I was going through a rough period not so long ago where I would get mouth ulcer after mouth ulcer, sometimes having three at once! Which made eating (something I enjoy very much 😉 ) extremely painful. When one would heal, another would pop up in its’ place, it was a nightmare!

I went to see my naturopath about it, and she recommended boosting my vitamin A levels, as being severely depleted in vitamin A can result in mouth ulcers that won’t heal. If you’re deficient in iron or B vitamins mouth ulcers (or canker sores) can be a consequence of that, too.

Eggs can be a great way to naturally boost vitamin A, B vitamins, and iron! Also supplementing with a quality vitamin A supplement, and B vitamin and iron supplement, may help, too (but definitely talk to a medical professional before self-diagnosing or incorporating any new dietary supplement into your routine).

However, if you want something to help naturally speed up the healing process of mouth ulcers while you’re rebalancing your nutrient levels in your body, the following home remedy can be very helpful.

Again, this was recommended by my naturopath, and proved to be very helpful (although albeit, slightly painful too). It’s a salt water rinse that you swirl around in your mouth to help kill bacteria and viruses that may flare up canker sores.

Here’s how to make it.

Salt water rinse

This is a great home remedy for drying out mouth ulcers, in turn, helping to speed up the process of healing.

To make:

• Dissolve 1 tsp of sea salt in 1/2 cup of warm water (I use filtered water that I’ve slightly warmed up).
• Swirl this solution in your mouth for 15-30 seconds (or for 1-2 minutes if you can), then spit it out.
• Repeat every few hours as needed.

Another few home remedies you can use to help soothe and assist in speeding up the healing process of mouth ulcers include:

Honey

Honey is well-known for its fantastic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and may help to reduce mouth ulcer pain, size, and redness, as well as prevent a secondary infection.

To use:

• Apply honey to the affected area 4 times daily.

Note: keep in mind not all honey is created equal, and more often than not, honey found at your big supermarket store tends to be pasteurised at high heat, which destroys most nutrients. Always opt for unpasteurised, unfiltered honey, like Manuka honey, or local honey from local bee farmers, which is less processed and retains the wonderful healing properties naturally found in honey.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil contains antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help prevent mouth ulcers from spreading, as well as reduce redness and pain.

To use:

• Apply oil generously to affected area.
• Reapply several times per day until your mouth ulcer has gone

Chamomile compress

I’ve talked about the wonderful benefits of using herbs for things like poultices and tinctures, and a chamomile compress is no different. Chamomile has been used by many as a great natural remedy for healing wounds and easing pain.

Azulene and levomenol are two compounds naturally found in German chamomile which contain anti-inflammatory and antiseptic abilities (perfect for healing mouth ulcers!).

To use:

• Apply a wet chamomile tea bag to your mouth ulcer, and leave it on for a few minutes. You can also rinse your mouth with freshly brewed chamomile tea.
• Repeat treatment 3-4 times daily.

Echinacea

I’ve talked about echinacea’s amazing wound-healing, immune-boosting abilities in the past when sharing how I naturally healed my skin infection without antibiotics! It can be helpful in speeding up the healing process and may prevent mouth ulcers from forming again in future.

To use:

• Add about 1 tsp of liquid echinacea to equal parts warm water (I used filtered water that I’d heated up slightly).
• Swish the solution around your mouth for about 2 minutes.
• Spit out when finished. Alternatively, rinsing your mouth with echinacea tea may also be helpful. Repeat either treatment up to 3 times daily.

Sage mouthwash

Sage is a great herb to use for reducing inflammation. It contains antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and astringent properties, and may also help to relieve pain.

To make:

• Add boiling water to 1-2 tbsp of fresh sage leaves.
• Steep for at least 5 minutes.
• Strain and let the solution cool, then swish the rinse around your mouth for a couple minutes.
• Spit out the rinse when finished.

These home remedies may prove to be helpful in relieving pain and speeding up wound-healing of mouth ulcers. Always use with caution, and if reacting to any of the remedies negatively, discontinue use immediately. Also, they’re no magic bullet. So if symptoms of mouth ulcers persist, see a medical professional.

Do you have any recommendations on natural remedies to try for mouth ulcers? Share below! We’d love to hear them!

Lots of love,

🖤 Vanessa

Sources:

McDermott, Annette. (Updated: March 7, 2019). 16 Ways to Get Rid of Canker Sores. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/how-to-get-rid-of-canker-sores

Petre, Alina, MS, RD (NL). (November 4, 2019). 8 Common Signs You’re Deficient in Vitamins. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-deficiency#:~:text=Mouth%20ulcers%20or%20cracks%20in,in%20iron%20or%20B%20vitamins.