Canker sores usually go away on their own, but why live in pain if you don’t have to? There are ways to get rid of canker sores, or at least help your mouth feel better.

How to get rid of canker sores

While not every canker sore treatment is completely backed by science, here are some possible home remedies for canker sores:

  1. Baking soda
  2. Salt water
  3. Hydrogen peroxide
  4. Alum powder
  5. Yogurt
  6. Honey
  7. Coconut oil
  8. Milk of magnesia
  9. Chamomile
  10. Echinacea
  11. Sage
  12. DGL
  13. Apple cider vinegar
  14. Zinc lozenges
  15. Vitamin B12
  16. Aloe vera
  17. Ice
  18. Over-the-counter (OTC) topical gel
  19. OTC mouth rinse
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Canker sores (aka aphthous stomatitis) are small, round, painful yellow or white ulcers in your mouth — typically on the insides of your cheeks, your lips, or your tongue.

Symptoms can also include stinging or tingling and a red rim around the ulcer.

Most minor canker sores hurt for 3 to 5 days and heal completely after about 2 weeks. Larger, more painful complex canker sores can last up to 6 weeks and might leave a scar.

Looking for a canker sore fix, pronto? Here are some home and natural remedies to consider.

1. Baking soda

Baking soda might help reduce inflammation by balancing your pH. This can help subdue those sores.

How to:

  1. Dissolve 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1/2 cup water.
  2. Swish it around in your mouth for 15–30 seconds.
  3. Spit it out.
  4. Repeat every few hours as needed.

2. Salt water

Gargling salt water can provide relief while helping to prevent infections.

How to:

  1. Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup warm water.
  2. Swish it around your mouth for 15–30 seconds.
  3. Spit it out.
  4. Repeat every few hours as needed.

3. Hydrogen peroxide

A dab of hydrogen peroxide is great for cleaning out mouth ulcers and reducing bacteria in your mouth. Fair warning: It might sting a bit.

How to:

  1. Dilute a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water.
  2. Dip a cotton swab into the mixture.
  3. Apply directly to the sore.
  4. Use a few times daily.

You can also swishy-swish the solution around instead of mouthwash once a day.

4. Alum powder

Alum powder has astringent properties that can shrink and dry out canker sores, similar to how astringent works on zits.

How to:

  1. Mix a tiny amount of alum powder with a drop of water.
  2. Dab the paste onto a canker sore.
  3. Leave on for at least 1 minute.
  4. Rinse with water.
  5. Repeat daily.

5. Yogurt

The live probiotic cultures in yogurt can combat H. pylori bacteria and inflammatory bowel disease, which can trigger canker sores. So there’s a chance a cup of yogurt a day will keep the cankers away. Plus, yogurt is awesome for your digestion!

6. Honey

Honey has some antibacterial and anti-inflammatory superpowers. Studies suggest that applying honey to a canker sore can ease pain and reduce its size. Plus, it tastes amazing.

Apply honey to your mouth ulcer 4 times a day. Unpasteurized, unfiltered honey is best.

7. Coconut oil

Dig into your pantry and grab that coconut oil. Research suggests that coconut oil has antimicrobial abilities. That means it might be able to stop bacteria in its tracks, so it may help keep a sore from getting infected. It also has anti-inflammatory goodness that may reduce redness and pain.

Apply it to the sore several times a day.

8. Milk of magnesia

Milk of magnesia may not sound like a traditional canker sore treatment, but this laxative is versatile AF. It contains magnesium hydroxide, a natural acid neutralizer, which might help prevent the sore from spreading. It also coats the sore, which can alleviate ouchies.

How to:

  1. Apply a small amount of milk of magnesia to the sore.
  2. Let it sit for several seconds.
  3. Rinse.
  4. Repeat up to 3 times daily.

9. Chamomile

Chamomile contains the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory compounds azulene and levomenol. Applying a hot chamomile tea bag compress to a sore can help take the edge off. You can also drink a cup of chamomile tea with honey to reduce pain and inflammation.

