Thread: mouth ulcers!!

okay, so this may be unrelated but I'm in major pain and am seeking guidance from the all knowing and powerful bellydancers around the world!

I have had problems for at least a year now and have seen over 4 different doctors/specialists and they have put me on steroids, anti-virals, antibiotics, blah blah blah. The only thing that really works was steroids, but it made me supper dupper depressed. Yeah, not good.

Anyhow, wondering if anyone has any home fixes? I've used cepacal-peroxide mixes to clean out my mouth after eat/drinking and that works to keep them away....but I don't always carry that with me. I'm more looking for a quick fix to make this nickle sized ulcer on the bottom of my tongue disappear!!! Like NOW.

It hurts to eat, drink, talk, chew, BREATH. I was okay with it, until I realized I can't eat brownies! The chocolate acidity makes it burnnnn. Maybe this is my quick fix diet? lol

Jenn, have you been tested for Vitamin B12 deficiency? I had the same thing and that's what the problem was with me. I can't absorb B12 from my food, so I have to have regular B12 injections- haven't had a problem since I started them! Over this side of the pond we have stuff called Bonjela, relieves the pain, but I couldn't find it in Canada, so I don't know if you can get it in the US... (I find Medi-Gel good too, but it might be the same story with that.)

OACH! Have they at least been able to narrow down what the cause is?

My first impulse is to tell you to eat yogurt with live cultures. Provided that you don't have any allergies to dairy. Also, up any intake of vitamins which will boost your immune system. Many times ulcers are caused by bacteria or viruses which linger. Strengthening your immune system helps radically.

{{{HUGS}}}

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I should look int B12 deficiency. I never even heard of that! I do have some mouth rinse that numbs my mouth, but it only lasts for about 5 minutes.

Their first inclination to the cause was "stress" I suppose that could be it, I've always overfilled my schedule. Haha. But then my allergist said "your mouth is very sensitive and I think you're just reacting to something you eat!!" so, I started the cepacal mix (like he recommended) and it works. It really does, but its just too darn hard to remember that stupid bottle of mouth wash every time you're not at home.

Now that you mention it.........Tahira. I got lazy with my multivitamins! Maybe I should take one right now.

I hadn't heard of it either, but apparently it's very very common. Might be worth checking out?

Originally Posted by Zara_dancer

I hadn't heard of it either, but apparently it's very very common. Might be worth checking out?

definitely work checking! How do they test you? Just curious...I'm wondering if its just a blood test they might be able to do it at work for me.

Thanks Zara.

For immediate relief and treatment, have you tried Canker Covers? Canker Sore Treatment

Good info here: WELCOME TO HEALTH 911

Yeah, blood test unfortunately! Good luck with that :)

Getting a b-12 shot even if you aren't low / don't have general absorption issuses, is good. Especially during cold and flu season.

{{{HUGS}}}

OH, I've had this sort of thing before, and it's miserable! Anyway - aside from other ideas about causes or preventions, there is a topical steroid preparation which I've found hugely helpful in getting mouth ulcers to heal and it has caused me no side effects. It's triamcinalone (brand name Kenalog) in a "dental paste" preparation (brand name Orabase). Comes in a tiny tube. The way to apply this it is: first blot the ulcer dry with a tissue, so the ointment will stick to it. Apply a blob of the ointment so it covers the ulcer and kind of flatten it out; then coat the surface of it with saliva (which magically changes that surface from tacky-sticky to smooth and slippery). This stuff will stick in place (delivering the steroid right where you need it) for quite a while. It's especially good to apply it at bedtime so it can stay on the longest without being disturbed. And yes, you do end up swallowing some of it, but the amount you take in from that is teeny compared to actually taking steroids in pill form. I used to get mouth sores that seemed to last forever and I was SO happy to discover it. You do need a doctor's prescription to get this. I've kept it on hand all the time for years and I just ask for a renewal of the prescription once a year at my annual physical.
Good luck!
Rosette

