Canker Sore Prevention/Cure?

[Bearvet]

DS17 has been plagued by canker sores (inside his mouth - not cold sores) for most of his life. Sometimes they're really bad and he gets many at one time - like right now. It's very painful, he's miserable and can't eat much. I have him rinse with salt water and he uses "Kankaid" which numbs it enough for him to eat.

So does anyone have any cures to suggest? Or ways to prevent them in the future? Should I ask his Dr. (or Dentist?) about it at his next appt? Any help is appreciated.

 

[anewvance]

Keep using that salt water every chance you get. It's the best way to get rid of those horrible things really quick. I would give a call into the doctor to see if they could suggest any other kind of number for the pain.

 

[Loubon]

Gly-oxide will cure them. It is sold over the counter. Ask your Dentist about preventive measures.

 

[buzzlady]

Oral B Amosan works great. I buy it in our grocery store that has a pharmacy. It probably won't be on the shelf so ask at the pharmacy - you don't need a perscription.

 

[trip]

One of my DD's used to get them alot when she was in school (high school & college). We figured out two of her triggers - stress and eating too many tomatoes. Her Dr. suggested eating tums - seemed to work. Now that she is through with college and working she doesn't seem to be bothered with them.

 

[FreshTressa]

Using Thera-Breath toothpaste and mouthwash twice a day religiously has cured 4 people that I know of now.

 

[LukenDC]

I was plagued with canker sores from the age of five to twenty-two. I would have multiple sores at a time and my mouth was sore more often than not. I consulted numerous doctors and tried several different over-the-counter medications, all to no avail.

I began to research the condition on the Internet and came across a British study on the National Institutes of Health website. It attributed canker sores to a vitamin deficiency. I immediately went out and bought Centrum multi-vitamins. Problem solved! I am now 33 and I have not had a problem with canker sores since I started taking the vitamins. Sometimes a sore will start to develop, but it does not fully erupt.

My mother always made well-balanced, nutritious meals so I have to assume that I have a problem with vitamin absorption or simply need more vitamins than can be obtained in regular meals.

 

[Bearvet]

Thanks for the help everyone! I'll have him keep up with the salt water tonight and tomorrow AM and I'll look for some of the items suggested.
The stress idea is interesting - he's a Jr in HS and we're starting to look at colleges - he takes SATs on Sat.... DH and I try not to put any pressure on him - he does that all by himself. I also think I'll start him on vitamins - he's not taking any now. At least he has his braces off now - that was always a double whammy with canker sores!

Any other ideas?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Here is what will work...

This is what a Doctor, who was a personal friend of the family, told my DH. Your DS should take L-lysine EVERY day. (This may be what is in the vitamins) It is prefectly safe. Taking the L-lysine supplement is the way to insure that he is getting enough. I would guess that this would provide much more than a multi-vitamin. This works!!!

Second. Switch toothpastes. Your DS needs a toothpaste that contains baking soda, or baking soda with peroxide. I believe that this is what is in the Amosan that has been mentioned. Also, these toothpastes may have less of the laurel sulfates, which are known to trigger these canker sores. With this alone, the canker sores may completely disappear!!! I have tried several of these toothpastes. Some are not as good... taste salty.. have a wierd texture, etc.. I recommend Arm and Hammer BRILLIANT SPARKLE. Now that I have been using it, nothing else compares. Arm and hammer makes several toothpastes. For me, it has to be the BRILLIANT SPARKLE, (not the others...) because some of the others have the taste/texture thing that I just mentioned. Write this down.

Both of these, and would say that the problem will almost completely be gone.

 

[Beth76]

I get these occasionally and what I've found to help is the gly-oxide. I bought it a few months ago when I had a really bad one and it helped after a few days. Now, whenever I feel like I'm getting a canker sore, I put some on and it basically disappears. Several people here recommended it and I'm so grateful to them.

 

[elizke]

My son has a terrible time with them too. They used to get huge and take 10 days to go away.

