How to get rid of a canker sore

Lip canker sores are painful and annoying, but easily treatable. Here’s what you need to know about treating them and getting rid of them, fast.

• You can probably easily identify a canker sore without the help of a doctor; it's that painful, small-to-medium sized, dense bump in your mouth, commonly found on the inside of the lip.
• When you take a peek at it, it is white in colour and localized to one area.
• The good news is that most sores are minor and easy to treat.

• If the sore is large, doesn’t resolve on its own within a week, or you have a fever and feel sick, it might be time to go see a doctor to identify the cause since one common origin of some mouth sores is a bacterial infection.
• With over 700 different strains of oral bacteria living in the mouth, it's not unreasonable to suspect an infection as the cause.
• In these cases, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for you to rinse and swallow.

• Lip canker sores are painful. To numb the pain, try taking an over-the-counter painkiller.
• Certain medicines can be put right on the sore to keep your canker from being further irritated while eating or brushing teeth.

If you are particularly prone to mouth ulcers, prevention might be a good approach to managing future breakouts.

• The need for a consistent oral hygiene routine goes without saying, however ensure it includes rinsing with a mouth wash.
• Some say that rinsing with salt water is also an efficient way to disinfect, as salt is damaging to many bacteria strains.

These sores are a pain, but treating them doesn’t have to be. Ensuring consistent oral hygiene is the best way to prevent and treat canker sores on the lips over the long term.