[edit] Prescription drugs
Mouth rinses can be used to numb the mouth temporarily in order to eat more comfortably. Lidocaine mouthwash helps some people eat more if they use it prior to a meal.
Many people have found relief using MAGIC SWIZZLE, which contains magnesium and aluminum hydroxides, diphenhydramine hydrochloride and lidocaine in a liquid base.
The dentist recommended Gelclair. Here is the link: http://www.gelclair.com/ It is a mouth rinse or gel made specifically for treating mucositis from chemotherapy.
There is a solution for the mouth sores. It works like a charm. It is chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% oral rinse. It's the generic for peridex. It's pretty cheap but you need a prescription.
There is a RX. mouthwash called Peridex, or its generic is called chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12%. In the U.S.A. it's about 12 dollars for 473ml.
The prescription is as follows: Carafate 1GM/10ML suspension. I looked up Carafate and it seems this is used for stomach (peptic) ulcers. The doctor explained the process of how these sores begin. He mentioned prostagladins realted to the digestive tract. He warned against ibuprophen (causes a disturbance in prostagladins)...etc. He said this works in 85% of his patients that suffer canker sores/mouth sores. And usually within a few hours. I was pain free w/in a few hours after starting the rinse. And after two days, they were completely gone. I had another breakout last week...started right away and the sores were gone the next day. I have never had anything work this well.
Was doing a little research on Carafate and Mouth Ulcers and wanted to share this: "Some doctors also prescribe Carafate for ulcers in the mouth and esophagus that develop during cancer therapy, for digestive tract irritation caused by drugs, for long-term treatment of stomach ulcers, and to relieve pain following tonsil removal."
It also states not to use an antacid within 30 minutes of taking it. My RX says to swallow after swishing, but I don't. I swish and spit....
[edit] Non-prescription approaches
"How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine" suggests a special extract of licorice root, called DGL, is extremely helpful in healing mouth ulcers that are often experienced by people on chemotherapy. DGL is the abbreviation of deglycyrrhizinated licorice and it is produced by removing glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) from concentrated licorice. GA is the compound which can result in elevations in blood pressure because of sodium and water retention. YES, eating too much REAL licorice can raise blood pressure. Standard dosage for DGL is one or two chewable tablets containing 400 mg. DGL taken between meals or 20 minutes before meals. For DGL to be effective it must mix with saliva. Taking DGL in capsules doesn't work. If you mouth is too sore to chew the tablets, let them dissolve in your mouth, or you can crush tehm and dissolve them in water.
KIWI FRUIT: I'm a dental hygienist and was diagnosed with GIST. At my job we recommend eating kiwi fruit to get rid of apthous ulcers in the mouth where it will help the ulcers go away sooner and can also help prevent them. Patients have had some good results. It's worth a try and very healthy. I have not had any ulcers to try this on myself but my son has and his went away in two days.
ORALSOOTH is a unique dietary supplement formulated from all natural herbs for soothing canker sores and tooth pain. http://novahealthproducts.com/
TOOTHPASTES
- Biotene toothpaste for dry mouth
- children's toothpastes that are less "minty"
- Ora-Gel brand toothpastes
- Aquafresh for kids
- Tom's of Maine brand
Oral pain can also be reduced by applying cool, wet chamomile or green tea bags to the lesions, says Kim Dalzell, PhD, RD, author of Challenge Cancer and Win!
Swish and drink sauerkraut or cabbage juice. Vitamin U, also known as the S-methyl methionine (SMM) is probably the reason why sauerkraut and cabbage juice are effective remedies for healing ulcers in the mouth and digestive tract. However, it isn't really a vitamin. An amino acid, SMM works in the digestive tract by stimulating the production of mucin. This compound is secreted by the stomach lining to protect itself from strong digestive juices. Most often, stomach problems result from a lack of protective mucin, not from overproduction of acid.
