How To Get Rid Of Lip Ulcers

Mouth ulcers can be extremely painful and can hinder your ability to eat and speak. A mouth ulcer is definitely not a laughing matter. If you are prone to mouth ulcers, you may have noticed that you usually get them when you are extremely stressed, and this can exacerbate your misery. Sometimes, mouth ulcers can be an indication of nutritional deficiency. Taking a course of multivitamins can help get rid of the ulcers and also keep them at bay. Irrespective of what the cause is, an ulcer in the mouth can be very annoying. If you are looking for easy and simple home remedies to get rid of mouth ulcers, keep reading!

How To Get Rid Of Mouth Ulcers

Most home remedies for ulcers use ingredients commonly found in the kitchen. Here are the top 15 home remedies that can provide fast relief if you are suffering from a painful mouth ulcer.

Cure That Annoying Ulcer With These Solutions

Honey
Baking Soda
Coconut Oil
Apple Cider Vinegar
Alum
Salt Water
Toothpaste
Orange Juice
Clove Oil
Cayenne
Coconut Milk
Turmeric
Garlic
Epsom Salt
Cabbage Juice

1. Honey For Ulcers

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You Will Need

Honey

What You Have To Do

Apply some honey on the ulcer and let it stay.

How Often You Should Do This

Keep reapplying every few hours.

Why This Works

Honey is antimicrobial in nature and also possesses wound healing properties. It will quicken the natural healing process of the mouth ulcer and keep it infection free. It also reduces the irritation and swelling (1, 2).

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2. Baking Soda For Ulcers

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You Will Need

1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon water

What You Have To Do

Mix the water and baking soda to form a paste.
Apply this on the mouth ulcers using your fingers. Let it dry for a few minutes.
Rinse your mouth with water and gargle.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this thrice during the day.

Why This Works

Usually, baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is used around the house to clean and deodorize. It also is an excellent home remedy for mouth ulcers. It eases the pain and speeds up the healing process by neutralizing the ulcer acids (3). Its antibacterial action will help you maintain oral hygiene (4).

[ Read: Beauty Benefits Of Baking Soda ]

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3. Coconut Oil For Mouth Ulcers

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You Will Need

Virgin coconut oil

What You Have To Do

Dab a little bit of this oil on the mouth ulcer and leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this a few times during the day. You can also apply the oil on the ulcer before going to bed.

Why This Works

Coconut oil treats ulcers naturally due its extensive antimicrobial components – the medium chain fatty acids (5). It is also an anti-inflammatory compound and an analgesic (6). These properties will reduce the swelling and pain you experience because of the mouth ulcer.

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4. Apple Cider Vinegar For Mouth Ulcers

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup warm water

What You Have To Do

Mix the ACV in the water and swish this solution around in your mouth for about a minute or two.
Rinse your mouth with plain water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every morning and evening until the mouth ulcer heals.

Why This Works

The acidity of apple cider vinegar will kill the bacteria causing the mouth ulcers and heal it (7).

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5. Alum For Mouth Ulcers

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You Will Need

Alum crystals
Cotton swab
Water

What You Have To Do

Crush the alum crystals to get a fine powder.
Wet the cotton swab, dip it in the powder, and place it on the mouth ulcer.
Hold it there for a minute or two. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after removing the cotton swab.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a day.

Why This Works

Alum has been shown to exhibit antimicrobial properties against microorganisms that cause issues in different parts of the digestive system (8).

Caution

The alum may sting a little, so be prepared.

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6. Salt Water For Ulcers

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon salt
A glass of lukewarm water

What You Have To Do

Mix the salt in the water and gargle thoroughly with it.
Rinse your mouth with plain water to remove the extra saltiness.

How Often You Should Do This

Do the salt water gargle a few times during the day.

Why This Works

The water will flush out your mouth and also have a soothing effect on the ulcer. Salt has antiseptic properties and can help to heal the ulcer faster (9).

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7. Toothpaste For Mouth Ulcers

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You Will Need

Toothpaste
Q-tip

What You Have To Do

Apply the paste on your ulcer using a Q-tip.
Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing your mouth.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this every day until the whiteness of the ulcer disappears.

Why This Works

One of the key properties of a good toothpaste is its antimicrobial capacity (10). Applying this on the mouth ulcer will clear out the infection that is causing the ulcer.

Caution

This mouth ulcers home remedy will sting, so apply some aloe vera gel afterwards.

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8. Orange Juice For Ulcers

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You Will Need

Fresh orange juice (or fortified)

What You Have To Do

Drink two glasses of orange juice in a day.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every day until the mouth ulcer heals.

Why This Works

The key to this remedy is getting a lot of vitamin C into your body. It has been seen that vitamin C deficiency can result in mouth ulcers. Also, vitamin C boosts your immune system and helps your body fight all kinds of infections, including mouth ulcers (11).

[ Read: Health Benefits Of Orange Juice ]

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9. Clove Oil For Ulcers

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You Will Need

Clove oil
Cotton swab

What You Have To Do

Dip the cotton swab in the clove oil and apply directly on the mouth ulcer. Leave it on for it to be absorbed by the skin, which will eventually heal the ulcer.
It is advisable to rinse your mouth with warm water before applying the clove oil as it will clean the area of the ulcer.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply clove oil twice or thrice a day.

Why This Works

Clove oil and its eugenol content are extensively used for dealing with oral problems quickly and effectively. Its antimicrobial action and healing properties work wonders when it comes to mouth ulcers (12).

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10. Cayenne For Ulcers

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You Will Need

Cayenne powder
Q-tip

What You Have To Do

Using your fingers or a Q-tip, apply a thin layer of cayenne powder on the mouth ulcer.
Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly with plain water.

