How to Treat a Canker Sore With Salt

Salt for canker sores

Canker sores are not only unsightly and embarrassing, they can be quite painful. Canker sores are often confused with cold sores, but while cold sores come from a virus, canker sores are usually caused by irritation such as tooth brushing, sour, spicy or sweet foods, food allergies, vitamin and mineral deficiencies or even stress. While they can take up to two weeks to go away, using one of these simple methods to treat a canker sore can help you to speed up the healing process.

Things You'll Need

• Salt
• Warm water
• Baking soda
• Lime

Instructions

Treating a Canker Sore With Salt

1. Heat one cup of water in the microwave for one minute, or heat it on the stove top. Let it cool slightly.

2. Add two teaspoons of salt to the water and stir.

3. Put the mixture in your mouth and rinse for two minutes. Be sure that the rinse is in contact with the canker sore. After rinsing, spit the salt solution out. Do not swallow. Repeat the rinse process three times daily.

4. 

   Cut a lime into slices, and pour 1/2 teaspoon of salt onto a plate.

5. Dip the lime in the salt and apply the slice of salted lime directly to the canker sore. Hold it in place for one minute. This step will result in a burning sensation, but it will quickly promote healing. Do this step twice each day until your canker sore goes away.

6. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda, a pinch of salt, and just enough hot water to make a paste. Apply this paste to your canker sore, and leave it on until it dries. Rinse off with warm salt water.

Tips & Warnings

• If dealing with a child, dilute the salt before applying to the canker sore to prevent pain.

• Make sure that the warm water cools enough to prevent burning when rinsing your mouth.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Canker sore symptoms and causes.
• More methods for treating canker sores.