sores appear quickly and are difficult to treat once they are there.

Regardless of the cause, cankers often go away in about 10 to 14 days even if you don't do anything. But some have been known to last several weeks with or without treatment.

Patience is a must when dealing with canker sores, but here are some suggestions to help ease your pain:

  • Avoid hot beverages and foods, spicy and salty foods and citrus.
  • Gargle with salt water.
  • Gargle children’s Benadryl.
  • Hold baking soda directly on the canker for 1 minute. It will cause a burning pain, but the canker will be gone or you'll have reduced pain within a day.
  • Hold alum powder (a spice) on canker sore, following the same routine as you would with baking soda.
  • Eat Popsicles, slushes, ice cream, etc.
  • Take pain relievers like acetaminophen.
  • Apply over-the-counter antibiotic ointment directly on the sore several times a day.
  • Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with one part water and apply this mixture to the sores using a cotton swab.
  • For more severe cases, treatments include Orajel, anti-inflammatory amlexanox paste (Aphthasol), or chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex) mouthwash.

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About the Author: Suzanne Carlile ---------------------------------

Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.

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