How to Cure Mouth Ulcers (Home Remedies)

Rinse with salt water. Add a teaspoon of sea salt or table salt to a cup of warm water. Stir the solution and gargle several times. Salt water will help disinfect the mouth and relieve pain. After gargling with salt water, take a pinch of salt and sprinkle it directly on the sore. It can be painful, but it’s one of the best ways to heal sores. Do it 4-5 times a day. ^[2]

Dry sores with Milk of magnesia. Pour about 1 teaspoon of Milk of magnesia into a spoon. Dip a clean cotton ball in Milk of Magnesia and dab it on the sore. After applying the solution to the ulcer, open your mouth and let it sit for 5-10 seconds. Magnesium hydroxide will dehydrate the ulcer and help it heal. Do it 7-8 times a day. ^[3]

• Milk of magnesia is available at most drugstores – usually on shelves that sell anti-constipation products.

Use powdered alum to astringent sores. Buy some powdered alum (on the spice or baking ingredients shelf at the grocery store). Pour a small amount (with the eraser at the end of a pencil) onto a spoon. Dip a cotton ball in water, then dip it in alum powder and apply it directly to the ulcer. Leave it like that for 1-2 minutes. You may feel a little burning. Keep a glass of water next to you to rinse your mouth. Alum is often used as an astringent, helping to contract tissues. In addition, alum has a stimulating effect on the immune system, although this effect is not great because mouth ulcers are not caused by viruses. Do it 1-2 times a day. ^[4]

• Alum is used for baking and cooking, so it’s okay if you swallow alum.

Soothe pain with aloe vera gel. Use a cotton ball to apply aloe vera directly to the sores. Leave on for 1-2 minutes. Aloe vera will almost dissolve into saliva. If not, then you can rinse your mouth. Can be done 4-5 times a day.

Dab baking soda on the sores. Mix the paste with about a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of water. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and dab it on the sores. Open your mouth and let the solution soak into the sore for about 5-10 seconds. Baking soda helps ulcers heal and raises the pH in the mouth, reducing the risk of infection. Do it 7-8 times a day. ^[5]

Make tea to gargle. To make sage tea, you can use a teaspoon of sage dissolved in a cup of hot water. Chamomile tea can also be made in the same way, or use 1 tea bag per cup of hot water. When the tea has cooled, stir well and gargle. Sage and chamomile are said to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, reducing the risk of infection and discomfort. ^[6]

• You can also apply chamomile tea bags to sores. The chemical bisabpp in chamomile tea acts as an anti-inflammatory and will help reduce redness and swelling of ulcers. ^[7]

Take deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) lozenges. You can buy DGL lozenges at herbal or health care stores. Place the DGL lozenge on the sore until it dissolves. DGL will help speed up the healing process and shrink the ulcer. DGL is also commonly used to treat peptic ulcers. Do not give lozenges to children due to the risk of choking. In addition, DGL has a distinctive taste, so you should keep a glass of water next to you to rinse your mouth.

Use cayenne pepper cream for pain relief. Mix a teaspoon of cayenne pepper with a few drops of water. Use a cotton swab to dab the mixture on the sores. This may sound scary, but the capsaicin in cayenne pepper stimulates the body’s senses that tell you about pain. So when the pungent taste wears off, your body will no longer notice the sore for about 30 minutes to an hour. ^[8]

Dab coconut oil on the sores. Although it has not been medically proven to cure mouth ulcers, coconut oil does have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. So it won’t hurt to try using coconut oil, but its taste is pleasant! ^[9]