Canker Sores

If you find a flat circle area on the inside of your lip or inside your mouth that is a white or yellow color, it is almost always a canker sore, or apthous ulcer. To treat these canker sores in our office, we use our diode laser and painlessly point it at the canker sore without touching it. The laser decreases the activity of nerves responsible for sensing pain, and, after 90 seconds, there is always an immediate resolution of pain. Additionally, the diode laser increases the healing process, and small ulcers often heal a day after treatment. Ulcers are definitely a problem when you have braces, so it is really nice to be able to heal these up quickly. The process is painless and as soon as it is over, the canker sore discomfort is gone.

At-Home Canker Sore Treatment

Peroxyl® — An over-the-counter rinse seems to relieve the canker sores and patients tell us it helps them heal quicker.

Orabase® — This contains benzocaine to numb the ulcer. It will also stick to the ulcer and form a skin to help shield it from further irritation.

Tea Bag — Holding a freshly wet bag of black tea up against the ulcer and allowing the tannic acids from the tea to soak into the ulcer seems to help.

Salt Poultice — By taking some salt and adding just a drop or two of warm water to make a slightly moist mass of salt, you can then place the salt directly onto the ulcer. This will sting quite a bit at first, but it will desensitize the area. We’re not sure really why it helps at all, but Dr. Roca has tried it and it does help make the ulcer less painful, so you can give it a shot. You can also try a warm salt water rinse.

Renewing Melts (H-B12 Melts) — These are long-lasting adhering discs with hyaluronan and bioactive B12 to relieve temporary pain from mouth sores, cuts, wounds and mouth ulcers, and to support a healthy mouth lining. Renewing Melts adhere to a tooth, gums or brace nearest the sore, last for hours, and fully dissolve.