Mouth ulcers are sores that appear in the mouth, often on the inside of the cheeks. It’s usually painful, can be extremely uncomfortable and make it difficult for some people to eat, drink, and brush their teeth. They are round or oval with a white or yellow center and a red rim.
Causes of mouth ulcers:
- Lack of vitamins like vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron.
- A sharp tooth or accidental biting of the inside of your cheek.
- Eating hard food items that may cause friction.
- Stress and anxiety in daily life.
- Smoking, etc.
Mouth ulcers need time to heal and there is no quick fix. Avoiding things that irritate your mouth ulcer should help: speed up the healing process, reduce pain, and reduce the chance of it returning. Tips:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Rinse mouth with saltwater.
- Visit the doctor.
- Prefer eating soft food/ diet.
- Prefer eating bland soft food like moong dal, idli, upma, soft vegetables including leafy vegetables and fruits.
- Sleep well.
- Stay active and exercise daily.
- Avoid stress. Try yoga. Yoga can help to relieve stress.
- Avoid eating rough, crunchy food.
- Avoid hot, acidic, hard, sharp, salty and spicy foods which aggravate the mouth ulcer.
- Avoid smoking and avoid drinking alcohol.
Home remedies:
- Apply ghee to the ulcers.
- Have fluids like buttermilk and fresh coconut water to improve digestion and help with healing.
- Chew tulsi leaves, their natural anti-inflammatory properties help healing.