i am 27 weeks pregnant and I got a canker sore 2 weeks ago on the very tip of my tongue and it itched and hurt for about a week and it now seems to heal but there's still some redness and inflamation into the area especially when the tongue rubs against the front teeth or when I eat or drink something acidic, although I avoid these as much as can. I've seen the dentist yesterday and he said it may take another week or two for the sore to completely heal as these on the tongue takes a longer time to heal due to the proximity to the teeth and he advised me to use the Crest mouth wash. My canker sores usually take 2 weeks to heal but this seems to take a little bit longer which makes me more anxious. Any insights on this or remedies that may heal the sore faster are highly appreciated.
My family physician checked the sore as well and she said it was healing, just wait for another week or two, as it may take some time, but the sore is closed and it's only a matter to completely heal. She said that canker sores can take more than 2 weeks to completely heal, depeneding on where they are located as well as other factors. Mine started to heal 1 week after it had come out but because I have been down with a cold virus and drank lots of hot lemon honey water to relieve my sore throat and the cold itself, it hasn't healed completely in 2-3 weeks. So, I'll hang in there!
Mix equal parts liquid Benadryl and Maalox and dab it onto the sore. The Benadryl calms down the inflammation and the Maalox helps with the irritated feeling.
Lysine always works great for me (in capsule form) but since you're pregnant you should definitely check with your doctor first.
rinse with warm salt water - It really will help
I also have one now. In the past I've gotten them often but it's been over a year this time. Some say the L-lysine prevents them and will help them to heal. I take it in dropper form in water but you can also get pills.
There is a mouth wash, a powder to mix with warm water, to swish in your mouth. I can't remember the name of it but I find it in the dental care section of the store. You've reminded me to get some. I think using it has helped.
It's a virus and the Lysine aids with immunity.
Later: I'd forgotten about rinsing with a saline solution. I did that last night and this morning and the soreness has noticeable decreased.
Use hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water and use it as a mouth rinse. You can also dab some straight hydrogen peroxide on to the spot using a Q-tip. Of course you don't want to swallow it. You may need to do it for a few days.
Added bonus, it whitens your teeth too :)
Things like Listerine actually makes mine worse.
I know this sounds weird, but try dipping it (or swishing) in sauerkraut juice. It stings but heals them quickly. The Maalox/benadryl mixture works too!
I have found rinsing with hydrogen peroxide to be very effective in treating mouth sores - canker, scrapes from braces, etc. Can't tell you why it works, but it relieves the pain and helps the healing process. Swish and spit. Do not swallow, of course. It creates quite a lot of bubbles in your mouth, so you may want to rinse with a mouthful of cool water after you do the hydrogen peroxide. When treating a mouth sore, I usually use this treatment several times a day to stay comfortable and speed the healing process. Best of luck to you.
I've tried the salt water trick with no success. The suggestion Bmama had was actually recommended to me by my daughter's pediatrician when she came down with them and it works everytime.
L-Lysine works every time - pretty much gone in 24-36 hours. My entire family uses it - 12-44 yrs. old. I'm not sure if it is safe to take when pregnant though - if you want to try it, check with your doctor.
Sounds strange but growing up my mother always put wet tea bags on our canker sores and they healed very quickly. Plus it reduces the swelling and calms the pain. I still use this remedy as an adult. Use black tea bags. They can be spent tea bags but they need to be damp. It tastes terrible and it's hard to sit with a tea bag in your mouth and not end up swallowing some (although it is perfectly safe to do so, just bitter). I have no idea why it works, but it does.
As someone else said -- warm salt water. Repeat as many times a day as you like because it's harmless. Too much hydrogen peroxide isn't great for the enamel on your teeth, so if you dab it on the sore, I wouldn't splash it around too much. Salt water really will help. Also - you're avoiding acidic stuff -- remember that coffee, tea and soda (even decafs) are all acidic too.
Rinse with hydrogen peroxide twice a day. Use equal parts of water and hydrogen peroxide. This has really helped anytime I have a canker sore or have bit my tongue, etc.
