Experience in treating uncomfortable mouth ulcers with natural therapy

I. What is a Mouth Ulcer?

Mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores, are small, shallow sores that appear on the soft tissues inside the mouth, such as the lips, the inside of the cheeks, and gums. The scientific term for them is "aphthous ulcers." Typically, these sores have a white or sometimes yellow center with a red border and are round or oval in shape.

Mouth ulcers usually last 7-10 days and heal on their own without leaving scars. If a mouth ulcer lasts longer than two weeks, you should see a doctor.

II. Causes of Mouth Ulcers

According to popular belief, mouth ulcers are caused by internal heat or consuming too much hot food. However, modern medicine has not yet identified a definitive cause. According to guidelines from the UK Department of Health, there are many factors believed to be associated with the development of ulcers, including:

• A weakened immune system
• Food allergies, such as reactions to coffee, chocolate, cheese, nuts, and citrus fruits
• Stress
• Viruses and bacteria
• Hormonal changes (such as menstruation)
• Mouth injuries
• Poor nutrition

III. Symptoms of the Condition

• The symptoms of mouth ulcers include the appearance of one or more white spots, about 1-2 mm in size, on the oral mucosa. These spots gradually enlarge, become slightly fluid-filled, and after a few days, they burst to form ulcers. The ulcers can grow larger, sometimes reaching up to 10 mm, which significantly affects eating, daily activities, and communication.
• Local symptoms include inflammation, swelling, redness, pain, and discomfort, especially when chewing, swallowing, or eating. There may also be superficial abscesses under the tongue, submucosal abscesses, or abscesses in the upper or lower vestibule. Milder cases involve ulcers on the tongue and oral mucosa, which can be inflamed and very painful, sometimes causing high fever, swollen jaw lymph nodes, and difficulty eating. When the ulcers turn white and become less painful, the condition begins to subside.

IV. Treatment for Mouth Ulcers

• Mild cases of mouth ulcers usually require antibiotics, oral hygiene, pain relief, anti-allergy medications, and supplements to boost the immune system, such as B vitamins, high doses of vitamin C, and vitamin A, which helps the body regenerate mucosal tissue.
• In cases of severe infections, such as deep oral abscesses or spreading inflammation (commonly found under the tongue, jaw, or throat), accompanied by general weakness and severe infection, blood cultures should be done if sepsis is suspected, and antibiotic sensitivity testing may be necessary.

V. Home Remedies for Treating Mouth Ulcers

• Gargling (or holding in the mouth for a while) with diluted salt water. Salt water has strong antibacterial properties that can kill bacteria in the ulcers, helping them heal quickly.

• Applying pure coconut oil 3-4 times a day. Coconut oil helps kill bacteria, cleans the mouth, soothes pain, and accelerates healing of ulcers caused by heat.

• Gargling 3-4 times a day with coriander seed water (soak a teaspoon of coriander seeds in a cup of boiling water, remove the seeds and use the water for gargling). Coriander seed water has antibacterial effects and is effective in treating bad breath and mouth ulcers.

• Turnip juice: Use 300g of mashed white turnip to extract juice, mix with a little water, and gargle 3 times a day.

• Raw tomato juice: Use raw tomato juice to rinse your mouth, then swallow gradually, similar to using starfruit juice, or you can chew raw tomatoes. Use 3-4 times a day for quick results.

• Sour starfruit juice: Use 2-3 sour starfruits, crush them, then boil in water, cool down, and sip the liquid throughout the day whenever you have free time and are not eating or talking much.

• Astringent substances: Astringent substances like green tea, dried tea leaves, figs, mango skin, and Vietnamese coriander help with antibacterial effects, ulcer healing, and deodorization.

• Honey and turmeric: Apply honey or mix it with turmeric powder and apply to the ulcerated area in the mouth. Honey is antibacterial, and turmeric is anti-inflammatory, helping ulcers heal quickly without scarring while stimulating tissue growth.

• Eclipta prostrata and honey: Mash fresh Eclipta prostrata leaves (also known as false daisy), extract the juice, and mix with honey. Use a cotton swab to apply the mixture to the ulcer 2-3 times a day.

• Leafy vegetable juice: Clean and crush leafy vegetables, extract the juice, and mix with a little honey. Use a cotton swab to apply the mixture to the ulcer 2-3 times a day.

Additionally, according to traditional beliefs, mouth ulcers are caused by internal heat, so it is recommended to use cooling remedies such as: - Uống nước đỗ đen. Rang đỗ đen lên sau đó bỏ vào nước ninh kỹ, lấy nước uống thay nước hằng ngày.

- Drinking black bean water. Roast black beans and boil them thoroughly in water, then drink the water as a daily substitute for plain water.

- Drink pennywort or corn silk tea daily instead of plain water and ensure you consume 1.5-2 liters/day.

- Avoid drinking iced water.

- Drink slightly more water than usual.

- Limit spicy and hot condiments like chili, garlic, ginger, and pepper; opt for a bland diet. Eat meat types such as freshwater fish, soft-shelled turtles, ducks, and geese. Limit the consumption of dog meat and fermented foods.

- Garlic: Garlic helps reduce mouth ulcers due to the presence of allicin, a bioactive compound with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties.

- Chamomile tea: You can use chamomile tea to treat mouth ulcers as it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mild astringent properties.

- Bitter wormwood: Bitter wormwood is a herb with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiseptic, and astringent properties, making it effective in treating mouth ulcers.

- Ice compress: You can treat mouth ulcers by placing an ice cube on the sore. The ice numbs the area, reducing pain and inflammation, helping relieve discomfort.

- Alum: Alum powder is used in traditional medicine to treat mouth ulcers, speeding up the healing process by reducing inflammation.

- Applying honey: Honey can help reduce the size of mouth ulcers, relieve pain, and reduce redness.

- Baking soda: Baking soda has alkaline properties that help neutralize irritating acids and assist in killing bacteria in the mouth, aiding ulcer healing.

- Aloe vera gel: Research shows that aloe vera gel effectively reduces ulcer size, pain, and inflammation.

- Applying coconut oil: Coconut oil has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful for treating mouth ulcers.

VI. Preventive Measures for Mouth Ulcers

• Mouth ulcers are painful and uncomfortable, but prevention is not difficult. To avoid mouth ulcers, you should take care to avoid injuring the oral mucosa when brushing teeth or eating, and maintain a balanced work-rest schedule to prevent stress. Additionally, maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial to prevent infections in the oral mucosa and throat. For children, avoid letting them stay up late or eat irregularly, and teach them proper brushing techniques to avoid damaging the oral mucosa. Encourage them to develop the habit of gargling with warm salt water daily.

• In hot weather, even if you feel tired and lose your appetite, it’s important to ensure sufficient nutrient intake. Opt for boiled dishes, vegetables, fruits, and avoid fried, spicy, and oily foods. Drink plenty of water and supplement with vitamins through fresh vegetables and fruits. If mouth ulcers are severe, cause significant pain, or recur frequently, it is advisable to visit a medical facility for examination and proper treatment.

• Regularly gargle with diluted salt water or saline solution.