Mouth Sores

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Mouth Sores: Home Care & Treatment

Mouth sores generally last 7 to 10 days, even if you don't do anything. They sometimes last up to two weeks. There are several measures you can take, however, to feel better during that time:

• Gargle with cool water or eat posicles. This is particularly helpful if you have a mouth burn.
• Avoid hot beverages and foods, spicy and salty foods, and citrus.
• Take pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol).

For canker sores, it is helpful to also:

• Rinse with salt water.
• Apply a thin paste of baking soda and water.
• Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 1 part water and apply this mixture to the lesions using a cotton swab.

Orabase, a nonprescription preparation, may be applied for protection of a sore inside the lip and on the gums. Blistex or Campho-Phenique may provide some relief of canker sores and fever blisters, especially if applied when the sore initially appears.

Additional measures that may help cold sores or fever blisters include:

• Applying ice to the lesion.
• Taking L-lysine tablets.