Canker Sore Treatment: How to Get Rid of Canker Sores Naturally

Canker Sore Treatment: How to Get Rid of Canker Sores Naturally

A canker sore is a small, painful ulcer inside the mouth with a white or yellow centre and a red border. The best canker sore treatment at home is simple: dab raw honey on it, rinse with salt water, avoid spicy and acidic food and switch to a toothpaste without SLS. Most canker sores heal on their own within one to two weeks, and these remedies help ease the pain and speed things up. If you keep getting them, though, the answer is usually inside your body, not in your mouth. That’s where real prevention starts.

What Is a Canker Sore?

A canker sore, also called an aphthous ulcer, is a shallow open sore on the soft skin inside your mouth. The American Dental Association describes canker sores as small, creamy white ulcers with a red border that are quite painful. They show up on the inside of the lips and cheeks, on the gums, on the tongue and sometimes at the back of the throat. They never appear on the outside of the lips. A blister there is a cold sore, which is a different problem. Here’s how to tell a cold sore or a canker sore apart.

Canker sores are very common. One paper estimates that 20 to 60% of people get canker sores at some point in their lives.

Are canker sores contagious?

No. Canker sores are not spreadable. The American Dental Association confirms that canker sores are not contagious, so kissing, sharing a cup or sharing cutlery won’t pass them on. That’s one of the biggest differences with cold sores, which are caused by a virus.

How does a canker sore form?

A canker sore doesn’t start as a blister. The area first feels tender or tingly and may look a little red. Within a day or two, the lining of the mouth breaks down into an open ulcer with a yellowish white base and a red halo. Because the ulcer exposes nerve endings, it stings when you eat, drink or talk.

Types of canker sores

• Minor canker sores are the most common. They’re small, round and heal within one to two weeks without a scar.
• Major canker sores are larger and deeper. A large canker sore can take several weeks to heal and may leave a scar.
• Herpetiform canker sores are clusters of many tiny sores that can merge together. Despite the name, they are not caused by the herpes virus.

What Causes Canker Sores?

Science still doesn’t have one clear answer. The American Dental Association says the exact cause of canker sores is uncertain, and that an immune reaction may be involved, with fatigue, stress and allergies making them more likely. Researchers have also noticed that canker sores tend to appear at sites of small injuries in the mouth, and that certain foods can trigger them.

My view: an imbalance your body can’t fully fight off

From what I’ve seen, most canker sores come from an imbalance of bacteria or fungus in the body. Your system can’t fully battle it, and it comes out as an ulcer in the mouth.

The research is moving in a similar direction. An analysis of 14 studies found that people with canker sores have a different mix of mouth bacteria than people without them. The authors don’t point to one single germ. They suggest the way these microbes interact may change the immune response or damage the lining of the mouth. Another study concluded that oral bacteria may play a significant role in how canker sores develop.

That’s also why doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotic mouth rinses for canker sores. In fact, a large review of 43 trials found that a doxycycline rinse was the only topical treatment that sped up healing. For people who prefer a natural way, though, antibiotics are far too strong an approach for a small sore. They wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad, and they don’t touch the reason the balance tipped in the first place.

Other common reasons for canker sores

• A small injury, such as biting your cheek, a sharp tooth, braces, a rough filling or brushing too hard
• Stress and lack of sleep
• Toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), the ingredient that makes it foam
• Vitamin deficiency, especially low vitamin B12, iron or folate
• Hormonal changes, such as around your period
• Certain foods, including very acidic or spicy food, and gluten in people who are sensitive to it
• Gut conditions such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease

Why do I keep getting canker sores?

If you get one canker sore after another, something is keeping your body in that unregulated state. In my experience it’s usually a mix of diet, stress and a gut that’s out of balance. There’s research behind the diet part: studies have found gluten sensitivity in people with recurring canker sores. Recurring sores are also a good reason to ask your GP for a blood test, which we cover below.

