Getting rid of mouth ulcers isn’t always possible. In fact, according to many experts, the only way of getting rid of mouth ulcers in most cases is to let them heal on their own. Sometimes it is possible to reduce the severity of mouth ulcers by using antihistamines, and it is possible to deal with the pain by using products that numb the mouth. In some cases, mouth ulcers can be a sign of a serious illness like mouth cancer, and mouth ulcers from these sources might not heal at all without drastic treatment measures.
The process of getting rid of mouth ulcers is generally complicated by the fact that there are many different possible causes. For example, mouth ulcers can potentially be caused by the herpes virus, cancer, and bacterial infections. In addition, one of the most common mouth ulcer types is the canker sore, and the actual cause is still being debated. For most of the common mouth ulcer causes, there are no treatments guaranteed to work—however, preventative measures do exist.
Many experts believe that some mouth ulcers can be prevented by using the best possible oral hygiene practices. This would generally include brushing teeth on a regular basis along with flossing and using mouthwash. Sometimes people are also able to speed up the process of getting rid of mouth ulcers by using antibacterial mouthwashes, but that is only generally helpful if the ulcers are related to a bacterial infection. Experts have also identified a possible connection between some mouth ulcers and the use of toothpastes that contain a chemical called sodium lauryl sulfate, so some sufferers choose to avoid brands with the chemical.
Most of the over-the-counter mouth ulcer treatments aren’t really useful as cures. They mainly focus on dealing with symptoms. A common approach is to protect the ulcer with a coating of some kind while simultaneously numbing the area to deal with pain. Many people who suffer with mouth ulcers claim that this combination of treatments does a good job of dealing with the discomfort.
Most mouth ulcers will generally go away within a few weeks on their own and sometimes much sooner. Doctors commonly suggest that people should become concerned if mouth ulcers linger for more than 21 days. This could possibly be a sign that the mouth ulcer is caused by cancer or some other potentially serious issue.