10. Echinacea

Amen for echinacea! This immune booster is also a wound healer. Try it in its liquid form to treat and prevent canker sores.

How to:

  1. Add 1 teaspoon of liquid echinacea to an equal amount of warm water.
  2. Swish the solution around your mouth for about 2 minutes.
  3. Spit out (or swallow) the mixture.

11. Sage

Clearing energy isn’t the only thing sage is good for. It can also be used to ward off canker sores.

Sage has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and astringent properties that make it a great natural canker sore remedy. You can find sage mouthwash in most pharmacies or make your own.

How to:

  1. Add 1–2 tablespoons of fresh sage leaves to boiling water.
  2. Steep for at least 5 minutes.
  3. Strain.
  4. Let it cool.
  5. Swish it around your mouth.
  6. Spit it out.

12. DGL

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), an herbal licorice extract, is another possible natural remedy, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

There’s no DGL mouthwash at the pharmacy, so you’ll have to DIY.

How to:

  1. Mix the powder of 1 DGL capsule (200 milligrams) with 1 cup warm water.
  2. Swish the solution around your mouth for about 3 minutes.
  3. Spit it out.

13. Apple cider vinegar

Here’s yet another awesome use for apple cider vinegar! ACV eliminates bacteria, so it might help heal canker sores. But keep in mind that it’s not for everyone. Some people say it can make sores worse because it’s so acidic.

How to:

  1. Combine 1 teaspoon ACV with 1 cup water.
  2. Swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  3. Spit it out.
  4. Thoroughly rinse your mouth, because apple cider vinegar can destroy tooth enamel.
  5. Repeat daily.

You can also apply ACV directly to the sore with a cotton swab.

14. Zinc lozenges

Zinc is a mineral that supports immune function. Zinc lozenges can help fight the bacteria that can cause canker sores. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.

15. Vitamin B12

You might be more prone to canker sores if you’re low on vitamin B12 — so take a supplement on the daily to help prevent a breakout.

In a small 2017 study with 58 participants, those who took vitamin B12 had fewer canker sores and outbreaks.

B12 may also help reduce the pain.

16. Aloe vera

According to the National Institutes of Health, aloe vera gel may be used orally, so it could soothe canker sores while reducing pain and inflammation. Juice form is good, but a fresh aloe vera leaf is even better! You can always use the leftovers as a natural skin moisturizer.

FYI: If you have diabetes and use glucose-lowering medication, be careful with aloe. Taking aloe orally may lower blood glucose levels.

17. Ice

Looking for instant relief? Hold an ice cube against the sore and see if that helps relieve any pain. Ice won’t technically heal the canker sore, but it might help it feel better, if only for a little while.

18. OTC topical gel

If you’re not into more holistic treatments, head to the drugstore and pick up an OTC topical gel.

19. OTC mouth rinse

You can also buy premade mouth rinses designed to get rid of canker sore pain and inflammation.

In most cases, canker sores will heal on their own and are not a sign of something severe. But they can be super painful and could potentially lead to an infection.

Contact a doctor if:

  • you have a fever
  • the pain is intolerable
  • you have a cluster of sores
  • the sore lasts longer than 2 weeks
  • the sore spreads to your lips
  • eating and drinking is too painful
  • the sore is larger than usual or is oozing

If you know the sore is coming from a tooth, head to the dentist. If your canker sores are chronic and severe, ask your doctor about prescription treatments.

Never want to deal with a canker sore again? Here are the best ways to avoid a future canker sore:

  • Avoid any known triggers.
  • Brush and floss daily.
  • Talk with your doctor about changing any medications known to cause mouth ulcers (such as beta-blockers, chemotherapy meds, sulfa drugs, penicillamine, and phenytoin).

Thankfully, canker sores aren’t contagious, so you don’t have to worry about passing them on or acquiring them from anyone else.