How to Get Rid of a Canker Sore Fast

Canker sores are mouth (or aphthous) ulcers, usually caused by tissue damage--such as when you bite the inside of your cheek--or emotional stress. They can be painful, making it difficult for you to eat or drink. Although they heal fast on their own (within a couple of weeks), you can help to quicken the healing process if you take necessary steps to keep your mouth clean, avoid aggravating the site and consult your personal physician.

Things You'll Need

• Mouth rinse
• Nutritional supplements

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Instructions

• 1

  Use a mouth rinse to reduce pain and keep your mouth clean, which can help you heal faster. If your canker sore problem is serious enough, you can get a prescription-strength mouth rinse from your doctor; with this option, you should use the rinse as per your doctor's directions. Otherwise, you can use salt water or a mixture of milk of magnesia and Benadryl Allergy liquid; gargle with either of these home remedies for roughly a minute, and then spit it out.

• 2

  Choose bland foods when you eat--spicy or acidic foods can irritate the canker sore. Also, try to eat foods that are softer because abrasive foods might scratch at the sore. In general, you want to avoid doing anything that is going to disrupt the healing process, because that slows your recovery time.

• 3

  Take nutritional supplements; your body heals faster when it has all the nutrients it needs to recover. With this step, you should talk to your doctor to see what nutrients you may be missing. According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors generally prescribe nutritional supplements for canker sores if you are lacking in folic acid, zinc and vitamins B-6 and B-12.

• 4

  Avoid worrying about the canker sore. Emotional stress makes it more difficult for your body to recover, and you will heal faster if you avoid fixating on the sore. Also, emotional stress often causes canker sores, so if you worry too much, you may end up replacing the one you're trying to heal with a new one.