Mouth ulcers, also referred to as canker sores, refer small lesions that can develop on the base of gums, on the tongue, and anywhere else in the mouth. While these mouth ulcers are generally harmless, they can make drinking, eating, and even talking very uncomfortable. Here are a few tips that will help you treat your mouth ulcers.
Wait It Out
The vast majority of mouth ulcers don’t require much treatment. If your mouth ulcers aren’t severe, you will find that they will simply heal on their own within about two weeks. However, if your ulcers are so painful and severe that you have a hard time doing normal activities like eating, you may need to pursue treatment from a dentist.
Ulcers may be a sign of an underlying condition that must be treated right away. For example, a sharp tooth or fillings are both common causes of ulcers. In such a case, the ulcers may not go away unless you treat the underlying problem.
Use a Soft Toothbrush
You should use a toothbrush with soft bristles if you have mouth ulcers. The toothbrush with soft bristles will not irritate the mouth ulcers as much as a toothbrush with hard bristles will. Try not to brush over the mouth ulcers, especially if they happen to be open.
Change Your Diet
As you may know from experience, mouth ulcers can make eating difficult and painful. Therefore, you should change your diet to make this everyday activity as painless as possible for you. Avoid any hard and sharp foods that may irritate your mouth ulcers.
You also want to stop eating soft and acidic foods and beverages until your mouth ulcers heal on their own. In general, you should make softer foods a big part of your diet, as these foods are easy to eat without irritating the soft tissue of the mouth.
As you can see, there are many things you can do to speed up the healing process for mouth ulcers, or at least make yourself more comfortable as you wait for the ulcers to go away.
