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Original poster

Mouth ulcer remedies please

56 replies

jinglebells22 · 23/12/2022 21:27

Currently I have two massive mouth ulcers on my bottom lip and back of my throat. They kill and are making me feel totally unwell. I'm fatigued, headachey and have sore swollen glands. I can't even think about drinking alcohol or eating much which is really bugging me at this time of year!

I do get these quite often when I'm run down and usually just ride it out, but I really want to feel better for Christmas. I've been using corsadyl mouthwash for a few days which hasn't helped and also anbesol liquid which offers temporary pain relief but isn't healing them. Usually they hurt like a bitch for a week or so then the pain subsides and they gradually get smaller and go away. I just want to get to that pain subsiding place now! Any tips gratefully received. I plan to do a last minute pharmacy trip tomorrow.

OP posts:
Xyzzzzz · 23/12/2022 22:25

I get reoccurring mouth ulcers. I either gargle with salt water or I’ve found difflam mouthwash helps.

midlifecrash · 23/12/2022 22:26

Massive dose of vitamin c, tincture of myrrh

ouch321 · 23/12/2022 22:27

Hold the tip of an unlit match to it.

Stings like hell but the white layer, will turn grey, then black and kind of fall apart. Might take 2 matches. Feels better after.

AmazonPrim · 23/12/2022 22:28

A strong salt water solution gargled a few times a day

newtb · 23/12/2022 22:30

I've found teething gel works quite well.

Oinkypig · 23/12/2022 22:31

Invent a time machine and go back to when adcortyl in orabase was a thing (spelling a bit hazy….)

Other wise take paracetamol and ibuprofen (if suitable) regularly, don’t gargle with aspirin or ibuprofen. Warm salt mouth rinses as often as you can remember. Try difflam for topical pain relief.

Fingers crossed you feel better soon!

NoodieRoodie · 23/12/2022 22:35

The minute you feel the first warning tingle start dabbing neat tea tree oil on it. Coat your finger well and douse it, tastes absolutely vile but stops it in its tracks

CaptainBarbosa · 23/12/2022 22:37

jinglebells22 · 23/12/2022 22:08

Does salt actually kill the ulcer?

Salt has a antibacterial effect. And the ulcer is sore because bacteria is in the sore, hence why they are white.

Mouths are full of bacteria so a salt mouth wash will help reduce the bacteria in the mouth and in the sore, leading to a faster healing process.

VestaTilley · 23/12/2022 22:39

Strong salt water (in boiled water that you’ve left to almost cool). Gargle then spit out.

You have my sympathy, OP. I get them like clock work about 3/4 times a year, drives me mad.

Do you have an autoimmune disease? I do, and it’s common to get them if you have one.

Original poster
jinglebells22 · 23/12/2022 22:41

VestaTilley · 23/12/2022 22:39

Strong salt water (in boiled water that you’ve left to almost cool). Gargle then spit out.

You have my sympathy, OP. I get them like clock work about 3/4 times a year, drives me mad.

Do you have an autoimmune disease? I do, and it’s common to get them if you have one.

No not that I know of but I have always been incredibly prone to them when I get stressed or run down. The additional symptoms such as headache and raised glands seem to have gotten more severe as I've got older.

OP posts:
MountainChalet · 23/12/2022 23:01

Bonjela gel or black currant jam

Whywhywhywhy3 · 23/12/2022 23:17

If you haven't done already, switch your toothpaste! I used to get regular, huge mouth ulcers. Use toothpaste WITHOUT sodium laurel sulphate in - many of the Sensodyne ones don't have it. I didn't believe it would work but honestly, it's been 15 years and I never get them any more. It truly worked.

Mynicename · 23/12/2022 23:20

I find gargling salt water 3 x a day really helps it heal quicker.
And to you and anyone else that suffers regularly with mouth ulcers, PLEASE PLEASE try changing your toothpaste!
I used to get several a month, and even more when I was run down. Changed to Sensodyne gentle whitening about 8 years ago and I probably only get 2/3 a year now. It has literally changed my life!!
The absolute worst toothpaste is that blue colgate one with the bits in but basically any with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate damages the lining of your mouth and makes you more prone to mouth ulcers. Changed. My. Life.

