How to recognise and treat Mouth Ulcers (getting rid of canker sores) | Doctor O'Donovan explains...

Doctor O'Donovan explains how to recognise aphthous ulcers (mouth ulcers / canker sores), what causes them, how to treat them and when to seek urgent attention from a mouth ulcer which has been there for more than 3 weeks.

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The video is intended as an educational resource only. The information within this video or on this channel isn't designed to replace professional input, so if you have any medical issues please consult a medical provider. No professional relationship is being created by watching this video. Dr. O’Donovan cannot give any individual medical advice. All information should be verified for accuracy by the individual user. Dr O’Donovan accepts no responsibility for individual interpretation of data, although it is always accurate to the best of his knowledge at the time of the video being published. This is not clinical advice, it is a medical education resource.

[Amd]

Believe me, if you are a student or a teenager, it is often due to stress, so take my word for it 100 percent.😌

[suhtangwong]

Mines hit every other month or so and when it does, it lasts for about 3 weeks 🤦🏿‍♂️ it hurts soo disturbingly bad! I think it's caused from drinking energy drinks then eating sharp snacks like chips, once it rips and tears, it's gonna be a painful healing process. Hate it sooo much. Day 3.

[elmerjones]

I suffered from mouth ulcers ever since I was 15 - I'm 76 right now. Historically they would come and go lasting several weeks at a time and occurring three times a year.. One time I had one that lasted almost 5 months. As I aged I would get them more frequently. In the past I tried everything under the sun (for years) to help alleviate them -supplements, vitamins from a to z (zinc), mouthwashes, non fluoridated toothpastes ... Nothing worked or helped. My dentist would use silver nitrate sticks to cauterize them - It would work but, oh the pain.
I went to a dermatologist once and he told me he thought they were an autoimmune response of my body attacking the tissue. I also noticed that they would typically occur when my resistance was low - after a cold or the flu - or when I just felt my resistance was low. I had one doctor chuckle and tell me I can't feel my immunity - I can. In the late 90's -or early 2000's I watched a research program on resveratrol on PBS. Ok - I'll try it next time they occur.

It was like a miracle - the mouth ulcer soreness went away the next day after taking it. In a couple days they were gone. That was @16-17 years ago. I don't take resveratrol
every day. I haven't had a severe case ever since I discovered resveratrol. Now I take resveratrol whenever I think they are coming on or I notice a spot went it gets sore. I Take 250mg. capsules (grape seed extract) 2 to 3 times a day until they go away. I haven't had a case since I started taking them. Now I think that reservatrol is able to somehow boost my immunity. Now I take it when I think a cold is coming on or that I am coming down with the flu. Seriously, I used to get bad colds and the flu every year - even with yearly vaccinations. I haven't had a cold or flu in seven years. Somehow resveratrol works for me. More research papers are coming out regarding on the interference resveratrol has on viruses.
My wife has been taking it for a cold and flu preventative with success too. Somehow it works. I suggest for those suffering from mouth ulcers to give it a try - why not.

[matthanhaze]

I once had 12 of these around christmass. THE TIME YOU EAT THE MOST

[Psychonaut-imzz]

I'm vegetarian (not always eat healthy). When I get mouth ulcers it's a sign that I haven't been eating healthy, they usually disappear within days if I eat vegetables/cabbage/orange juice (healthy stuff)... If I keep on eating fries/unhealthy stuff they remain/get worse (don't eat chips). Those gels also work. But eating healthy is the remedy.

[WesleyFinn]

Thank you for being the dedicated, thoughtful, and compassionate doctor that you are Dr Obaz! You always go above and beyond and work tirelessly towards a healthy outcome. I feel so blessed to know you and have you as my doctor...

[mr.peaches]

As a brass player this really helps, thank you

[manders]

When I was in my 20s, I had really bad ulcers inside my mouth so bad I couldn’t eat or barely drink water. I lost 19 pounds in nine days I finally went to a second Doctor Who told me I had Vincents angina, trench mouth. Gave me an antibiotic injection and followed up with pills and I got better. I think it was penicillin.

[MrsSaxophonegirl]

I have one on my lower lip’s frenulum, it hurts to eat and talk. Thanks for this video doc! Just gonna try to ice it externally to reduce swelling

[JH-nbnn]

I bit my lip by accident so hard last week that it bled. It turned into an ulcer and hurts.

By the way if you struggle with ulcers it’s from grains and sugar. Causes mineral deficiencies and inflammation. Quit those and they will disappear 😀

[quackcement]

i know you can't give advice but, what would be useful is a list of treatments to ask my doctor about.- treatments that they don't require prescriptions and those that do require prescriptions.