Originally Posted by Rosette

OH, I've had this sort of thing before, and it's miserable! Anyway - aside from other ideas about causes or preventions, there is a topical steroid preparation which I've found hugely helpful in getting mouth ulcers to heal and it has caused me no side effects. It's triamcinalone (brand name Kenalog) in a "dental paste" preparation (brand name Orabase). Comes in a tiny tube. The way to apply this it is: first blot the ulcer dry with a tissue, so the ointment will stick to it. Apply a blob of the ointment so it covers the ulcer and kind of flatten it out; then coat the surface of it with saliva (which magically changes that surface from tacky-sticky to smooth and slippery). This stuff will stick in place (delivering the steroid right where you need it) for quite a while. It's especially good to apply it at bedtime so it can stay on the longest without being disturbed. And yes, you do end up swallowing some of it, but the amount you take in from that is teeny compared to actually taking steroids in pill form. I used to get mouth sores that seemed to last forever and I was SO happy to discover it. You do need a doctor's prescription to get this. I've kept it on hand all the time for years and I just ask for a renewal of the prescription once a year at my annual physical.
Good luck!
Rosette

I've used this before, but it doesn't work! Thats weird. I have a triamine something lotion that I put on my skin (for sunpoisoning) that I put in my mouth sometimes and it works....tho i can't find it now. It is slightly toxic tho, so I'm not supposed to use it alllll the time.

I second Rosette's suggestion of Orabase! I REALLY found that helpful back when I used to have this problem! I'm surprised she says you need a prescription though - I've been able to buy it in drugstores. The same company also makes something called Orajel - I forget which I had, but I know it was in a very small tube and it was about the consistency of toothpaste. Check the part of your drugstore that sells toothpaste and other dental supplies.

Question: is there any chance that you have been taking ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, etc.) to deal with any other source of pain? One of ibuprofen's side effects can be to cause this horrid mouth sores. It doesn't happen to everyone, but it DOES happen to SOME people, including me. It's 100% predictable - if I take 800 milligrams of it (either 1 prescription-strength or 2 over-the-counter strength) with the usual recommended frequency, I'll get mouth sores every time. No exceptions. I'm okay with taking a single over-the-counter strength (400 mg), but if I try the higher dose my mouth punishes me.

From the Mayo clinic website:

* Rinse your mouth with salt water or over-the-counter preparations. Try diluted hydrogen peroxide or elixir of diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Be sure to spit the Benadryl out to avoid absorption, so that the medication doesn't make you sleepy.
* Dab a small amount of milk of magnesia on your canker sore a few times a day. This can ease the pain and may help the canker sore to heal.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I usually get these and use a sea salt water wash, or just a regular table salt wash.

they're caused by low immune system and of course stress. If you get them often I would find out what foods I'm allergic to, start taking a multi vitamin and stop drinking alcohol.

You're referring to the white sores in the mouth? Hurts when anything touches them? I feel your pain. That's gotta be tough. :0(

I have put salt on them and they go away in less than a day. Just straight up salt. Then I follow up with lots of hydration. I have a high pain threshold, however, so it's not for the faint of heart. But it works for me every time.

Shira,
I think you're quite right that Orabase is obtainable over the counter - and plain Orabase can help to relieve pain by shielding a mouth sore from irritation. What I was referring to is actually a preparation made of the Orabase paste plus a steroid - triamcinalone. This preparation is what I think one would probably need a prescription to get.

