I have suffered from canker sores since I was about 6 years old. And I am not talking about one here or there.. im talking about large ulcers in my mouth that have actually left scars on my tongue, usually 5 and 6 throughout my mouth at a time.... to the point where my eyes teared up to speak. I think they are stress induced for me.. along with when I bite my tongue etc.
I recently came across a patient who was suffering from canker sores and she was having a difficult time eating and talking... I am just trying to think of anything else that could help her along with the regular good oral care, using a straw etc.
I usually just put the baby ambesol on my canker sore.. it kind of numbs it.. for about 30 mins.. and it is amazing.. but again it is such a short amount of time and not really realistic for my patient. Also regular Listerine and Salt Water rinses she found did not work..
We have tried giving her Ibuprofen ... it seems to help a bit... but i think we could do better.
Just wondering what everyone else does for canker sores! :)
I use salt. Plain old table salt. I use a damp Q-tip, dip it in salt then press it on the sore for as long as I can take it. Burns like the dickens but I'm telling you, it speeds healing and helps with the pain. I learned in microbiology that strep will not grow in a salty environment. I researched and found that research shows canker sores may have some form of the strep bacteria in them. I've been using salt since I was a teenager and never understood why it worked. Now I do, even if research is not definitive about it.
A pharmacist told me this one over 30 years ago, and it does work like a charm. Place a never-used, unlit match on the area several times a day. It does sting a bit thought. The sulpher in the match does the trick!! Sounds odd, but it does work.
Hi everyone.. well... i have tried almost everything here. I actually continued to use the chlorhexidine rinse I got after my wisdom teeth were removed... seems to be doing nothing.
I am going to switch to salt water.. Usually, i freeze my sores with oragel (for baby teething pain), and then I will listerine or do whatever so i cant feel the burn. :) I however have stopped using listerine because it has stripped a lot of my enamel off of my teeth (dentist was not too happy about this)...
I am STILL on the search for what makes them come on though. It has been christmas and I have been off school for 7 weeks on a break, so stress is not a factor.. I think it was the sweet tarts I ate :) hehe
Nursetastic
259 Posts
I use salt. Plain old table salt. I use a damp Q-tip, dip it in salt then press it on the sore for as long as I can take it. Burns like the dickens but I'm telling you, it speeds healing and helps with the pain. I learned in microbiology that strep will not grow in a salty environment. I researched and found that research shows canker sores may have some form of the strep bacteria in them. I've been using salt since I was a teenager and never understood why it worked. Now I do, even if research is not definitive about it.