Other names for Canker Sores

Aphthous ulcers
Oral ulcers
Recurrent aphthous stomatitis
Mouth ulcers
Mucosal ulcers

Synopsis of Canker Sores

Canker sores, medically known as aphthous ulcers, are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues inside the mouth, including the cheeks, lips, tongue, or gums. They are non-contagious and typically painful, especially when eating or talking. Canker sores usually heal on their own within 7–14 days, but frequent or severe cases may signal underlying health issues like nutritional deficiencies, stress, or autoimmune conditions.

The exact cause is often unknown, though factors like trauma, hormonal changes, stress, or immune responses can trigger outbreaks. They are distinct from cold sores, which are caused by the herpes virus and appear outside the mouth.

Types:

• Minor aphthous ulcers: Small, oval, and heal without scarring (most common).

• Major aphthous ulcers: Larger, deeper, may take weeks to heal and can scar.

• Herpetiform ulcers: Multiple small ulcers that may merge, resembling herpes sores but not caused by the herpes virus.

Common Causes (Risk Factors):

• Oral trauma: Biting the inside of the mouth, dental work, braces.

• Stress: Emotional stress weakens immune function, triggering outbreaks.

• Nutrient deficiencies: Low B12, iron, folate, or zinc.

• Hormonal fluctuations: Menstrual cycle changes may trigger sores.

• Food sensitivities: Acidic or spicy foods, gluten intolerance.

• Immune dysregulation: Autoimmune conditions like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis.

• Allergies: Reaction to toothpaste ingredients (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate).

More Severe Causes (Complications):

• Severe pain or difficulty eating.

• Secondary bacterial infections in the ulcer.

• Frequent recurrences: May indicate underlying nutritional deficiencies or autoimmune issues.

• Scarring: In major ulcers.

• Fatigue or weight loss: In cases associated with systemic conditions.

When to See a Doctor or Specialist (Dentist, Immunologist):

• Ulcers lasting more than three weeks.

• Severe pain interfering with eating or speaking.

• Frequent recurrences (several episodes per year).

• Large ulcers or spreading sores.

• Associated systemic symptoms like fever, diarrhea, or rash.

Natural remedies for Canker Sores

Saltwater Rinse: Promotes healing and reduces bacterial load. Mix 1 teaspoon salt in warm water and rinse several times daily.

Baking Soda Rinse: Neutralizes acidity and soothes mucosal tissue. Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda in warm water and rinse.

Aloe Vera Gel (Topical): Soothes irritated tissue and supports healing. Apply pure gel directly to the sore.

Honey (Topical): Antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. Apply a thin layer to the ulcer several times daily.

Zinc Lozenges or Supplements: Supports immune function and tissue repair. Supplement under guidance.

Vitamin B Complex (B12, Folate): Corrects deficiencies that may trigger outbreaks. Supplement if deficient.

Probiotics: Support oral and gut microbiota, reduce recurrence of ulcers. Include fermented foods or supplements.

Licorice Root (DGL Form, Topical): Anti-inflammatory, helps heal mucosal tissue. Apply DGL extract directly to sores.

Chamomile Tea Rinse: Anti-inflammatory, soothes oral tissue and reduces pain. Use cooled tea as a mouth rinse.

Avoid Trigger Foods (Acidic, Spicy): Reduces irritation and allows faster healing. Identify personal triggers.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Canker Sores

