Canker Sores Treatments
Canker sores are small ulcers that form inside your mouth due to an allergy, injury or diet, among other factors. Most canker sores will heal themselves in about a week, but certain treatments can help ease the pain and nurse your mouth back to health, especially when these small lesions are a chronic problem.
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Mouthwash
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For some people, especially those with severe outbreaks, using a medicated mouthwash can help lessen the pain, reduce the inflammation and speed up the healing of canker sores. The most common medicated mouthwashes contain a steroid, but mouthwashes with tetracycline, an antibiotic, can be prescribed. The antibiotic solution, however, will also kill the "good" bacteria in your mouth, making you more susceptible to infections.
Pastes and Ointments
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Another common treatment for canker sores is a medicated paste or ointment. These products come in prescription and nonprescription strength, both used in the exact same way. They include debacterol (a cauterizing agent), amlexanox, fluocinonide or homemade baking soda paste. The paste or ointment is administered directly onto the canker sore to ease the pain and speed healing.
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Supplements
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Dietary supplements are also used as a preventive treatment for canker sores because nutrient deficiencies have been linked to the formation of these small ulcers. Sufferers may be advised to increase their intake of folic acid and zinc, as well as vitamins B6 and B12 to treat and then prevent further canker sores.
Homemade Rinse
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Some frequent sufferers mix their own washes to treat the condition at home. Some combine a half-cup of warm water with a teaspoon of baking soda and rinse the mouth with it. Others use a few teaspoons of peroxide mixed with a few teaspoons of water to help heal the sores.
Medications
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Sometimes it's appropriate to "heal" canker sores from the inside out, so oral medications may be prescribed as a course of treatment. These prescriptions are usually intended for other conditions but may help alleviate stubborn canker sores. They include steroids, cimetidine and colchicine. But they are usually used only when other treatments fail.
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