Vitamin U was first identified in the 1950's by Dr. Garnett Cheney at the University of CA. He was looking into the powers of a traditional therapy: cabbage juice to heal digestive ulcers. In one trial, 100 patients diagnosed with peptic ulcers drank four glasses a day of fresh cabbage juice. Within a week, 81 of the patients showed no signs of their ulcer (but they had no friends! - HA!). In a later trial, 52 of 55 patients saw relief from all symptoms of their ulcer within five days, and on average were completely healed in less than 12 days (Calif Med 52;77:248-252)
In later studies, Dr. Cheney used only 50 mL of freshly made juice (about 1-1/2 ounces) four times a day. It's fine to make six to eight ounces of juice at a time and store what you don't drink right away in the refrigerator.
Stories vary as to whether Dr. Cheney intended the "U" to stand for "ulcer" or "unknown". Regardless, he believed that ulcers were due to a nutritional deficiency and that he had discovered the necessary compound, which he named "cabigin". Later investigation of the chemical structure showed that cabigin was in fact SMM.
[edit] Personal Experiences
In the past 40 years I use Chamomile flowers and concentrated Chamomile in alcohol in order to fight mouth infections, pains and swelling due to teeth problems.
My doctor encouraged me to try taking Glucosamine powder - 2 tsp of powder with 8 oz juice/4x a day, the first four days of my on-cycle. We are currently traveling so I haven't been as faithful in taking it. I am not sure yet if it works but it's supposed to have helped patients on chemo therapy who develop mouth sores. You might want to give it a try. I gargle a prescription mouthwash called BMX that helps numb my mouth for a few minutes so I can eat.
This is probably what most would call an "old wive's tale" but a few weeks ago I had a big cold sore in the corner of my mouth on the outside. A friend told me to put vanilla on it, that is what her mother had always told her to do. I tried it and it worked! Took the soreness out and dried the cold sore up quickly. I would use it about once or twice a day. Shouldn't be anything in vanilla that would hurt anything even using on the inside of the mouth.
When I had braces as a child that caused mouth sores, I got a lot of popsicles. They helped numb the pain. I know that for kids, there is a popsicle from pedialyte, that may give some electrolytes, too. I would think that would help an adult, too.
In my experience taking a folic acid supplement once a week eliminates the painful mouth sores.
I just went to a seminar and mouth pain was discussed ( I am a dental hygienist). Thought I would share some therapys that were highlighted:
Concerning mouth rinses:
1. Alkaline saline (Salt/Bicarbonate) mouth rinse Mix 1/2 tsp each of salt and baking soda in glass of WATER Rinse with copious amounts 4 times a day
2. Chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12%. Get a rx for this from your doctor or dentist. BTW: I use/garlge with this when I feel a sore throat coming on and it zaps it. One bad side effect is horrible staining on teeth (which does come off with a cleaning).
3. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) with Maalox. (This is most recommended) Equal amounts of both. Rinse with 1-2 tsp every two hours (especially before eating) and spit it put. REFRIGERATE. This is very important! It makes it work longer in your mouth! (20-30 minutes)
4. Dyclonine HCL (Dyclone) 5%
5. Lidocaine (Xylocaine) viscous 2%. Gargle every 4 hours and spit it out.
6. Rincinol P.R.N. Dose pack (OTC) I am not familiar with this or where you can buy it.
7. Another OTC: Ulcerease. Alchol free and comes in 180 ml bottle. Gargle and spit every two hours.
8. One thing mentioned ( more for chronic canker sores) was Lidex gel. (Fluocinonide)
For Burning Mouth syndrome:
1. Lubrication (Biotene products, Oral Balance Gel, MouthKote, Lansinoh) 2. Candidiasis treatment 3. Nutritional treatment (L-lysing, B12, Folate, Iron and Zinc) 4. Eliminate triclosan/tarter control products 5. Capsaicin 6. Alpha Lipoic Acid
One more thing is DRY MOUTH.
1. Sip water throughout the day 2. Suck on ice (do not chew) 3. Discontinue alcohol (including mouthwashes) caffiene and sodas 4. Humidfy sleeping area (cool mist vaporizer) 5. Keep lips mosturized with lanolin 6. Fluoride supplementation 7. Biotene dry mouth toothpaste and mouthwash 8. Mouth Kote Oral Moisturizer spray bottle "Mucopolysaccharides from Yerba Santa Plant".........????