If you thought biting your lip or inner cheek was painful enough, the canker sore that’s bound to develop shortly after will give you even more to worry about.
Canker sores are different from cold sores, but they are equally annoying. These small, white craters are a result of minor infections that develop over an open wound on the lips or in the oral cavity.
Eating, speaking, and basic oral hygiene can be very difficult if you have a canker sore, so it’s anyone’s priority to get rid of the annoying little infection as soon as possible. Remedies for canker sores are very common as over the counter products, but with so many different types of medicines, it can be hard to choose.
If you want to get rid of your canker sore but you don’t know which product will work for you, this comprehensive buying guide should help you land the best canker sore medicine.
Best Canker Sore Medicine Reviews
1. Tanac Liquid for Relief of Painful Mouth Sores
This canker sore liquid remedy has received high praise from lots of consumers, which is why it has been dubbed the best canker sore medicine available today.
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Tanac No Sting Liquid for Relief of Mouth Sores, although a temporary remedy, is a powerful numbing agent that relieves pain and keeps canker sore discomfort at bay for hours on end. Ten percent of the formulation is composed of benzocaine, which is a safe and potent anesthetic commonly used for oral irritations.
This product is among the most affordable options on the list, which is why it’s a mainstay in many people’s desk drawers and bags. With powerful numbing properties and zero side effects at a pocket-friendly price, it becomes a practical choice for most canker sore sufferers.
Pros:
- Safe and powerful numbing agent
- Affordable
- Unlikely to cause side effects
Con:
- Takes a while to heal canker sores
2. Anbesol Liquid Maximum Strength
Coming in at a close second is Anbesol Oral Anesthetic Maximum Strength Instant Pain Relief.
Review
Containing 20% of benzocaine, Anbesol proves to have double the numbing power that Tanac has, which makes it a prime selection for people who have low tolerance for canker sore pain.
It’s important to bear in mind however that because of the potency of the product, it can cause some sharp pain upon application. This can add to users’ discomfort, so be sure that you brace for a moment of stinging sensation before you feel any relief.
Pros:
- Fast-acting
- Great for people with a low tolerance for canker sore pain
- Soothes and heals
Con:
- Stinging sensation upon application
3. Zilactin-B Long Lasting Mouth Sore Gel
If you don’t want to have to keep reapplying over and over throughout the day, Zilactin-B Long Lasting Mouth Sore Gel is the best choice for you.
Review
Offering pain relief from canker sores for up to 6 hours after use, Zilactin-B Long Lasting Mouth Sore Gel is an ideal remedy for those who don’t have the time to reapply remedies after every hour.
Although generally effective, Zilactin-B Long Lasting Mouth Sore Gel is a little less potent when it comes to pain relief. To get the best results, you may have to slather on copious amounts per use, which can easily finish up an entire tube in less than a week, depending on how long your canker sore persists.
Pros:
- Easy and convenient application
- Long-lasting pain relief
- Helps with other mouth irritants
Con:
- Need a lot of product to get effective results
4. Monoplex Canker Sore Relief Pills
The Monoplex Canker Sore Relief Pills are convenient because they come in pill form. Just take one, and you’re done; no need for reapplication. That’s a good thing because many often forget to reapply, delaying their recovery from canker sores.
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These pills contain all the essential vitamins you need to prevent and rid yourself of canker sores once and for all. Its key ingredient is vitamin B12, whose deficiency is the main reason people develop canker sores in the first place.
The formula also contains lysine, deglycyrrhizinated licorice, zinc, glutamine, and vitamin C. This combination soothes, heals, and reduces the symptoms that come with canker sores efficiently and effectively.
Pros:
- Significantly reduces canker sores in the first month
- Prevents and heals canker sores
- Addresses a range of mouth ulcers
Con:
- Might not work on fungi infection
5. Dentemp Canker Cover
If you don’t want canker sores ruining your day, consider using the Dentemp Canker Cover to experience relief quickly. What’s great about this formula is that it heals while also delivering a soothing menthol feeling that addresses pain and makes you feel like you don’t have canker sores to begin with.
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The Dentemp Canker Cover contains six soothing patches that provide instant pain relief, protection, and fast healing. Place a tablet over your canker store to kick off the healing process on the best note.
Not only do these miracle tablets speed up recovery, but they also prevent outbreaks and protect from other mouth irritants.
These Dentemp canker tablets work fast and may have you canker-sore-free by the next day. They are also designed for your health, containing low calories and no preservatives, glucose, sucrose, or lactose.
The best part is that they are easy to use. Just place a tablet over your sore and wait a few minutes for it to form a gel over the affected area. The gel seals the sore from the rest of the mouth while it heals.
