Canker Sores

Anyone else get these? I have been under a great deal of stress and what I have read is that stress is a major part of them showing up. I gave up eating chocolate and spicy foods not only as they are causes but they hurt like heck when eating these two types of foods. Ouch! I change my toothbrush every week and have been applying BonGella (sp?) MIL sent it to us as DH said it is wonderful, but I have not seen a big improvement. Besides becoming unstressed which will not happen until we move away (from redneck white trash city) any other ideas?

My boyfriend gets them, and he says Anbesol works pretty well...  I have always gone with whisky on a cotton swab!  Really!

My boyfriend gets them, and he says Anbesol works pretty well...  I have always gone with whisky on a cotton swab!  Really!

Whisky? Does it sting like crazy? Mind you I'll try anything right now! Guess I'll have to go buy some.

Any excuse, right! 

It stings for a second, but personally I think it numbs quicker than any product designed to do the same!  Then you just have to watch your teeth...  Ick.  I hate canker sores...

I've suffered from canker sores my entire childhood. As an adult I found out that toothpastes with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can be a major aggravator/cause. First, I recommend finding a toothpaste without SLS. If you are in the UK, the Superdrug Just Toothpaste is great and only 35p! In the US, there is Biotene. It is expensive, but worth it.

When I do get one, I use a q-tip to apply a little tea tree oil to it and find it disappears in a couple of days.

Good luck!

I get them frequently too and find that taking Lysine helps a lot.  It's an amino acid...Usually take one in the morning and one in the evening when you have a sore, and it's gone in a few days.

Salt...I know it hurts like hell....but Salt and Vinegar Crisps seems to dry them out for me and gets rid of them quicker.

Oouchh!! Painful Bless you...

Have suffered with canker sores all my life and yes stress brings them out.  Here in the UK I use a cotton swab dipped in TCP don't know the equivilant in the States but the whiskey should work.  There is also a product on the market both in the UK and in the States that works to heal them with just one application.  I am sorry I don't know the name but you should be able to fiind it easily enough at your local pharmacy or even in the grocery store.  It is important to keep your mouth clean so brushing your teeth after meals or even rinsing with mouthwash.

Canker sores = mouth ulcers?

If so, i've found an increased intake of Vitamin C helps them clear up faster.

I've suffered from canker sores my entire childhood. As an adult I found out that toothpastes with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can be a major aggravator/cause. First, I recommend finding a toothpaste without SLS. If you are in the UK, the Superdrug Just Toothpaste is great and only 35p! In the US, there is Biotene. It is expensive, but worth it.

You can obtain Biotene here in the UK.  Your local Boots should either carry it or should be able to get it for you.  There are also UK based web sites where you can order it from.

I'm going to call MIL and ask her to find the Superdrug Just Toothpaste, she sends a care package to us once a month so adding a tube will be no big deal. I looked at all the toothpaste we have and it all has the SLS. I wonder I am allergic to sulfa (the drug) and I wonder if SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) is related. 

In the meantime I will try Vit C and a multi vitamin (have both these right now), maybe my system is out of whack due to the stress I am under. No Salt and Vinegar crisps, cannot bare the smell let alone eat 'em! I will check out the Lysine when I go out again.

I may just end up doing the whisky thing, only drink it with a straw to relieve the pain... and everything else!

Yes canker sores = mouth ulcers

I frequently had these as a kid and then stress/mouth injury (such as toothbrush at wrong angle) brings them out. 

Salt...I know it hurts like hell....but Salt and Vinegar Crisps seems to dry them out for me and gets rid of them quicker.

Oouchh!! Painful Bless you...

I have always garggled with warm salt water.  Hurts like a son of a gun, but really helps clear them up.  I find that sucking on ice cubes is also very helpful.

Ouch!! Here's to a speedy recovery! 

A good antiseptic mouthwash might ease the pain a little bit more after you brush...there is a good one here called oraldeane...not sure of the equivalent in the states.  If your toothbrush is a little too stiff to use on your gums at present..run it under the hot tap for a while..it softens the bristles temporarily so you can then continue to brush without it being too abrasive on them.

I'm going to call MIL and ask her to find the Superdrug Just Toothpaste, she sends a care package to us once a month so adding a tube will be no big deal.

I used to use Just Toothpaste, but they changed the ingredients lists, and it has SLS in it now. I get my parents to send me Tom's of Maine SLS-free in Lemon-Lime flavour. Yum! I found it when I was there for Christmas, at Whole Foods, but I'm sure you could order it online too. (Also comes in mint. )

I've had them all my life as well!!  There are also some of the Sensodyne toothpastes that don't have SLS in them.  I'm pretty sure that SLS is derived from coconut, it's a foaming agent, also found in shampoos. (I'm pretty sure at least)

The weird thing for me, I've not had them as often as I used to since having my son.  Very strange.  (But I'm not complaining)