Aloe vera
bamboo
basil
myrobalan
beta-pinene
betel
bisabolol
black pepper
blackberry
bасора
chamomile
citrus oil
clove
coating
coconut milk
Coptis chinensis
cowage seed
curcumin
d-sorbitol
dog rose
folate
ginger
horseradish
L-cystine
lactobacillus reuteri
lactobacillus salivarius
lactoperoxidase
lauric acid
lemon
licorice root
magnesium
mastic gum
milk
mustard seed
natural flavor
spruce
omega-3 fatty acids
oregano
oregon grape
pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
papain
parsley
pear
Peppermint
pineapple
plantain
purified silver
rhizome
sage
schizonepeta
scrophularia root
selenium
slippery elm bark
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
triphala
vitamin B12
vitamin C
zinc
yellow root
squawvine
chickweed
typhonium
xanthium (cockleburs)
papaya
mugwort
neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
clerodendrum indicum
ferula assafoetida
commiphora
blackboard tree
boxthorne
buckthorn
lemongrass
myrrh
siler root
fern
hyacinth bean
morinda
oriental arborvitae
trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
sheep's sorrel
eucalyptus
menthol oil
aster root
paw paw
herbal blend (proprietary)
indigo leaves
enzymes blend (proprietary)
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Ash
Angelica archanglica
Avens
Asoka
Animal Tissue
Asafetida
Aloe Polysaccharide
Aerva Lanta
Alpinia
African Ginger
Agastache
American Basil
Arisaema erubescens
Artemisia Herba-Alba
Aldimine
Alpha-Humulene
Anthraquinone
Aloe Polysaccharide
Aga
Amylase
Ardisia
Acacia
Agrimony
Achyranthes
Anamu
Arisaema amurense
Asoka Tree
Artemisia
Alkaloid (unspecified)
Andrographolide
Aloe vera
Arisaema cum bile
Albizia (unspecified)
Allium (unspecified)
Alpinia (unspecified)
American Liverleaf
Apricot
Abutua
Alkaloids
African Basil
Agrimonia pilosa
Asteracea
Aloe
Alpha-pinene
Acemannan
Allyl isothiocyanate
Avian (unspecified)
Asian Plantain
Ant
Aloe macroclada
Amor seco
Arani
Arisaema
Artemisia (unspecified)
Ash (unspecified)
Assam Indigo
Aster (unspecified)
Atlantic Cedar
Bee Propolis
Barberry
Bentonite
Belleric myrobalan
Bermuda Grass
Blue Flag
Bengal Fig
Bergenia Pacumbis
Bai Ji
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
Blackthorn
Bicarbonate
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Bayleaf
Betel
Black galingale
Barleria
Billygoat plum
Bitter Grass
Blackboard tree
Bisabolene
Bisabolol
Butter
Bee hive
Bloodroot
Buckhorn Plantain
Birch (unspecified)
Borate
Basil
Blue Wiss
Bacillus (mixed)
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Balsam (unspecified)
Banyan
Bur-Reed
Bicarbonate (mixed)
Benzoin siam
Bee products
Bacillus (unspecified)
Black Nightshade
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
Blend (combination)
Bacteria
Birch
Bovine (not specified)
Black Pepper and White Pepper
Black Pepper
Black Mustard
Bassia scoparia
Black Hellebore
Balsam pear
Borneol
Blend (combination)
Centaury
Coconut
Curcuma wenyujin
Cellulose Gel
Curry leaf
Calendula
Copaiba balsam
Cinnamomum loureirii
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Colloidal Silver
Chlorophyllin
Cinnamic aldehyde
Chickweed
Colloid
Carvacrol
Calcium Ascorbate
Citrus (unspecified)
Common Plantain
Capillary Artemisia
Chinese mugwort
Citron
Carry Me Seed
Capsaicin
Chinese Mallow
Colotsrum
Cajuput
California Goldenrod
Chinese Raisintree