First Step for Recurring Canker Sores: Diagnose Your Lifestyle

If canker sores are a common problem for you, don’t start with a gel from the pharmacy. Start by diagnosing your lifestyle. Too much alcohol, bread or sugar could actually push your system into an unregulated state where bacteria and yeast get the upper hand and your body struggles to keep up. A detox from these common triggers might be your first step to avoiding mouth sores.

1. Cut back on sugar, including sweets, soft drinks, juice and white bread.
2. Take a break from alcohol for at least a few weeks.
3. Cut down on bread and other gluten foods and notice whether your sores calm down.
4. Eat more vegetables, protein and fermented foods like plain yogurt and sauerkraut to support healthy bacteria.
5. Keep a simple food diary so you can spot what you ate in the days before a new sore.

How to Get Rid of a Canker Sore: 10 Natural Remedies

These home remedies for canker sores help the sore heal and make eating a lot less painful. Start with two or three and stick with them for a few days.

1. Oil pulling with coconut oil

Oil pulling with coconut oil helps you rebalance the bacteria in your mouth. Swish a tablespoon of coconut oil around your mouth for 10 to 15 minutes, spit it into the bin (not the sink, as it can clog pipes) and rinse with water. In one study, coconut oil pulling reduced harmful mouth bacteria about as well as a chlorhexidine mouthwash. Do it every morning before brushing, both during a flare and as a daily habit.

2. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda shot

This is my go to when I want to tackle the imbalance from the inside. Mix a small splash of apple cider vinegar with a pinch of baking soda in a little water and drink it as a small shot in the morning. In my experience it does the trick. Just make sure you have something afterwards, like water or a cup of herbal tea, to rinse the bad taste from your mouth. Always dilute it, because vinegar is acidic and can sting an open sore and wear down tooth enamel, and skip it if you have acid reflux. This is a personal and traditional remedy that hasn’t been studied for canker sores.

3. Raw honey

Honey has some of the best research behind it. In a trial that compared honey with a steroid cream and a protective paste, honey healed canker sores faster and reduced pain and redness better than both, with no side effects. Dab a little raw or manuka honey on the sore after meals and before bed. Never give honey to a baby under one year old.

4. Salt water rinse

A warm salt water rinse is the classic remedy for a reason. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, swish for 30 seconds and spit. It cleans the sore and calms the area. Repeat three or four times a day, especially after meals. It may sting for a moment, but it shouldn’t hurt afterwards.

5. Baking soda

Baking soda neutralises acids in the mouth. Use it as a rinse (one teaspoon in half a glass of warm water) or mix a little with a few drops of water into a paste and dab it on the sore. Like salt water, it’s a traditional remedy rather than a well studied one, but it’s gentle and cheap.

6. Milk of magnesia

Milk of magnesia is an old remedy for canker sores. Dab a little on the sore with a cotton bud a few times a day. It coats the ulcer and lowers acidity, which can make eating more comfortable. Some people rinse with salt water first and then apply milk of magnesia. There isn’t much research on it, so see it as comfort care.

7. Aloe vera gel

Pure aloe vera gel soothes the sore and forms a thin protective layer. In a recent trial, aloe vera gel worked about as well as a steroid paste for minor canker sores. Use a food grade gel without added alcohol or fragrance and dab it on two or three times a day.

8. SLS free toothpaste

Sodium lauryl sulfate is the foaming ingredient in most toothpastes. A review of the trials found limited evidence that switching to an SLS free toothpaste helps people who get canker sores often. It’s one of the easiest changes you can make.

9. Vitamin B12

In a double blind trial, people who took vitamin B12 every night for six months had fewer and less painful canker sores, and 74% reached a point with no sores at all, compared with 32% on a placebo. It even worked in people whose B12 levels were normal. This one is about prevention, so give it a few months.

10. A gentle zeolite detox

If you’d prefer something less invasive than the vinegar shot, you can use a zeolite detox spray, in addition to the dietary changes above, of course. Zeolite is a natural mineral used to bind toxins. It hasn’t been studied for canker sores specifically, so see it as support for the bigger lifestyle reset rather than a quick fix.