Much better now though. We use "Orabase" on them. Also, he gets fewer and what he does get go away faster since we started using "Rembrandt Cancer Sore" toothpaste. Hard to find a the stores now though, so have been ordering from drugstore.com.

I'll have to check out these other ideas too though. Still some struggles, especially in the spring. (No idea why this would be.)

E.

 

[rascalmom]

They are caused by stress, trauma (biting or cutting the inside of your cheeks or gums) or vitamin deficiency.

Have him keep his mouth very clean - a higher level of bacteria in the mouth will make them slower to heal. Brush, floss, use an alcohol-free mouthwash. If they are really bad, I would have him do the warm saltwater rinse & then follow with the mouthwash. The warm saltwater increases the blood circulation in the area, the mouthwash reduces the bacteria.

Vitamins - particularly Vitamin C. L-Lysine supplements are recommended for cold sores,l not canker sores.

Your dentist (or doctor) can write him a prescription for Orabase with Kenalog. It is a sticky ointment that you put on the sore - this stickiness helps prevent the medicine being washed away by saliva. Peroxyl Rinse is also good.

Does your dentist have a soft tissue laser? If so he/she can zap them & they feel better pretty much instantly. Healing time is greatly reduced.

Does your son have any food allergies? They may be another possible trigger. Good luck - hope he feels better soon!

 

[goofy's friends]

i get these occasionally, always brought on by high stress. Because I don't get often, I've never tried these other things, but I put carmex on it and it FEELS so much better, not sure it helps heal, but it does help numb the pain.

 

[mickman1962]

get a toothpaste without sodium laurel sulfate (it's tuff to find but they are out there)

 

[KLAIT]

I have fought with severe sores over the years as well. I saw several doctors, including Marshfield and Mayo and we tried everything. I switchd dentists and he told me he thought if I started taking vitamins and a LOT of Vit C it would help me out...god bless him it worked! I get them occasionally, but nothing like they were before...where the whole inside of my mouth would be a giant sore..even ended up in the hospital a couple of times when I was younger from dehydration.

He also told me that to ease the pain it helps to rinse with a Maalox type liquid....

 

[Christine]

get a toothpaste without sodium laurel sulfate (it's tuff to find but they are out there)

Rembrandt makes one. It's called Rembrant Whitening Canker Sore Toothpaste. It is without SLS and has reduced mine by about 80%. I have to order mine through Drugstore.com. Target used to carry it but I guess it wasn't a big seller so they stopped. I heard you can get it at Wegman's if you have one of those near you.

 

[Raysplus1]

I used to get them often and I found it was either due to too much stress or if I eat a lot of acidy foods or drink too much soda (Pepsi). I would eat tums when I feel them coming in and drink lots of water and they would never mature to the open sore.

Thanks for all of the other items mentioned I will also try them.

 

[Bearvet]

Wow! Thanks for all of the suggestions! Just came back from CVS with the following items:
To help with current sores: Oral-B Amosan and Gly-Oxide
For prevention: Vitamins with extra C, Oral-B Rembrandt Canker Sore toothpaste and Rembrandt Whitening Plus mouth rinse

We'll also try Tums when he feels them starting. BTW it is hard to find a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate. I probably spent 45 minutes in the toothpaste aisle at CVS reading all these labels and comparing to the notes I took from this thread!

I hope we can make him more comfortable...he has SATs tomorrow AM and it's so hard to focus when you're hurting. BTW no food allergies.

Thanks again!

 

[mickman1962]

BTW it is hard to find a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate. I probably spent 45 minutes in the toothpaste aisle at CVS reading all these labels and comparing to the notes I took from this thread!
Thanks again!

I told you it was tough

 

[figment52]

My mother always made a thick paste out of baking soda and water and put it directly on the sora for as long as you can then rinse and spit - eventually you just have to spit but don't swallow the "paste". It will reduce the acidity in your mouth, another cause of the sores.

Good luck with those SAT's tomorrow.