Chokecherry
Commiphora (unspecified)
Cowherb
Curcuma amada
Clivers
cloves
Coating
Cyperus rotundus
Capsaicinoids
Citral
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Cinnamaldehydes
Cassia fistula
Cayenne
Centipeda
Chinese peony
Chinese Sumac
Cistus
Common madia
Corktree
Capsaicinoid
Chamomile (not specified)
Clove
Camphor
Chinese Licorice
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Clostridium butyricum
Cynanchum otophyllum
Chamomile
China Rose
Citrus (mixed)
Commiphora wightii
Cynanchum (unspecified)
Canaigre tanates
Cinnamaldehyde
Ceylon Ginger
Catkin
Chamomile (unspecified)
Citrus oil
Collinsonia
Canadian Goldenrod
Copaiba Oil
Celosia
California rose
Chenopodium album
Color
Conehead Thyme
Caratuberside
Chrysophanics
Calcium sulfide
Duodenum
Dye Indigo
Dianthus
Dihydrocapsaicin
DIVI-DIVI
Diatomaceous Earth
Dog Rose
Duodenal Substance
Diatomite
Dendroxine
Dragonhead
Dianthrone
Dwarf lilyturf
David's Milkberry
European Elder
Echinacea (unspecified)
Enzyme (unspecified)
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Empresstree
Evodia
Embelia ribes
Eclipta
English Oak
Echinacea angustifolia
Epidermal Growth Factor
Enzyme Blend
European Barberry
English Plantain
Essential oil (unspecified)
Essential Oil Blend
Echinacea (mixed)
Euphorbia
esters
European-Five Finger Grass
Ethanol
European White Birch
Embelia
European Golden Rod
Esein
esters (unspecified)
Eugenol
Flavor
Fruit
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fuchsia
Fomes fomentarius
Fragrant Angelica
Fang-Feng
Flowering quince
Fern
Ficus simplicissima
Finger Leaf Morning Glory
Fruit (unspecified)
Fruit acid (mixed)
Five-Leaf Cassia
Flavor
Fruit acid (unspecified)
Frankincense
Flavor/Color (Natural & Artificial)
Goldenrod (unspecified)
Ground Ivy
Gnaphalium
Glycolic acid
gamma-terpinene
Guava
German Chamomile
Goldthread (unspecified)
Glycyrrhiza (unspecified)
Glycoside (unspecified)
Greater Celandine
Gum (unspecified)
Greater galangal
Galium
Giant Blazingstar
Glechoma hederacea
Goldenrod (mixed)
Gallotannin
Gardenia
Galangal
Great Plantain
Galanga
Golden Willow
Guazuma ulmifolia
Ginger
Ginger phenols (unspecified)
Glycerite
Glycoprotein (unspecified)
hydrastine
Hedychium Spicatum
Honeysuckle
Hedyotis (unspecified)
Honey
Honeysuckle (unspecified)
Heal-All
Honey
Holarrhena (unspecified)
Hoenelen
Herbal Blend
Helicteres isora
Henna
Hemp Agrimony
Herb Robert
Himalaya Berry
Hairy Fig
Horsemint
Huang Hua
Indian Madder
Indian Nightshade
Indian Mustard
Iridoid glycosides
Isoquinoline alkaloids
Indian Coraltree
Indian Redwood
Long Pepper
Iris
Indian Kinotree
Indian mallow
Indian Chrysanthemum
Indian Fagonia
Japanese Horseradish
Japanese Mint
Juniper
Jungli-bean
Kurtha zopfil
lemongrass
Lime
Lebbek
Ledebouriella
Lesser speargrass
Litsea
Lichen
Licorice (various)
Lactoperoxidase
Luffa
Lesser Galangal
Lodhtree
Luo San
lac resin
Lingustilides
Lemon
Lysozyme
Lavandula (unspecified)
Labrador Tea
Little ironweed
Lymph
Lysimachia
Lewis's monkey flower
Mountain Pepper
Mustard
Mineral ascorbate
Myrcene
Marjoram
Mallow
Menthol
Melia
Monoterpenes
Morinda (unspecified)
Milk
Marshmallow
Malva sylvestris
Matico
Mountain pepper (unspecified)
Myrrh
Matapalo Tree
Momordica
Morning Glory
Mugwort
Marigold
milk
Manzanita
Microcos
Macaranga indica
Northern Prickly Ash
Nucno Pichana
Nardostachys
Neem
