How to Avoid Getting Canker Sores

1. Step1

   Practice good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice daily, and floss daily.

2. Step2

   Use toothpaste without sodium laurel sulfate, which has been implicated in aggravating canker sores.

3. Step3

   Avoid mouth trauma. Don't bite the insides of your cheek, and avoid exposing the lining of your mouth to sharp objects, including hard-bristled toothbrushes.

4. Step4

   Avoid foods that are believed to trigger attacks. Chocolate, salted nuts and potato chips may contribute to canker sores, though there is currently little authoritative evidence of this.

Treat Canker Sores

These painful sores inside the mouth may be triggered by stress, injury, nutritional deficiencies, menstruation or genetic factors. They usually clear up in one to two weeks.

1. Step1

   Avoid hot and spicy foods, which can irritate canker sores.

2. Step2

   Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush to lessen aggravation.

3. Step3

   Apply crushed ice or an over-the-counter oral anesthetic to the sore to numb the pain.

4. Step4

   Practice good oral hygiene. Rinse with mouthwash or salt water, and try brushing with a toothpaste free of sodium laurel sulfate, which has been implicated in aggravating canker sores.

5. Step5

   Consult a doctor if sores persist longer than two weeks, recur more than two or three times a year, are extremely painful, or occur with other symptoms, such as fever, diarrhea or skin rash.

6. Step6

   Talk to your doctor about treating the sores with oral or topical steroids or oral antibiotics