[RatCityprincess]

I've had outbreaks since childhood. As a child it was diagnosed as allergic reaction to citrus juices and fruits, and carbonated drinks. It has held true my entire life. As a young adult I would have break outbreaks whenever I drank mixed alcoholic drinks. As an older adult I've experienced the most severe outbreak while doing chemo. Since then stress seems to be causing the outbreaks and for the first time ever in getting them near the outside of my mouth. It's taking longer to heal. Is there a medication I can take to speed recovery? Prescription or over the counter? I'd go to the doctor if I knew he could prescribe something. In the past I've been put on a diet of broth only. I'm unable to eat or drink anything but water at the moment, the pain in my mouth is almost a constant burning.

[AORD]

I had reoccurring mouth ulcers for 20 years now have NONE. I was deficient in B12 or B vitamins or folate or Iron or zinc, or all. Also now have zero sugar as it may interfere with absorption of vitamins, and help ulcers form. I eat Marmite 1 or 2 times a week, which has all the needed vitamins. B12 deficiency is a big cause.

[SummerJH]

*As someone who gets canker sores quite often I've found canker sore tablets are the best!* 👏🏻👏🏻 I also have canker sore mouth wash

[B-Drew]

I would occasionally get canker sores as a child (few times a year at most). I’m in my mid twenties now and for the last year I get one about every other week. They last 7-10 days and usually 5-7 days after they heal I’ll get a new one; sometimes multiple.. it’s been incredibly annoying and somewhat depressing, as I can’t enjoy food and drinks like I use to since this all started.

Edit: I went to the dentist and he told me that because of my over bite my lower teeth have been sharpening on the back of my top front teeth. They’ve gotten so sharp that I have unknowingly been cutting the tip of my tongue releasing bacteria in my mouth and causing infections. I’ve been wearing Invisiline the last 3 months and haven’t had a single sore.

[sherryls]

Can withdrawing from a medication cause inside lower lip area sores which r painful & irritating? Also, unpleasant taste in mouth: particularly tongue & roof of mouth? Tx for ur informative podcasts 👍

[lamusicas]

Here in the philippines, we use the towas powder because it helps alot because it is Known to have natural astringent properties that can shrink the infected soft tissues, Tawas Powder has the ability to speed up the process of closing wounds in the mouth by drawing out moisture, allowing it to heal faster. Tawas Powder is an antiseptic, too. Its antibacterial properties decrease the growth of bacteria in the mouth and reduce inflammation. In fact, not only is it great for treating canker sores but mouth ulcers in general.

[marialappas]

Mylanta I don’t know if I’m spelling it right but that works almost instantly

[intimatespearfisher]

Put 2 teaspoons of bi-carb in half a glass of water. Swoosh it round your mouth for a minute or so. Spit and repeat until glass is empty. Now get some on a clean spoon ( no double dipping lol).
Put bi-carb directly onto ulster and let it draw out the ulster like a poultice. Works better if you scrape the surface of the ulster first. Ouch, I know.
If it's in a part of the mouth that's upside down, press it in with the spoon and hold it there. Avoid sugar, alcohol and citrus for a while.
Repeat twice a day for 3 to 4 days. Should settle down after that

[Brandon-csgw]

I was using Debacterol responsbily & that would zap them enough to allow them to heal rapidly, but after a few years of using the drug, well after treating them they now reopen & grow bigger. I end up treating them up to 3 times over the course of two weeks depending on where they are in my mouth. If they're in a good spot like rubbing against my teeth, then I'm SOL. I need braces. I got bad overcrowding, so my teeth are always rubbing on the sides of my mouth. I can't use any soaps, toothpastes or mouthwashes that have Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. I instantly breakout in ulcers

Using tap water also causes me to breakout, if the pipes are galvanized metal. I'm allergic to galvanized metal. These things are not harmless. They're constant pain for several days, which can lead to desperate actions. Taking pain killers & vice versa in whatever attempt at getting access to your mouth back in order to eat & talk like a normal person again. I'm a firm believer that they're caused by our bodies response to eating processed foods. Eventually, the food breaks down the protective barreir in our mouths leading to open sores, which will form into ulcers. Cleaning your mouth regularly doesn't help as I've tried doing that

The products on the shelf are not safe to our oral health. The inside of our mouths are getting weaker, so they're more prone to sores forming. It's called Recurring Aphthous Stomatitis