Desmondo2021 · 23/12/2022 23:22

I can't say this enough every time I see a mouth ulcers post... Stop using toothpaste with sodium laurel sulphate in it.. most sensodynes are perfect. I made the swop many years ago after suffering from numerous and frequent ulcers and I literally have barely had a single one since... Unless I use a SLS toothpaste in which case, guaranteed, I'll have one within a couple of days. It totally changed my life. Won't help you straight away, admittedly, but you have to absolutely try this.

HipHopBanzai · 23/12/2022 23:25

Agree with the last poster. Changing toothpastes has made such a huge difference to my ulcers. I also used to get them all the time, particularly when I was run down. I now use Sensodyne toothpaste with no sodium lauryl sulphate and it's made such a difference.
In the short term, you can buy steroid tablets (called Corlan Pellets) from behind the counter at the chemist. They dissolve slowly on the ulcer and I have found they seem to speed up the healing process. I used to be unable to eat sometimes and these really helped.

Highflow · 23/12/2022 23:26

Advice from my dentist: get vitamin E capsules, prick a hole in it and squirt it on the ulcer. Not for pain relief but for healing

RainBow725 · 23/12/2022 23:29

If you can't tolerate the salt (I can't!) then use TCP. Dilute it a bit, soak cotton wool on it and then press on the ulcer until it really stings. For the throat, gargle with it. Do it repeatedly throughout the day and it will get better quickly.

RiverSkater · 23/12/2022 23:30

Oinkypig · 23/12/2022 22:31

Invent a time machine and go back to when adcortyl in orabase was a thing (spelling a bit hazy….)

Other wise take paracetamol and ibuprofen (if suitable) regularly, don’t gargle with aspirin or ibuprofen. Warm salt mouth rinses as often as you can remember. Try difflam for topical pain relief.

Fingers crossed you feel better soon!

That stuff was the ducks nuts!

You can still buy orabase paste (Amazon, other sellers may be available) and that with the anbesol does the trick for me.

ItsDefinitelyChocolate · 23/12/2022 23:50

My go to was anbesol, then I got an absolutely huge one - wisdom teeth are wonky, managed to nearly chew through my cheek and Jesus it hurt. Anbesol gave temporary relief but that was it. I was gargling salt water 3 times a day. Agony.

I went to boots to get corsydol, and got sucked in to trying gengigel. Used the mouthwash and the rub on gel, it healed so quickly, definitely recommend giving it a try. Husband gets ulcers a fair bit and reckons it's the dogs.

I also have gum problems and any flare ups use the mouthwash, it really helps.

Boots Defs do it, not sure where else www.gengigel.co.uk/

You have my total sympathies, mouth ulcers are the pits.

Also interesting about the sodium laurel sulphate toothpastes - I'm going to try swapping ours out.

Eggs2022 · 23/12/2022 23:50

Fellow big time sufferer here… i know it’ll be neigh on impossible with it being nearly Christmas Eve, but if you have any way of seeing a doctor you need deltacortril steroids - at least a dose of 4 a day - and ponstan painkillers, 500mg at least 6 a day. Only combination I’ve found that works in 20 years and I have tried every pharmaceutical and housewife cure there ever was. Difflam mouthwash is the best hands down for temporary relief so you can eat, it lasts longer than the others. Try Kin toothpastes, you can get them in boots and pharmacies… worth getting some B12 supplements/ injections too even if you’re not low it can really help. Please be careful with what others have posted I’ve tried
loads and they often don’t suit everyone and can leave it much worse… best of luck really hope you can get sorted!

Myotherusernames · 24/12/2022 00:48

I used to suffer badly with mouth ulcers & cold sores, I started taking l-lysine years ago & it's been a long time since I have suffered from either now. Get yourself a 30 day bottle of l-lysine tablets & some anbesol & fingers crossed it will sort you, the pain from mouth ulcers is unreal 😞

DuchessDandelion · 24/12/2022 00:51

Salt water hands down best thing for them.

Swill round your mouth a bit 3x a day (more if you need it) and it'll be gone in no time.

Cooled boiled water, obviously.

Ponderingwindow · 24/12/2022 00:52

Alum
you buy it in the spice section.

Residentnumber1 · 24/12/2022 00:54

Surprised no one has mentioned Frador

www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD003517/Frador

Works every time, numbs the area instantly, absolutely nothing beats it, and I get ulcers easily

Notnastypasty · 24/12/2022 00:55

I find oraljel is brilliant for numbing them. And a throat spray (like covinia) to numb the back of the throat.