If you’ve ever had a canker sore, you know how painful and annoying they can be. Doctors aren’t exactly sure what causes them, but believe stress, poor nutrition, food allergies, hormones, and genetics all play a part. On the plus side: a) they’re not contagious, b) as we get older, we’re less prone to getting them. Check out a few tips below to help deal with canker sores.
Remember: if you tend to get canker sores more than three times per year and/or if they’re exceedingly large and painful or if you experience other signs of illness, be sure to see your doctor. It should also be noted that canker sores are not the same thing as fever blisters / cold sores, which occur on the outside of the mouth.
- take an over-the-counter pain medicine (e.g. ibuprofen)
- swish salt water on the canker sore
- try swishing a mixture of 2 tablespoons of Maalox + 1/2 tablespoon of liquid Benadryl
- apply an over-the-counter pain ointment with benzocaine (e.g. Anbesol)
Technorati tags: canker sore, home remedies, health
Photo credit: Steve Woods, stock.xchng
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