How Often You Should Do This

You can apply this twice a day.

Why This Works

Cayenne pepper is becoming famous as a remedy for pain management. It contains capsaicin, which gives it its hotness. This will numb the pain and also kill any microbes present at the site of the mouth ulcer (13, 14).

Caution

Cayenne pepper is bound to sting, so be careful when you apply it.

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11. Coconut Milk For Ulcers

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You Will Need

Coconut milk

What You Have To Do

Gargle with coconut milk for a few minutes and then rinse your mouth with clean water.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this three to four times during the day.

Why This Works

Fresh coconut milk is a wonderful home remedy for mouth ulcers. It has a soothing effect and can help in lessening the pain (15). The pain will subside quickly, allowing you to eat normally.

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12. Turmeric For Mouth Ulcers

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You Will Need

2 tablespoons turmeric powder
1 tablespoon water

What You Have To Do

Make turmeric paste by mixing the water and turmeric.
Apply this on the mouth ulcer and leave it on for two to three minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply this every day in the morning and evening until the mouth ulcer heals.

Why This Works

Turmeric is a well-known antiseptic that is used both topically and internally to treat infections. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties can give you quick relief from the mouth ulcer (16).

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13. Garlic For Mouth Ulcers

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You Will Need

1 garlic clove

What You Have To Do

Cut the garlic clove in half and rub it gently on the mouth ulcer for a minute or two.
Rinse your mouth with clean water after 30 to 40 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice or thrice a day.

Why This Works

Like turmeric, garlic is also extensively used to treat infections because of its strong antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microorganisms. The allicin found in garlic is said to be the main component that is responsible for this property (17).

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14. Epsom Salt For Mouth Ulcers

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You Will Need

2 tablespoons Epsom salt
A cup of lukewarm water

What You Have To Do

Add the salt to the water and mix thoroughly so that all the salt has dissolved.
Gargle with this water for a minute or so and then rinse your mouth with regular water.

How Often You Should Do This

It is recommended that you do the Epsom salt gargle twice or thrice a day.

Why This Works

Epsom salt contains minerals that have antibacterial action when applied on the mouth ulcer (18).

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15. Cabbage Juice For Ulcers

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You Will Need

1 raw cabbage
Water

What You Have To Do

Boil the cabbage until the water quantity reduces to half.
Sip on a glass of this juice for relief from the mouth ulcer pain.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink three to four glasses in a day.

Why This Works

Cabbage juice possesses anti-inflammatory compounds and speeds up the healing process of the mouth ulcers (19).

Now that you knowhow to get rid of mouth ulcers, its time you try these remedies.The remedies listed above are versatile and work for most types of mouth ulcers. Using them diligently will heal the ulcer in no time.

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Knowing the types of mouth ulcers will help you deal with them better. Listed below are the types:

Types Of Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers are a common occurrence in people of all ages. They are usually divided into the following types:

Minor Ulcers – These are small ulcers ranging from 2-8mm in diameter. These ulcers take about 10 to 14 days to clear up, which is shorter when compared to the other types.

Major Ulcers – These ulcers are bigger than the minor ones, and they are also set deeper into the skin. They usually have a raised and/or irregular border. It can take several weeks for these ulcers to clear up. They are also known to leave scars behind once they are healed.

Herpetiform (Herpes) Ulcers – When the ulcers are formed because of the Herpes virus, they are known as Herpetiform ulcers. They look like small pinheads and usually in clusters.

Listed below are a few frequently asked questions regarding mouth ulcers.

FAQs

1. What causes mouth ulcers?

There are many factors that can cause mouth ulcers. These include:

Infection of the mouth and gums due to virus or bacteria
Herpes virus infection
Mouth injury
Biting the tongue or cheek
Stress
Intestinal problems
Oral thrush

More serious causes include autoimmune disorders, such as Crohn's disease, and oral cancer (20).

2. Does oil pulling cure mouth ulcers?

Oil pulling or oil swishing has been known to help a lot of people who were suffering from mouth ulcers. All you need to do is swish two to three tablespoons of coconut oil in your mouth for a few minutes and then spit it out. This needs to be followed by thorough rinsing of the mouth with lukewarm water.

3. What are the symptoms of mouth ulcer?

The symptoms of mouth ulcer include:

An open sore in your mouth or on your lip
Pain around the sore area
Tenderness in the affected area
Difficulty in swallowing (20)

4. What to eat if you have an ulcer?

When suffering from a mouth ulcer, many foods can be included in your diet to get faster relief from the pain and infection. Follow this ulcer diet to get rid of that painful and annoying ulcer:

Vegetables like cabbage, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, and potato
Vitamin C and calcium-rich foods such as yogurt, milk, and citrus juices
Fruits such as bananas, apples, pumpkins, papaya, and grapefruit
Vitamin B-rich foods like eggs, rice milk, and soy milk

5. What not to eat with an ulcer?

It is always advisable to let your mouth and stomach recuperate when you have an ulcer. Avoid the following foods and drinks:

Tea, coffee, and carbonated drinks
Oily and spicy food
Allergenic foods that can trigger ulcers

6. What causes bleeding ulcers?

When the ulcer is caused due to an infection and the infection has progressed, it can also cause bleeding from the ulcer and the gums.

On an average, mouth ulcers take seven to 10 days to heal. By using the home remedies enlisted in this article, you can hasten the healing process and also get relief from pain. It is best to use a combination of home remedies as this will ensure the best results. Boost your immune system by consuming lots of fresh fruits and veggies. This will help your body fight the infection. If the ulcer is painless, you should consult a doctor as it could be a sign of oral cancer.

Hope this article helped you. Do let us know if we missed out on anything in the comments section below.