Black tea, a chamomile compress, organic honey or propolis extract are good options to heal canker sores faster. However, rinsing your mouth with warm water and salt or chewing a clove, for example, can also help, as these are home remedies that have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, healing and analgesic properties that help relieve pain and accelerate the treatment of canker sores.
Canker sores are small, very painful lesions that usually appear on the tongue or lips and can have different causes, but are usually related to the consumption of very acidic foods. Therefore, the first thing you should do when you have a cold sore is to avoid consuming this type of food, especially acidic fruits.
However, canker sores can also be caused by stress, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, or immune system problems. Therefore, if they are very common, it is advisable to consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist, to identify their cause and carry out the most appropriate treatment. See the main causes of canker sores and how they are treated.
What is good for curing canker sores fast?
The best tips to cure canker sores faster are:
1. Apply black tea
Applying a bag of black tea to the cold sore helps relieve the pain and discomfort caused by the cold sore, as black tea has tannins, a type of astringent substance that eliminates residue and dirt.
To apply black tea correctly, you must prepare the tea by placing 1 black tea bag in a cup of boiling water and letting it rest. When it is warm, the sachet should be applied directly to the cold sore.
Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water helps disinfect the cold sore and speed up its healing, as salt has a powerful bactericidal action that eliminates bacteria from the area. To do this, simply place 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and swish it around for a few minutes, twice a day.
3. Chew a clove
Chewing a clove also helps to heal the cold sore faster and relieve pain in a few minutes because the clove has eugenol in its composition with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, which are able to keep the cold sore clean, promoting healing. , in addition to relieving pain in a few minutes.
See other home remedies that can help treat cold sores.
4. Gargle with milk of magnesia
Gargling milk of magnesia allows you to cover and protect the wound from bacteria and, therefore, also helps to speed up healing. To do this, you must mix 1 spoon of milk of magnesia with 1 glass of water to gargle afterwards.
5. Eat natural yogurt
Eating 1 pot of yogurt with bifids or probiotics helps to improve the intestine and the entire flora of the gastrointestinal system, strengthening the body’s natural defenses, and is also useful for curing canker sores more quickly.
6. Apply apple cider vinegar
Some studies indicate that apple cider vinegar contains antimicrobial properties that may decrease the growth of bacteria. Although some microorganisms can be naturally found in the body, such as Candida albicans, Escherichia coli e Staphylococcus aureus, can proliferate and cause infection. The presence of these microorganisms in the cold sore can interfere with the healing process and worsen symptoms.
Therefore, to apply apple cider vinegar, you must dilute a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in water and gargle. It is important that your teeth are brushed about 30 minutes after gargling with apple cider vinegar, as this can prevent cavities, as this substance is acidic and can cause the enamel to wear down over time. See more about apple cider vinegar.
7. Coconut oil
Coconut oil contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, as well as fatty acids such as lauric acid and capric acid. These fatty acids can interfere with the formation of membranes by bacteria and fungi, in addition to reducing the growth of these microorganisms. Therefore, you can apply coconut oil directly to the cold sore to relieve discomfort and prevent it from getting worse.
8. Propolis extract
Propolis extract is rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids, with healing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties, and can be used to treat, disinfect and cure canker sores. Furthermore, this remedy has a powerful regenerating effect on the skin, helping with tissue recovery.
To use propolis extract, apply 1 or 2 drops to the cold sore or mouth wound, 4 to 5 times a day. Propolis extract should not be used by people who are allergic to propolis, pollen or honey. See other health benefits of propolis.
9. Hydrogen peroxide solution
The hydrogen peroxide solution helps to eliminate the bacteria that cause canker sores, as it has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action, and in this way, helps to reduce the pain, redness and swelling caused by canker sores.
To prepare the hydrogen peroxide solution, add ¼ cup of 10 volumes of hydrogen peroxide to ½ cup of water and mix. Then, soak a cotton pad in the hydrogen peroxide solution and apply directly to the cold sore. It is not necessary to rinse your mouth with water after using the hydrogen peroxide solution, but if you don’t like the taste in your mouth, you can do so.
10. Chamomile compress
Chamomile compress, made from the medicinal plant Matricaria recutitais rich in azulene and levomenol, with anti-inflammatory, healing and antimicrobial properties, which help to relieve pain and discomfort caused by canker sores, aphthous stomatitis or even mucositis.
To make the compress, you must use a chamomile tea bag in 250 mL of boiling water. Wait for it to cool down and apply the tea bag directly to the cold sore for a few minutes. Throw the bag away after application.
Another option is to swish warm chamomile tea and then spit it out, 3 to 4 times a day.
11. Organic honey
Applying a small amount of organic bee honey directly to the cold sore is a good option to heal the cold sore faster, especially when caused by aphthous stomatitis, as honey has antiseptic and moisturizing properties for the mouth mucosa, helping to relieve pain. and the discomfort of canker sores.
Furthermore, honey helps prevent secondary infections in canker sores, due to its more acidic pH and the presence of flavonoids, benzoic acid and cinnamic acid in its composition with antibacterial properties.
Honey also has an enzyme in its composition, glucose oxidase, which when active produces small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, which is the same composition as hydrogen peroxide, with antiseptic and antimicrobial action.
This way, you can apply organic bee honey several times a day whenever you feel discomfort or feel necessary. Honey should not be used by people who are allergic to honey, propolis or pollen.
Does applying baking soda to the cold sore help it heal?
Applying sodium bicarbonate directly to the cold sore causes intense pain and burning in the area and is therefore not recommended. However, baking soda can help heal cold sores faster because it increases the pH of your saliva. To do this, instead of applying it directly to the cold sore, you should dilute 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and swish it around 2 to 3 times a day.
Furthermore, it is important to avoid using mouthwash that contains alcohol as it can also increase pain and further irritate the lining of the mouth. Spicy foods should also not be consumed while you have a cold sore, as should acidic foods and alcoholic beverages.
If the canker sores do not disappear with the help of tips or are frequent, it is important to consult a doctor so that the cause of the frequent canker sores can be identified and, therefore, indicated the most appropriate treatment. Find out the main causes of frequent cold sores and what to do.
