Corticosteroids
If your first inclination is to see a physician for canker sore treatment, you will likely be given some type of corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are rather powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that are administered in a variety of medical conditions. As a medicine for canker sores, corticosteroids are intended to reduce the canker sore symptoms such as pain, itching, and irritation. If this is your first case of aphthous ulcers, you will almost certainly be given a topical corticosteroid, that is, a cream or ointment that is placed directly on the canker sore. This should relieve symptoms and may shorten the duration of the disease. If successful, topical corticosteroids might be used for any flare-ups or recurrences. If ineffective, you may need oral corticosteroids or an injection of this canker sore treatment into the aphthous ulcer.
Immunomodulators
Immunomodulators and immunosuppressants are reserved for relatively severe cases of aphthous ulcers. These drugs modify or suppress the immune system—not only at the ulcer—but all over the body in some cases. That is why these medications are used more or less as a last resort. If your physician uses these medications, be aware that you may be monitored for side effects from time to time, because they can be severe.
Anesthetics
Since most canker sores will go away in several days, some people look to control the pain until the mouth sore is gone. In this case, topical anesthetics are used to treat canker sores. The anesthetic is placed on and around the aphthous ulcer and is absorbed into the tongue or gums. This medication numbs the mouth by blocking pain signals around the sore. Anesthetics will not speed up the rate in which the canker sore heals, but they can provide immediate and profound pain relief. Some preparations are available over the counter.
Surgical care
There are very few effective surgical treatments for canker sores. Cutting the lesion away is not always practical, especially if the mouth sore covers a large area of the mouth. Plus, cutting the canker sore out does not mean that it will be gone for good. In fact, the trauma done by the surgery may provoke other canker sores. Cryotherapy has the same poor success rate. One promising surgical treatment for canker sores is laser therapy. In this approach, a laser ablates the ulcer in layers instead of cutting it away.
Home remedies for canker sores
Traditional home remedies for canker sores abound; some are effective and some are not. Some of the best home remedies are those that are based on medical treatments, such as corticosteroids and anesthetics. However various mouth rinses and topical treatments gathered from commonly available substances can sooth and relieve canker sore pain. While it may take some trial and error, home remedies for canker sores generally have few side effects and are inexpensive.
Alternative and homeopathic canker sore treatment
As with natural home remedies, alternative canker sore treatment has a place among other medicines for canker sores. Since stress can bring on or exacerbate recurrent aphthous ulcers, methods to relieve stress such as mediation, yoga, and massage therapy can prevent them. In addition, there are a number of herbal remedies that may be helpful for some people with canker sores.
References
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