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HEALING MOUTH ULCERS
Mouth ulcers are painful, round or oval sores that form in the mouth. Causes include: vigorous brushing of teeth, ill health, minor burns from hot food/drink, stress, vitamin B12 deficiency, biting the inside of the mouth accidentally or a tooth that’s become rough.
TOP TIPS
- Eat a diet rich in fresh fruit, lean red meat, leafy green vegetables, sea-foods, wholegrain bread and cereals.
- Limit: hot food/drinks, neat spirits, tobacco, hot spices, dairy, oily foods, sugar, garlic, onion/salt, acidic foods e.g. citrus, tomatoes, pineapple, vinegar and animal protein.
- Drink ½ cup cranberry juice between meals to help to relieve irritation.
- Eat at least one 8oz of live yoghurt a day or apply 1 open capsule of lactobacillus acidophilus twice daily.
- Sage tea can help treat inflammations of the mouth. Use two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Let it cool, then gargle. NOTE: You should not drink too much of this tea. Sage contains thujone, a compound that in high doses may cause convulsions.
- Gargling and swallowing soluble paracetamol relieves pain.
- Rinsing mouth with iced water before a meal.
- Mix 1 teaspoon honey with ¼ teaspoon turmeric and rub on ulcer.
- Recommended supplements: B complex, rub the liquid from a vitamin E capsule directly on the sore three times a day, zinc and a multi-vitamin and mineral.
- If your toothpaste stings, use a bicarbonate of soda mouth wash instead (one teaspoon dissolved in a mug of warm water). Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a component of some toothpastes, is a potential cause of mouth ulcers. If you have recurrent mouth ulcers use a SLS-free toothpaste for several months to see if that helps.
- Suck on liquorice or zinc lozenges.
- If you keep getting ulcers or you have an ulcer that isn’t healing, consult your GP.
Tags: acidophilus, anti-oxidants, Health Supplements, Immune System, mouth ulcers, nutritional supplements, vitamin supplements, zinc
