Canker Sores

Canker Sores

Along with Zsa Zsa's real age and the location(s) of Jimmy Hoffa's grave, the mystery of the canker sore continues to baffle the experts. For some reason, those little white ulcers with red borders visit the mouths of some people quite frequently--while others get them rarely. And while some may have canker sores for just a few days, other people have them for weeks.

No one's really sure what causes these pesky and painful ulcers on the tongue or gums or inside the cheeks (although a predisposition for them seems to be hereditary). Luckily, doctors do have some answers on how you can cut short the usual 10- to 15-day life span of these annoying, although nonthreatening, lesions-or avoid them altogether.

Make yogurt a daily ritual. "Eat at least four tablespoons of unflavored yogurt every day and you'll prevent canker sores," says Jerome Z. Litt, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. He adds that its unclear why the yogurt works, but for some people it can be very effective.

See the difference with vitamin C. "Vitamin C is very effective at preventing or healing canker sores, particularly for people who are under a lot of stress, consume a lot of alcohol or smoke," says David Garber, D.M.D., clinical professor of periodontics and prosthodontics at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. And that's worth noting, since these are the very people most at risk for canker sores. Five hundred milligrams a day is sometimes recommended for a vitamin C supplement-but check with your doctor first. To introduce more vitamin C to your daily diet, go for broccoli, cantaloupe, red bell peppers and cranberry juice. (Once you have a sore, however, the acidic juice may be more pain than gain.)

Squeeze on some vitamin E. Vitamin C isn't the only nutrient that can help heal canker sores. Craig Zunka, D.D.S., a dentist in Fort Royal, Virginia, and chairman of the board of the Holistic Dental Association, says squeezing the oil from a vitamin E capsule onto your canker sore can bring relief.

Put some sore relief in your diet. Several studies show that one in seven people with canker sores is deficient in folate, iron and vitamin B, and doctors believe that upping these nutrients can help prevent sores or quicken recovery from them. Peas, beans and lentils are excellent folate sources; lean beef, tofu and fortified cereals are high in iron; and meats and seafood are high in B vitamins.

Gargle with peroxide. "A solution of three parts water and one part hydrogen peroxide changes the pH of your saliva and makes for a harsh environment for the bacteria causing canker sores," says Palm Harbor, Florida, dentist Paul Caputo, D.D.S. "Mixing this solution and gargling or swishing it around your mouth several times a day is very helpful when you have a canker sore. But don't swallow it."

Baste it with Orabase-B. This over-the-counter remedy gets thumbs-up from all our experts as the best relief money can buy at your neighborhood drugstore. "It's a sticky substance you put directly on the sore to stop the pain and promote healing," says Dr. Caputo.

Another over-the-counter product that comes highly recommended is Zilactin, a medicated gel. And for those preferring a liquid form, there's Zilactol, says Dr. Garber.

Avoid sharp or spicy foods. And we mean that in both a culinary and a literal sense. "Many people know that you should avoid foods that are spicy or salty when you have a canker sore, because those foods increase the pain," says D'Anne Kleinsmith, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist at William Beaumont Hospital near Detroit. "But you should also avoid foods with sharp edges, such as potato chips. Anything with rough edges can puncture the skin and cause canker sores."

Besides spices and salt, it's best to avoid or limit citrus fruits and strawberries, cheeses, coffee, nuts and chocolate if you're prone to canker sores.

Bag your pain with a tea bag. Rubbing a wet tea bag directly on the sore is another helpful home treatment, says Dr. Litt. Black tea contains tannin, an astringent with powerful pain-relieving qualities. "If you're into herbal teas, drink chamomile tea, which cools canker sore pain and other mild skin irritations," says Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Ice it. Old cures are often the best, and there are few older (or better) than simply applying ice to the sore to help reduce pain and swelling.

Mylanta may be your healer. Swish a tablespoon of the antacid Mylanta or milk of magnesia around your mouth to coat the sore, advises Robert Goepp, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor of oral pathology at the University of Chicago Medical Center. But only use this technique if you are sure your ulcer is not infected. If you coat an infected ulcer, the coating will protect the bacteria causing the infection. An infected ulcer is usually marked by a red ring around its base and a grayish yellow color, Dr. Goepp says.