How to Soothe a Mouth Sore

Sores in or around your mouth can stem from a variety of causes. They can include cold sores, canker sores and lesions caused by injury; for example, from biting your cheek or burning your mouth with hot food. Cold sores begin as inflamed blisters around the mouth area. Canker sores appear as pale or yellow ulcers with red borders inside the mouth. Mouth sores can be associated with viruses, a weakened immune system, hormone changes, stress or vitamin B12 deficiency. Though painful, most mouth sores present few health risks and heal on their own. Try these steps to ease discomfort from mouth sores. But use common sense. If sores persist, consult a physician.

Things You'll Need

• Popsicles or ice cubes
• Salt water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup warm water
• Milk of magnesia
• Over-the-counter pain relievers

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Instructions

General Mouth Sore Care

• 1

  Avoid consuming foods and beverages that might irritate your sore. These include hot, spicy, salty or citrus foods and beverages.

• 2

  Gargle regularly with cool water or eat popsicles, especially if your sore is the result of a burn. Alternatively, chew on an ice cube and allow the ice to slowly dissolve over the sore.

• 3

  Take over-the-counter oral pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

Cold Sores

• 4

  Apply a topical pain reliever such as lidocaine (Lidamantle, Xylocaine) to the affected area.

• 5

  Massage an over-the-counter cold sore product into the affected area at the first sign of a cold sore. The analgesic action of these products may provide some relief. Brands include Blistex and Campho-Phenique.

• 6

  Take a prescription anti-viral medication to help reduce pain, promote healing and reduce the frequency of cold sores. Preparations include Acyclovir (Zovirax), Famciclovir (Famvir) and Valacyclovir (Valtrex).

Canker Sores

• 7

  Rinse your mouth with salt water. Salt helps to remove bacteria that could further inflame a canker sore.

• 8

  Apply a solution of one teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm water to the sore.

• 9

  Dab a small amount of milk of magnesia on your canker sore three to four times a day.

• 10

  Apply an over-the-counter oral product that contains a numbing agent. Brands include Anbesol and Orajel.

• 11

  Apply a topical product containing anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as amlexanox (Aphthasol) and fluocinonide (Lidex, Vanos), as soon as a canker sore appears.

• 12

  Use a prescription mouth rinse containing the steroid dexamethasone to reduce pain and inflammation.