What is a canker sore?

Canker sores are sores that you get on your mouth or around your mouth.  They're not contagious, but they can be irritating and painful.

Causes a Canker Sore:

 1. Stress
2. Acidic foods
3. Injuries to the inside of the mouth

Here are a few natural ways to reduce pain and help heal your canker sore without synthetic medication or surgery:

• Tannin: Found in Black tea
• Mouth wash: Mix together 2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, 2 teaspoonfuls of salt and 1 teaspoonful of baking soda and swirl it around your mouth for about 1 minute. Spit it out. Don't swallow.
• Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera juice a few times a day will help make the sore less painful
• Onion: Apply a raw onion to the canker sore
• Papaya: Suck on some papaya
• Plum Juice: 2 table spoons of plum juice and soak a cotton ball in the fluid. Compress it over your sore for a few minutes
• Soda: A cupful of warm soda and a pinch of salt
• Grapefruit Seed :Extract of grapefruit seed is a disinfectant and after a few applications, it should be gone!

What foods to eat and avoid if you have a Cold Sore?

Avoid: Acidic and salty foods. Chocolates, peanuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat are high in arginine, These are restricted. Avoid tea and coffee. 

Do Eat:  A vitamin enriched diet. Your diet must include vitamin A, C, E, Zinc, and iron.  Garlic is highly recommended in your diet. Eat fresh food with high antioxidants  and high complex carbohydrates. Avoid processed food. Eat lots of fruits and green leafy vegetables. 

Chiropractic: Chiropractic increases your immune and helps with keeping your body strong and allowing it to be able to protect you from harm and help you heal.  Contact us at our San Carlos, CA or San Francisco Chiropractic office to learn how we can help you with your health and wellness goals.

- Dr. Amie B. Gregory, DC, CCEP, ANF