Help Heal Mouth Sores Faster With These 6 Tips

Weakened immunity caused by poor living habits is the real culprit keeping mouth sores from healing.

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Does pain from mouth sores prevent you from enjoying your meal? Weakened immunity caused by poor living habits is the real culprit keeping mouth sores from healing. Chien-Tung Wu from Taiwan Yong Sheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic recommends six dietary patterns and lifestyle habits to speed up the recovery of mouth sores.

Depending on different triggers, Western medicine divides mouth sores into categories like herpetic gingivostomatitis, oropharyngeal candidiasis, etc. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), according to the severity of the wound, relatively small sores are called aphthous ulcers (canker sores), and sores spreading within the mouth are called aphthous stomatitis (recurrent canker sores). Mr. Wu divides the body types that cause mouth sores into three major types.

3 Body Constitutions Prone to Mouth Sores

The following are three types of constitutions that make people more prone to mouth sores:

1. Dampness and heat in the spleen and stomach: Those who like to eat grilled, fried, spicy, and other “hot” foods and drink little water will have strong spleen and stomach fire, which can lead to inflammation of the epithelial tissue and development of mouth sores.
2. Yin deficiency with excess heat: People who are overworked, stay up late, or have low energy after a serious illness are prone to sores in their mouths due to yin deficiency with excess heat.
3. Weak spleen and stomach: People with weak spleen and stomach have difficulty absorbing nutrients. Once the sores break out, there are not enough nutrients to repair the damage to the epithelial tissue.

TCM uses the theory of yin and yang to explain the human body’s biological activities, the causes of disease, and pathological changes. This understanding allows practitioners to guide disease diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. TCM believes when the body’s yin and yang are out of balance, and internal fire is strong, it results in “excess fire.” This fire describes specific heat symptoms, such as red and swollen eyes, mouth sores, yellow urine, toothache, sore throat, etc.

In many cases, accidentally biting the inside of one’s mouth can cause a mouth sore, and these should heal in three to five days. If it does not heal, it may be caused by poor healing capacity due to the three body constitutions mentioned above. It could also be immune dysfunction, stomatitis, or other diseases. Seek medical advice in this case.

6 Diet Tips to Heal Mouth Sores

In addition to using TCM to improve the body constitution caused by excess heat, Mr. Wu suggested the following six dietary habits to help speed up the recovery or reduce the occurrence of mouth sores:

1. Avoid eating hard objects, such as nuts, which can cut the lining of the mouth, increasing the chance of injury.
2. Don’t eat grilled, fried, or spicy foods: These are leading causes of excess heat. Getting rid of bad eating habits can reduce the chance of mouth sores.
3. Avoid refined sugar: Refined sugar increases inflammation and leads to an overheated body type.
4. Drink more water: Drinking more water increases metabolism, removes toxins, and reduces inflammation.
5. Eat more fruits and vegetables: Brightly colored fruits and vegetables have antioxidant properties, which can reduce inflammation and excess heat.
6. Eat more protein: Protein is an essential element for human cell repair. Eating more protein can help your body repair itself.

Mr. Wu also said that while you have sores, try to eat liquid or soft food and drink through a straw to avoid irritating the wound. Good oral health care, such as brushing your teeth frequently and using mouthwash and flossing, can reduce oral bacteria and increase the chance of mouth sores healing.

In addition, Mr. Wu said that immunity is the key to reducing and healing sores. A regular daily routine, a balanced diet, and more exercise can improve immunity and shorten the repair time of epithelial cells.

Other Tips for Healing Mouth Sores

Many medicines are suitable for mouth sores, such as the externally used Chinese medicine “watermelon frost,” which can resolve mouth sores caused by excess heat. Oral ointments may also help form a protective film to prevent scratching the wound. Japan has a popular mouth sore patch that protects wounds but does not heal the sores.

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Based on personal experience, I found that Unitein toothpaste, which claims to repair and shrink gum cells, shortens the time it takes to repair sores. It makes my sores, which usually take a week to heal, appear white on the second day after applying the toothpaste. The mouth sore is still there, but when I touch it, the wound is no longer painful and has shrunk by the third day.

The main ingredients of Unitein toothpaste are frankincense, myrrh, and unitein. Frankincense has been used as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drug since ancient times, and myrrh has been recorded in TCM as having antibacterial properties, increasing immunity, and purifying blood. Unitein is a patented ingredient made by fermenting red ginseng, tangerine peel, and natto.

Although some herbal ingredients may sound unfamiliar, many can be found in health food and Asian grocery stores. The corresponding treatment methods may also vary since each person’s constitution differs. It is advisable to consult a professional physician for a specific treatment plan.