Baking soda

One of the most effective ways to help your canker sore heal faster is by keeping it away from anything acidic. The acid erodes the ulcer and makes it extremely painful and interferes with its healing because bad bacteria thrive in an acidic environment. One way to alkalinize your canker sore is to use baking soda, which is readily available at home. 

This study showed that rinsing with baking soda is a safe and effective alternative to alcohol-based mouthwashes and chlorhexidine (Peridex). There are a few ways that baking soda can be used to help decrease the pain and speed healing. You can use it as a mouthwash, a paste, or combine it with other soothing ingredients.

Baking Soda Paste

• 1 tsp of baking soda

• ¼ tsp of salt

• ¾ tsp coconut oil or honey

Dry the ulcer with a cotton swab and dab the paste directly on the canker sore using a Q-tip. If the salt hurts too much, you may skip it. You may alternate with a salt mouth rinse instead.

The Benefits of Baking Soda, Salt, Coconut Oil, and Honey on Canker Sores

• Baking soda decreases acidity and kills off bacteria

• Salt draws water from the bacteria and prevents them from multiplying

• Coconut oil is antibacterial and antioxidant

• Honey is very soothing to your canker sore and also has healing properties. A randomized placebo-controlled trial showed that honey was more effective in reducing the size, pain, and redness of oral ulcer than topical corticosteroid or Ora-base treatment.

Baking soda mouth rinse

• 8 oz. water

• 1-1/2 tsp of baking soda

• Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil, honey, myrrh oil, or tea tree oil.

• Shake before use

Why this is effective

• Baking soda decreases acidity and kills off bacteria

• Eucalyptus oil has a cooling and numbing effect in addition to having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties

• Honey is very soothing and adds flavor to the mouth rinse

• Myrrh oil is very effective as an anti-inflammatory agent for oral irritations. This study showed that it is effective against a more severe form of oral ulcer that is manifested in Behcet's Disease.

• Tea tree oil contains approximately 100 active compounds. This article illustrates the specific mechanisms to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. 

It is very important to keep your mouth alkaline when you have a canker sore. Acid is your enemy because it eats into your ulcer which causes excruciating pain and lengthen healing time by allowing bacteria to replicate.

Sandie Tran, Pharm.D.