Also, Jenn, one other thought, just in case this might apply to you. When I had my worst oral ulcers ever (absolutely horrible, beyond anything else I had ever experienced, and I did have to take steroids), my doctor said she suspected the cause was "an autoimmune process" but she couldn't put a name to a specific autoimmune syndrome that I had. Some time later I was reading about echinacea, and I read that this herb, which people often take to stimulate immune response against colds, can aggravate autoimmune conditions . . . . and I realized that at the time when I had that horrendous outbreak of mouth sores, I had in fact been having a cold and was taking echinacea capsules 2 or 3 times a day. That was the first time I had ever tried taking echinacea in that way (and ever since then I stay absolutely away from it). So if by any chance you take echinacea, you might want to try stopping it - and bear in mind, they put echinacea is in all sorts of products these days - herbal teas, cold drinks, cough drops, etc.
Rosette

As a follow up to Canker Covers . . . I have had canker sores off and on since I was a little girl. I've rinsed with salt water, put salt directly on the sore, rinsed with diluted hydrogen peroxide, taken Lysine tablets, used some kind of paint-on liquid stuff. They all have helped, but now I'm a Canker Cover convert. As soon as I feel a sore developing (from stress or too much chocolate & nuts) I put one on and the sore goes away within 24 hours, pain-free. If a sore is already full-blown, it doesn't heal it as quickly, but it does help tremendously with the pain factor. Most drug stores carry them, I think WalMart does, too.

This is what I would do for myself. I usually find I only get ulcers if my diet has been poor plus lack of sleep.

Short term, make sure you floss after eating to reduce the level of bacteria in your mouth from rotting food between your teeth.

Long term, change to a health balanced diet that has an alkaline effect on your body. So lots of green fibrous vegetables and for a short while cut out red meat and replace with white meat like fresh fish, lean organic chicken breast. And use water to cook your food like steaming, boiling, casserole etc. No frying. Cut out the junk food like sugar, salty snacks.

Detox your skin in a sauna. The less toxic your body is the less stress you place on the immune system.

Make sleep and rest a priority to let your body recover.

Originally Posted by jenlindseys

okay, so this may be unrelated but I'm in major pain and am seeking guidance from the all knowing and powerful bellydancers around the world!

I have had problems for at least a year now and have seen over 4 different doctors/specialists and they have put me on steroids, anti-virals, antibiotics, blah blah blah. The only thing that really works was steroids, but it made me supper dupper depressed. Yeah, not good.

Anyhow, wondering if anyone has any home fixes? I've used cepacal-peroxide mixes to clean out my mouth after eat/drinking and that works to keep them away....but I don't always carry that with me. I'm more looking for a quick fix to make this nickle sized ulcer on the bottom of my tongue disappear!!! Like NOW.

It hurts to eat, drink, talk, chew, BREATH. I was okay with it, until I realized I can't eat brownies! The chocolate acidity makes it burnnnn. Maybe this is my quick fix diet? lol

Get your dentist to prescribe you "Magic Mouthwash" right away. That should help alot but do stay on top of finding the root of the problem.

Oh yeah, very important to floss and brush before you go to bed. Having a clean mouth while you sleep should help it heal better.

Originally Posted by Azhia

You're referring to the white sores in the mouth? Hurts when anything touches them? I feel your pain. That's gotta be tough. :0(

I have put salt on them and they go away in less than a day. Just straight up salt. Then I follow up with lots of hydration. I have a high pain threshold, however, so it's not for the faint of heart. But it works for me every time.

OOOOOOWWWW! damn azhia, you're a tough lady! woo!

the suggestions i had were just mentioned :p

but i had to say oooooow!

hmmm. I've tried the pure salt on them then I tried sea salt and they both hurt pretty pad. Though it never has helped. I tried it on day 2 of this one and I'm now on day 8! I can't figure out why I keep trying that.

I went a bought some numbing orabase stuff last night, CVS didn't have the canker cover that was mentioned- I was slightly bummed. It seems to help the pain.
I brought peroxide to work with me today and plan to rinse all day long! haha
I think my body just hates me and I need to remember this next time I forget to rinse after eating. Its so weird how some things work for some people and don't for others.

Thanks for the echinacea advice! I'll have to check because I have been drinking a lot of tea and diet coke to appease my caffeine addiction (I gave up coffee at least 6 months ago, but haven't weened off the tea yet!)