Canker sore help

[Decisionsdecisions1]

I have a huge canker sore on the inside of my mouth - pharmacist said not a lot I can do apart from bonjela and salt water rinses. She said the GP won't prescribe anything and the tablets that they used to prescribe is permanently out of stock.

I'm really struggling to eat, everything stings, can't brush my teeth, toothpaste is agony, everything stings like mad, Inc bonjela and the mouthwash she recommended.

It's been 5 days, I've lost weight and had to go home from work. It's just getting bigger. And my mouth looks swollen.

I can get a GP appointment for potentially several days (it's not classed as urgent). Any advice welcomed....

Swill/ gargle then swallow dispersible Aspirin, if you can take it...300mg tablets ( not low dose 75mg) two tablets four times a day...always take with food.
Do not take if you cannot tolerate anti-inflammatories and check any interactions with any other meds you may be on.

Corsadyl mouthwash, rather than trying to use toothpaste

Sounds grim, I hope you get it sorted soon. X

Sympathy - they're horrible! Anbesol or Orajel will numb it much better than Bonjela.

The only stuff that helps me is called Gengigel mouth rinse. It takes a few days of regular use, especially if it’s a giant one. But do persevere. Sympathy from a fellow sufferer.

You poor thing. It is suggested to keep your mouth clean esp flossing, avoid spicy or salty food, dabbing milk of magnesia on the sore also try aloe vera gel or honey alternate between a mouth ulcer gel.

Once I can eat something I'm going to try swilling soluble aspirin - helps with sore throats so hoping will do the trick. Just can't take it on an empty stomach.

If you or anyone in your house have a steroid inhaler you can put a puff or two on, something our old GP recommended. Or get oral hydrocortisone tablets you can suck

in the meanwhile use only SLS free toothpaste and consider switching to it permanently, there’s evidence that the SLS damages the mucosal lining meaning the ulcers can happen more easily.

Best of luck

I agree! Oral Steroid tablets…. I sort of held them on the sore with my finger and they dissolved!
And only use SLS free toothpaste that’s what worked for me in the end after months of mouth ulcers.

how is your iron level? My ferritin was dreadful and I had these all the time. Agony! But as soon as I had infusions/tablets/iron rich food they went away.

Be careful treating an open wound with topical/systemic steroids; they can delay healing, reduce the tissue viability and increase chances of infection.
They can be used in some circumstances but under specialist instruction. X

Take an iron supplement.

If you can lay your hands on some cinnamon oil, apply directly to the sore. Cinnamon gum or cinnamon altoids would work too. They're hard to come by in the UK though (or at least they used to be). If you find some gum, chew it for a few seconds to soften it, then press the wad of gum against the sore.

The sulphur from a few match heads applied to the sore might also work. Strike a few matches and blow them out. Grind up the burnt heads. Apply to the sore. Leave on for a while (this can be tricky).

For nutrition, buy yourself some protein shakes and a packet of straws.

Had since a teenager - genigel and corsodyl mouthwash have been the most effective for me. Corsodyl can stain teeth though.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-ulcers/

The pharmacist mentioned the steroid tablets but said they’re no longer available. Does anyone know what they’re called as I’ll try to find some.

From the NHS website:

“Due to a supply issue, hydrocortisone buccal tablets are not currently available on prescription or to buy at pharmacies. If you've been prescribed these tablets, speak to your doctor about suitable alternatives.”

Anbesol is a life saver. It stings when you put it on but I find it’s the only thing that works. You have my sympathy!!

Oneearring- thank you, the soluble aspirin has saved me.

Also using some stick on films designed for canker sores that dissolve in the mouth. It was impossible for my tongue to keep touching it, really helps.

Londongirl - anbesol was my first go to but it just hurt, with no relief. Same with Bonjela. Both have been fine for mouth ulcers but I’ve never had anything like this before.

If it’s been 5 days and getting bigger, you could have an infection. Maybe see how it is tomorrow and try and get in with the GP.

Tried GP, best I can get is phone consult within 72 hours.

Dab it with a thick paste of bicarbonate of soda. Keep it on for a few minutes. Alternatively dab some of the powder onto it and leave it a good few minutes. It helps reduce the acidity in your mouth and helps dry out the canker sore by drawing moisture out of it. It might sting a small amount but it helps.

Full sympathy. I had one last year on a work trip and it was miserable.