Remedies I’d skip

You’ll find alum powder recommended online. It shrinks the tissue, but it burns on an open sore and can irritate the lining of the mouth even more. Hydrogen peroxide straight from the bottle is also too harsh. Gentler remedies do the job without the damage. As for lysine, it’s mostly studied for cold sores, and there’s little good evidence that it helps canker sores.

Soft Foods to Eat With a Canker Sore

The American Dental Association advises avoiding hot, spicy and acidic foods while a sore heals. Soft, cool foods are easiest:

• Plain yogurt, which also brings friendly bacteria
• Oatmeal and porridge
• Bananas, avocado and melon
• Smoothies without citrus or pineapple
• Scrambled eggs, soups that have cooled down and mashed vegetables

Skip crisps, crusty bread, citrus, tomatoes, vinegar dressings and very salty snacks until the sore has closed. A straw keeps drinks away from the sore.

How to Get Rid of a Canker Sore Fast (or Overnight)

Honestly, you can’t make a canker sore disappear overnight. The tissue needs time to rebuild. What you can do overnight is take the sting out and give it the best conditions to heal:

1. Rinse with warm salt water after your last meal.
2. Brush gently with an SLS free toothpaste.
3. Dab raw honey or aloe vera gel on the sore just before bed.
4. Oil pull with coconut oil first thing in the morning.

Done consistently, this often makes the sore much less painful within a day or two.

Canker Sore Remedies Over the Counter

Pharmacy products can help with the pain, especially when you need to eat or work. But it’s worth knowing what they do and don’t do. A large review of 43 trials found that most topical canker sore treatments did no better than a placebo for pain, and only one, an antibiotic rinse, sped up healing.

Numbing gels like Orajel and Anbesol

These topical anesthetics usually contain benzocaine. They numb the sore for a short while so you can eat, but they don’t help it heal. Don’t use benzocaine products for children under two, and read the label for older children, as benzocaine can in rare cases cause a serious blood reaction called methemoglobinemia.

Protective pastes like Orabase

A paste sticks to the sore and forms a barrier against food and drink. In the trial mentioned above, honey outperformed Orabase for size, pain and redness, so honey is a good natural swap.

Canker sore mouthwash

Antiseptic mouthwashes keep the area clean. Choose an alcohol free one, because alcohol stings an open sore and dries the mouth. Keep in mind that strong antiseptic rinses clear out good bacteria too, which is why I prefer oil pulling and salt water for daily use.

Pain relief like ibuprofen

Ibuprofen or paracetamol can take the edge off a very painful sore for a day or two. Follow the dose on the pack and check with a pharmacist if you take other medication.

If over the counter products don’t help or you need them for weeks, that’s a sign to see your dentist rather than buy another tube.

Canker Sores on Gums and Other Places in the Mouth

Canker sores on gums

Canker sores on the gums are common, especially on the gum line where the gum meets the tooth. The toothbrush, crunchy food and dental floss rub against this spot all day, so a sore here can take a little longer to heal. Brush gently with a soft brush, use an SLS free toothpaste and dab honey on the sore after brushing. If you have braces or a denture that rubs the same spot, ask your dentist to adjust it. A cluster of many small blisters on red, swollen gums, especially with fever, is more likely a herpes infection than a canker sore, so see a dentist or GP.

Canker sore on the roof of the mouth

The roof of the mouth is often burned by hot food or scraped by crusty bread, which can set off a sore. Cool, soft foods help a lot here. A hard, painless lump on the roof of the mouth is not a canker sore and should be checked by a dentist.

Canker sore on the tongue

Because your tongue never stops moving, sores here can be extra painful. We cover this spot in detail in our guide to a canker sore on the tongue.

Canker sore inside the lip and cheek

The inside of the lip and cheek are the most common spots of all, often after an accidental bite. They heal like any minor canker sore.

