Canker Sore Help

Canker sores are stinging, shallow white or yellowish wounds with a red border that appear inside your mouth--seemingly at random. Though the exact causes of canker sores are unknown, the Nemours Foundation suggests they may be associated with stress, vitamin deficiencies, and even genetics. If you have a canker sore, you can get help for the pain relief in a variety of ways.

Medications

• Over-the-counter products exist that can help ease the pain of cold sores. Some products contain elements that may sting at first, but in general, they help numb the cold sore pain when applied throughout the day.

Rinse Your Mouth

• Make a homemade mouthwash with half water and half hydrogen peroxide to flush out your mouth and help with the pain. Rinse your mouth with this, but do not swallow it. You can also just apply hydrogen peroxide and milk of magnesia directly to the canker sore to relieve the pain. Or a better-tasting pain-relief option is using a black tea bag as a compress.

Watch What You Eat

• Certain foods and drinks will irritate your canker sore more than others, so you need to watch what you eat while you have the sore. Avoid overly salty or sharp foods, such as potato chips, which can poke and irritate your canker sore. Citrus fruits and tomato products can also cause pain and irritation due to their high acid levels.

Be Careful in the Area

• Brush your teeth carefully while you have a canker sore to avoid aggravating it and causing more pain.