Canker Sores

[LCHIEN]

my wifre taught me to use powdered aspirin on the sore. wet a fingertip and dip it in the powder, then touch the finger to the sore. it burns like heck but then the sore skins over real fast and doesn't hurt. I think they used to sell Stanback powder which is mostly aspirin, that we used. I would assume you could crush an aspirin, too.

[Aimlesssoul]

Zilactin will reduce pain and

promote healing. Besides cutting out citrus, cut out peanut products and chocolate. Drink more milk until it heals. Brushing the crap out of it works but WOW, the pain.

[herb fellows]

Thanks for posting this inquiry, Crockett. For reasons I can't fathom, bananas seem to be one of the biggest irritants for me.
I'll certainly try the salt/alum remedies, I usually suffer for 10 days or more with them myself, thanks for the info.
Hmmmmmm... I wonder if I can get some info on mortise and tenon joints on the AMA website.....

[Norm in Fujino]

The term canker sore is pretty indefinite, SFAIKT. According to this government site:

"Fever blisters and canker sores are two of the most common disorders of the mouth, causing discomfort and annoyance to millions of Americans. Both cause small sores to develop in or around the mouth, and often are confused with each other. Canker sores, however, occur only inside the mouth--on the tongue and the inside linings of the cheeks, lips and throat. Fever blisters, also called cold sores, usually occur outside the mouth--on the lips, chin, cheeks or in the nostrils. When fever blisters do occur inside the mouth, it is usually on the gums or the roof of the mouth. Inside the mouth, fever blisters are smaller than canker sores, heal more quickly, and often begin as a blister.

. . . What causes fever blisters?

Fever blisters are caused by a contagious virus called herpes simplex."

I've had intermittent attacks of canker sores/fever blisters/herpes since I was in my early teens. Back then, the usual treatment was silver nitrate (same as the stiptic pencils we used for shaving back then). That burned the heck out of them--and almost certainly made them worse. Basically, the herpes virus hides in the nerves and is provoked by nervous stimulation. When I was in grad school and under great stress at one point, I had an attack of fever blisters/canker sores/herpes (whatever) that extended over my entire lower lip and almost drove me insane. I couldn't eat except through a straw and most of my lip fell off (it grew back, luckily). Since then, I've discovered that the best way to resist any new canker sore/fever blister/herpes is to avoid stimulating it at all. That means, obviously, no silver nitrate , and avoiding any touching or scratching it, licking it, etc. That passive treatment has been amazing for me, since I've never since had any full-blown attack again.
From my point of view, dousing it with anything--silver nitrate, absorbine jr., or even aspirin--is the wrong approach. Just be calm, relax, and avoid touching the spot at all. Obviously what works for me may not work for others, but I'm just speaking from personal (and painful) experience.

[williwatt]

crokett,

about 20 years ago, my ex in laws (another story) told me they used Powdered alum for canker sore relief. I never heard of it, but they swore they used it for decades and i got a sore a few days prior to thanksgiving and didn't want to miss out.


Anyway now when i ever i get a sore, i wet my finger and drop some alum on it and put it right on the sore. it burns a little and taste like crap, but the sore usually flattens out and starts "drying" up. I do it about three times for the first day and normally by the second its pretty much gone. I let it sit the sore as long as possible, usually right up to the point of drool coming out of my mouth. Then I spit and rinse.

I hate the taste and feel so much that sometimes I have suffered an extra day, but eventually give in and do it and feel much better.

I habe had about a dozen other people use it in the past and they all swear it works, and now keep the alum in the medicine cabinet.

I don't know why it works, but if you Google powdered alum and canker sore you will get lots of results from natural remedy sites.

It is sold it the spice/canning section of the grocery store and goes a long way. I think it is used for canning pickles, so unless you can, I can tell you a bottle will last for years.

PS: I am not normally one for "earth muffin cures" and this is only home cure thing i have used, just didn't to think that i was an extremist for anything other than tool collecting!

Jesse

I have kept a jar of alum in the bathroom for years to use on razor cuts since it stops bleeding really well. The old styptic pencils contained alum.

[cgallery]

I have kept a jar of alum in the bathroom for years to use on razor cuts since it stops bleeding really well. The old styptic pencils contained alum.

Huh, I learn something new every day.

[Bill Stock]

If it's Herpes (doesn't sound like), Lysine is supposed to help as a preventative and 'cure' in larger doses.

[crokett]

Not herpes. Definitely a canker sore. Got some alum tonight, trying that and will see what happens.

[MilDoc]

First, let's get terminology straight.

"Fever blisters" are Herpes Simplex virus, which can live in your nerve roots forever and recur. 50% of folks with a 1st infection will have recurrences. IF you have a warning sign (like tingling sensation), or IF you take Rx medication (Valtrex) within 24 hours or so, you can shorten the attack. BUT you will be contagious.

"Canker Sores" = "apthous ulcers." They are NOT contagious as far as we know. There are many "theories" why folks get these, but no real answers. Canker sores may run in families, but they aren't contagious (??). Mouth injuries, stress, poor nutrition, food allergies and menstrual periods are some of the things that "may" increase your chances of getting a canker sore.

Cold Sores = Herpes Simplex, RX = prescription Valtrex as soon as possible.

Canker sores = ????. Home remedies as above may work. OK. But what I have found to be most successful is LIQUID prenisolone ((Prelone, by prescription). Dab a small amount with your finger where the sore is every 2-3 hours, and it does indeed clear faster.

Since you use a small amount, the small bottle will last longer than its expiration date.

DO NOT use Prelone on "cold sores" = Herpes. Herpes LOVES Prelone and may well get worse.

[Rand]

I have a 2 step approach.

1. Wet the end of a q-tip and put alum on it. Apply that to the sore for about a minute and rinse.

2. Use a product called cankaid which has an anaesthetic that coats the sore.

If I catch the sore early it will heal up in a few days from this treatment. If I don't do anything it takes 7-10 days.