Naphthoquinones
Neral
Natural flavor(s)
Nutmeg & Mace
Nutmeg
Nimbidin
Oak
oregano
Oregon Barberry
Osha
Orris
Orange essential oil
Onosma bracteatum
Oxystelma
Origanum (unspecified)
Propolis
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
Phyllanthus
Plantain (unspecified)
Premna
Palmyra
Polymorpha
Phenylpropanoids
Peppermint essence
Pagoda Tree
Plantago
Pentacyclic alkaloids
Pluchea
Prunus
Phenolics (unspecified)
Peptidohydrolase
Papaya
Pepper
Paris polyphylla
Peucedanum
Pansit-pansitan
Pyrrosia
Pentatropis capensis
Provence Rose
portulaca
Piper nigrum
Prickly Ash (Unspecified)
Pineapple
Prickly ash (mixed)
Patrinia
Poppy
Physalis angulata
Plantain
Plantain (unspecifed)
Papayotin
Phenolic (unspecified)
Plantago (unspecified)
Peony (unspecified)
Petiveria
Prickly Ash Bark
Plantain (common or English)
Plectranthus amboinicus
Phodymprhenia pertusa
Qunice
Quassia
Quisqualis
Quillaja
Rue
Red-Rooted Sage
Rubus
Rugose Rose
Rosabin
Red root (unspecified)
Rice
Resin
Rose
Rhus coriaria
Reed Herb
Ricinoleic acid
Sophora flavescens
Schizonepeta
Southern Prickly Ash
Spilanthes
Sichuan Lovage
Sicklepod
Sinapis arvensis
Sichuan Fritillary
Sophora
Sesbania
Spanish Needle
Savory (unspecified)
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Sesquiterpenes
Serralysin
Sphaerotrichia
Sweet Annie
Squawvine
Salvia
Snakeroot
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
Southern Tsangshu
Solanum indicum
Sanguisorba
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Sagebrush (unspecified)
Spanish Oregano
Sage-leaf alangium
Sweet Marjoram
Sicilian Sumac
Slippery Elm
sage oil
Sagebrush
Spantholobus
Scordinin
Sesquiterpene
Sweet Violet
Sphaeranthus indicus
Sodium Ascorbate
Silk Tree
Sandalwood
Spanish Thyme
Scabrous Gentian
Sage
Summer Savory
Stereospermum
Shiny-Leaf Prickly Ash
Sumac
Silver
Sulfur
Sweet Bay
Scurfy Pea
Sedanenolide
Sulfur compounds (unspecified)
Sulphur
Sweet Orange alcohol
Thyme
Terpenoids
Tannin (unspecified)
Tea (unspecified)
Terpene
Tyrosinase
Thymus
Tree Turmeric
Thymus
Tamaricaceae
Tamarix (unspecified)
Thiosulfanate
Thymol
Tayuya
Takuna
Thatch screw-pine
Terpenoid (unspecified)
Thymus
Tansy
Tannates
Terpene (unspecified)
Tagetes
Tamarind
Thymus satureioides
Thiosulfinate
Thuja plicata
Teri Pod
Thymus
Vitamin B5
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine phosphate)
Vitamin C (Ascorbate)
Vitamin A (retinol acetate)
Vitamin A (vitamin A cetate)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal)
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate)
Vitamin A (retinyl not specified)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxamine)
Vitamin C (calcium ascorbate)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Vitex negundo
Vitamin C (not specified)
Varuna
Vitamin C (unspecified)
Vitamin C (mixed)
Vitamin A
Vitamin A (vitamin A acetate)
Vitamin C (mixed ascorbates)
Vietnamese sophora
Vitamin A (retinyl acetate)
Violet
Vitamin B6 (not specified)
Vitamin A (unspecified)
Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate)
Vitamin C
Violet (unspecified)
Viola
Water Plantain
White thyme
White Rice
White Peony
Wormwood
Worm
Water Pepper
White Nettle
Wild Bergamot
White Mustard
Wood Betony
Wild Mint
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yellow Ginger
Zingiberene
Zinc osporotate
Zinc Yeast
Zinc
Zinc