Natural treatments for canker sores

DEFINITION: Treatment of mouth ulcers or sores.

• PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Saltwater or baking soda rinse
• OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Acidophilus, calendula, caraway, deglycyrrhizinated licorice, lactic acid, sage, echinacea, coconut oil, chamomile, natural rinses, oak bark, Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove), slippery elm, B vitamins, witch hazel, honey, dietary changes

Introduction

Canker sores are small ulcers in the mouth—also called aphthous ulcers—that develop on the soft tissues inside the mouth or at the base of the gums. Susceptibility to canker sores tends to run in families. They are not caused by the viruses that cause cold sores and are not contagious. Minor canker sores rarely require treatment, but clinicians treat more significant sores with oral or topical medicine, and patients sometimes use natural options as well.

Proposed Natural Treatments

A preliminary study suggests that a chemically altered form of the herb licorice known as deglycyrrhizinated licorice may be useful for speeding the resolution of canker sores. In a second, better-designed trial employing a dissolving adhesive patch with glycyrrhiza root extract, researchers noted an improvement in ulcer size and pain compared to a placebo patch. Simple rinses such as saltwater or a mixture of baking soda and water remain widely recommended as inexpensive, low-risk approaches to help ease pain and reduce bacterial load.

A product containing vitamins and minerals and the herbs paprika, rosemary, peppermint, milfoil, hawthorn, and pumpkin seed has been used in Scandinavia for many years as a treatment for various mouth-related conditions. A small six-month study reported that using this product could reduce the frequency of canker sores. However, two subsequent studies failed to find any meaningful benefit. One small double-blind study found benefits with an extract of the bark of the red mangrove tree, Rhizophora mangle.

A study performed in Iraq reported benefits through using a mouthwash containing 5 percent lactic acid. Patients can also rinse their mouths with apple cider vinegar, alum powder, salt water, or baking soda. Consuming honey and yogurt has been shown to reduce inflammation and restore integral gut health. Small double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have shown benefits from using honey, zinc, and vitamin B12. Making dietary changes and avoiding trigger foods have been shown to be helpful. Coconut oil, chamomile compresses, echinacea, and sage have also shown effectiveness. Doctors often prescribe supplements containing folate, zinc, and vitamins B6 and B12 to patients suffering from canker sores. Other herbs and supplements sometimes recommended for canker sores but lacking supporting evidence include caraway, oak bark, witch hazel, acidophilus, calendula, slippery elm, and vitamin B₁. Another study failed to find that alpha-linolenic acid from perilla oil reduced the incidence of canker sores.

Bibliography

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"Canker Sore - Diagnosis and Treatment." Mayo Clinic, 3 Apr. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/canker-sore/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370620. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.

De Armas, E., et al. "Efficacy of Rhizophora Mangle Aqueous Bark Extract (RMABE) in the Treatment of Aphthous Ulcers: A Pilot Study." Current Medical Research and Opinion, vol. 21, 2005, pp. 1711-1715, doi: 10.1185/030079905X65493.

Fontaine, Dominique, and Annette McDermott. "Ways to Get Rid of Canker Sores (Aphthous Ulcer)." Healthline, 19 Jan. 2024, www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/how-to-get-rid-of-canker-sores#home-remedies. Accessed 7 Sept. 2024.

Gatta, Frances, and Kristin Mitchell. “Canker Sores: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and Remedies.” WebMD, 23 May 2024, www.webmd.com/oral-health/canker-sores. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.

Hamazaki, K., et al. "Effects of Cooking Plant Oils on Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis." Nutrition, vol. 22, 2006, pp. 534-538.

"How Salt Water Mouth Rinse Benefits Oral Health." Colgate, 9 Jan. 2023, www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/mouth-sores-and-infections/how-salt-water-mouth-rinse-benefits-oral-health. Accessed 7 Sept. 2024.

Kolseth, I., et al. "Norwegian LongoVital and Recurrent Aphthous Ulceration." Oral Diseases, vol. 11, 2005, pp. 374-378.

Martin, M. D., et al. "A Controlled Trial of a Dissolving Oral Patch Concerning Glycyrrhiza (Licorice) Herbal Extract for the Treatment of Aphthous Ulcers." General Dentistry, vol. 56, 2008, pp. 206-210.

Sharquie, K. E., et al. "Lactic Acid 5 Percent Mouthwash Is an Effective Mode of Therapy in Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Ulcerations." Dermatology Online Journal, vol. 12, 2006, p. 2.