Health Nugget: Simple ways of treating mouth sores.

Canker sores, also known as mouth ulcers, or aphthous stomatitis, can form on the gums, inner cheeks and lips (anywhere inside of the mouth). Canker sores, while annoying, are common, and usually heal in a week or two. They are not to be confused with cold sores, which form on the outside of the mouth. Here are a few suggestions to help deal with them:

1. Mix a few pinches of salt in a glass of warm water. Swish around inside your mouth and spit out, repeating two or three times a day.
2. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution:
• Pour a little bit of it into a plastic soda cap and dilute with an equal amount of water.
• Dip the Q-tip into the peroxide solution and dab it only on the canker sore.
• Turn the Q-tip around and repeat.
• Empty the cap and rinse it with water.
• Take care not to swallow any of the hydrogen peroxide if possible.
• Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic that will reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth and help the canker sore heal.
3. Use milk of magnesia:Dab it on active spots a few times a day. The antacid effect of milk of magnesia neutralizes the acidic environment, changing the pH, and making it less supportive of the bacteria in the mouth that aggravate the canker sore
4. Use an antihistamine/antacid mix: Combine one part diphenhydramine (sold as Benadryl) with 1 part antacid, such as Maalox or Kaopectate. Swish around your mouth and spit out.
5. Use OTC mouthwash:Regular old mouthwash does work, although there are different OTC mouthwash solutions that are specifically targeted to help treat canker sores.

source:BMP