What is the treatment for aphthous ulcers?
There is no cure for aphthous ulcers. The main goal of treatment is to lessen the pain and discomfort they cause and promote healing of the ulcers. Most recurrent minor aphthous ulcers heal within 1-2 weeks without any treatment. The following remedies and precautions may help. • Protective pastes that form a barrier over the ulcer so that exposure to irritating substances is reduced. • Where available, superficial tissue cauterization using Debacterol® or use a silver nitrate stick • Numbing agents such as the local anaesthetics benzocaine and lignocaine (lidocaine) to help reduce pain. • Antibacterial mouthwashes to reduce secondary infection. • Avoid products or food that you know trigger or exacerbate ulcers. • Improve diet or take dietary supplements of vitamins or minerals that you may be lacking in. • Reduce stress! • Prescription topical corticosteroids such as Kenalog in Orabase® or Oracort® are sometimes used in very painful and hard to heal ulcers. • Calcineurin inhibitors s