Canker sore in the throat

A canker sore at the back of the throat or on the tonsils makes swallowing painful. Gargle with warm salt water and choose soft, cool foods. If you also have a fever, swollen glands or white patches on the tonsils, see your GP, because a throat infection is more likely.

Canker sore on the lips or corner of the mouth

Canker sores don’t form on the outside of the lips. A sore on the outer lip is usually a cold sore, and cracks in the corner of the mouth are often angular cheilitis. Both need a different approach. If you have sores in several places at once, our guide to mouth ulcers covers the wider picture.

Canker Sore Stages and How Long They Last

1. Warning stage (day 1 to 2): a tender, tingling or burning spot, sometimes slightly red.
2. Ulcer stage (day 2 to 4): the open sore appears with a white or yellow centre and a red border. This is the most painful stage.
3. Healing stage (day 4 to 14): pain eases, the sore shrinks and the red border fades.

Most minor canker sores heal in one to two weeks. Major canker sores can last several weeks.

Can You Pop a Canker Sore?

No. A canker sore isn’t a blister or a pimple, so there’s nothing to pop. Squeezing, scraping or poking it only makes it more painful, can let bacteria in and slows down healing. Leave it alone and use the remedies above instead.

How to Prevent Canker Sores

• Keep sugar, alcohol and bread low, and eat plenty of vegetables and fermented foods.
• Oil pull with coconut oil a few mornings a week.
• Use an SLS free toothpaste and a soft toothbrush.
• Manage stress and get enough sleep.
• Have sharp teeth, rough fillings or rubbing braces fixed by your dentist.
• Ask your GP to check your B12, iron and folate levels if sores keep returning.

When to See a Dentist or Doctor

• A sore that hasn’t healed in three weeks. See a dentist soon. Most are harmless, but a sore that won’t heal needs to be checked to rule out anything more serious, including mouth cancer.
• A large canker sore, many sores at once, or sores with a fever. See a dentist or an oral medicine specialist.
• Canker sores that keep coming back. Ask your GP for a blood test for vitamin B12, iron and folate.
• Sores together with bloating, diarrhoea, stomach pain or weight loss. A gastroenterologist can check for coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease.
• Trouble eating or drinking, or signs of dehydration. See your GP straight away.

Knowing exactly what you’re dealing with is what lets you treat it the right way naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to get rid of a canker sore?

Dab raw honey on the sore several times a day, rinse with warm salt water after meals, avoid spicy and acidic food and switch to an SLS free toothpaste. Oil pulling with coconut oil each morning helps rebalance the bacteria in your mouth. Most sores feel much better within a few days.

What causes canker sores?

The exact cause isn’t known. In my view, most canker sores come from an imbalance of bacteria or fungus that your body can’t fully fight off. Common triggers include too much sugar, alcohol or bread, stress, small injuries in the mouth, SLS toothpaste and low vitamin B12, iron or folate.

Are canker sores contagious?

No. Canker sores aren’t spreadable, so you can’t pass them on by kissing or sharing drinks.

How long does a canker sore last?

Most canker sores heal within one to two weeks, and the pain usually eases after three or four days. Large canker sores can take several weeks.

What is the best over the counter treatment for canker sores?

Numbing gels like Orajel and Anbesol ease the pain for a short time, and protective pastes like Orabase shield the sore. None of them make it heal much faster. Raw honey has done better than a protective paste in research, so it’s a good natural alternative.

How do you treat canker sores on the gums?

Brush gently with a soft brush and an SLS free toothpaste, rinse with salt water and dab honey on the sore after brushing. If braces or a denture keep rubbing the same spot, ask your dentist to adjust them.

Can a canker sore be cancerous?

Canker sores themselves are not cancer. But any sore in the mouth that hasn’t healed within three weeks should be checked by a dentist.

This article is for general information and does not replace a diagnosis. If a sore doesn’t heal, keeps coming back or you feel unwell, see a dentist or doctor.

See Full Bio