Health Tip: Caring for a Canker Sore

(HealthDay News) -- If you have a canker sore, it may be painful to chew until it goes away, which usually happens on its own over time.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help relieve the pain of a canker sore:

• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Try a topical pain-relieving ointment for canker sores, such as Anbesol, Zilactin-B, Orabase or Orajel.
• Rinse your mouth with a solution of equal parts Milk of Magnesia and Benadryl liquid allergy medication. Rinse with, but don''t swallow the solution, every few hours.
• Take vitamin C or a vitamin B complex.
• Take zinc lozenges, or an herbal mouthwash that contains sage and chamomile.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: Feb. 06, 2009

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