Mouth ulcers are open sores that appear on the inside of the lips, cheeks, or other parts of the mouth. They may result from trauma caused by excessively vigorous tooth brushing, chewing on foods with hard edges (nuts, pretzels, etc.), eating hot foods, wearing ill fitting dentures, or lip biting. They can also be triggered by allergies to certain foods and food preservatives. According to recent research, some mouth ulcers may be caused by a component present in commercial tooth paste, which is called sodium lauryl sulfite (SLS). It is believed that SLS, which is used as tooth paste cleaner ingredient, may dry out the lining of the mouth and gums, thus makes it easier for highly acidic foods to attack them and promote tissue erosion. Mouth ulcers generally last for anywhere between 10 and 14 days.
To reduce the feeling of pain and discomfort when the ulcers are already there, try to stay away from hot, spicy, or acidic foods. Avoid anything that can irritate the inside lining of your mouth even further.
To get rid of mouth ulcers caused by SLS, switch to natural toothpaste that does not contain this substance. You could also make your own very simple tooth paste by mixing equal parts of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Add tea tree oil to the mixture for its flavor and antiseptic qualities.
To treat fungal infections in your mouth rub your tongue with a slice of ginger root, or just chew on a piece of ginger. Myrrh can be used to fight infections too. Add tincture of myrrh to a cup of water and use it as a rinse daily.
To cut back on the stinging sensation apply vitamin E oil directly to the ulcers.
To fight infection caused by mouth ulcers it is beneficial to use a mouth rinse of 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract in a cup of water. Another good method is to apply colloidal silver. You can also try to rub a little aloe vera juice directly into the affected area. Tea tree oil has excellent antibacterial qualities too.
It is reported that coconut oil can be effectively used to treat mouth ulcers. Apply a little bit of coconut oil directly on the ulcer located inside the mouth and let the oil coat the affected area. Keep it there for several minutes. Several applications of coconut oil will help alleviate the pain and speed up the healing process.
Another coconut product, coconut milk, is said to help when used with honey to massage the inside of the mouth.
Rinsing your mouth with either some turmeric mixed in water, or licorice root tea will also accelerate the healing process.