Though minor, mouth ulcers can cause significant discomfort, especially during summer when heat-related issues are common. Experts recommend the following six home remedies for treating mouth ulcers. Let's explore them.
1. Rinse with watermelon juice: Watermelon juice has heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. Hold watermelon juice in your mouth for 2–3 minutes before swallowing, repeating several times daily. This method is especially suitable for children.
2. Honey rinse or topical application: Honey internally clears heat and detoxifies, while externally it promotes wound healing, relieves pain, and stimulates cell regeneration. Rinse with a 10% honey solution 5–10 times daily, holding it in your mouth for about 3 minutes each time.Patients may also apply honey to the ulcer surface using a sterilized cotton swab. Leave the honey on the ulcer for about 15 minutes, then swallow it along with saliva. This can be done several times daily.
III. Applying Watermelon Frost Powder to Ulcerated Areas: Watermelon frost powder clears heat, reduces inflammation, and alleviates pain, making it an effective remedy for throat and oral ailments. Patients can crush several tablets into powder and apply it to the ulcerated area multiple times daily. Typically, ulcers heal within 2–3 days of application.
IV. Applying Yunnan Baiyao powder to the ulcer surface: Yunnan Baiyao dissolves blood stasis, stops bleeding, fights inflammation, detoxifies, and reduces swelling. Patients with oral ulcers can apply a small amount of Yunnan Baiyao powder externally to the ulcer surface. Apply twice daily; the ulcer surface will generally heal within 2–3 days.
V. Applying Borneol to the Ulcer Surface: Oral ulcer patients can use a sterilized cotton swab to apply borneol to the ulcer surface twice daily. This method is characterized by rapid effectiveness, typically healing the ulcer within 1–2 days. However, note that borneol has a pungent and cooling nature and should not be used frequently.
VI. Applying Liushen Pill Powder to the Ulcer: Patients can grind 30 Liushen pills into powder, then mix with 2 ml of cool boiled water to form a thin paste.Patients can use a sterilized cotton swab to apply the paste directly to the ulcer surface. This method is highly effective at relieving pain, typically providing relief within 5 minutes of application. It is best used 10-15 minutes before meals to minimize discomfort during eating.
However, experts emphasize that these treatments only address the symptoms.In reality, oral ulcers often stem from gastrointestinal dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, weakened immunity, poor oral hygiene, or psychological stress. Therefore, the most effective prevention and treatment involves maintaining good oral hygiene, keeping a positive mindset, avoiding excessive fatigue, drinking ample water, consuming fresh vegetables and fruits, and minimizing intake of spicy or irritating foods.