Pros:
- The Dentemp Promise: safest and highest quality products
- Healthy formula
- Protects from other mouth irritants
- Delivers a soothing menthol feeling
Con:
- Gel can be difficult to remove
6. Abreva Docosanol 10 Percent Cream Cold Sore Treatment
A healthy way to get rid of cold sores and canker sores comes in the form of the Abreva Docosanol 10 Percent Cream. With this cold sore treatment, those blisters in your mouth won’t know what hit them.
Review
The Abreva Docosanol seeps deep into your mouth blister to address the root cause of the pain, itching, tingling, and burning.
The formula contains 10 percent docosanol to reduce cold sore and canker sore symptoms. Unlike other remedies, they provide a more holistic healing effect instead of just a soothing sensation to temporarily address the pain.
Use the cream five times a day and witness significant healing by the second day!
Pros:
- Fast-acting treatment
- Addresses the root cause of cold sores and canker sores
- Reduces the symptoms of mouth blisters
Con:
- Lips may feel itchy upon application
7. CUROXEN Mouth Sore Relief
The magic of Curoxen Mouth Sore Relief lies in Calendula, an extract of the Pot Marigold’s flower petals that have been used for healing purposes throughout history.
Review
Calendula is the key ingredient in Curoxen’s Mouth Sore Relief that targets the root cause of the infection. This germ-killing ingredient can kill up to 99.9 percent of bacteria within an hour, according to an independently accredited lab study.
You would think there were chemicals involved with that kind of “power,” but this Curoxen product contains only all-natural ingredients, including clove essential oil and ultra-pure olive oil. It is a truly great addition to your mouth/dental care regimen if you frequently suffer from mouth irritants.
Pros:
- All-organic
- Addresses different types of mouth sores
- Can be used as often as needed
Con:
- Taste may not be to your liking
8. Red Cross Canker Sore Medication
If there is a brand we all trust, it’s Red Cross. This is its version of canker sore medication that provides instant pain relief and reduces the symptoms of minor mouth and gum infections.
Review
The Red Cross Canker Sore Medication provides pain relief for minor mouth and gum irritation. Upon application, it forms a layer of protection over the affected area, allowing it to heal faster and more effectively.
Some were impressed with how immediate the relief was upon applying to the affected area. You know a sore would form where you bit, but the product will keep it from forming fully.
The great thing about it is not just the immediate pain relief it provides but the holistic healing it does to the infection after application. It really seeps in there to address the root cause of the burning, itching, swelling, and pain.
Pros:
- Provides long-lasting protection
- Works on other mouth irritants
- Prevents mouth blisters from fully forming
Con:
- Harder and not gel-like
What To Consider When Buying Canker Sore Medicine
Canker sore medicine comes in different forms, so depending on the kind of relief you want and how well you understand your body, it’s important to make sure you’re buying something that will work specifically for you.
Keep these top considerations in mind when making a purchase to help you choose the best canker sore medicine for your needs.
Delivery Mechanism
Canker sore remedies can be commonly purchased as gels, liquid solutions, and patches. Aside from differences in how they’re used, these also differ in terms of how they work. Understanding what you want out of the product you purchase should tell you which delivery mechanism will suit your preferences and needs the best.
- Gels
Canker sore remedies that come in the form of a gel are slathered generously over the affected area and left to take effect. Because they can be washed away by saliva and food, it may be necessary to reapply the gel multiple times throughout the day. These are longer lasting than liquid solutions, and provide temporary relief against pain caused by canker sores.
- Liquids
These work more as rinses that you use to disinfect and clean the canker sore. By maintaining a disinfected environment, you can clean away the infection and help your skin heal much faster. Some liquids have mild to moderate numbing effects, but they can be easily washed away by saliva.
- Patches
Patches for canker sores are used to cover up the sore to prevent any more trauma or damage to the broken skin. These are also slightly medicated to provide either temporary relief against pain or to keep the wound clean and sanitized to prevent the persistence of the infection.
Cure Versus Symptomatic Relief
There are commonly two different types of canker sore remedies namely those for symptomatic relief and those for complete healing.
The symptomatic relief remedies only target the pain by temporarily numbing out the specific part of the mouth where the canker sore is located. Medicated solutions that aim to resolve the canker sore on the other hand, work to clean the wound and maintain sanitation to prevent the infection from getting worse.
There are some remedies that provide both benefits, so if you want something that will provide pain relief and clear out the sore all together, be sure to read the labels and understand what the product is specifically designed to do.
Canker Sore Medicine FAQs
1. How long does it take canker sores to heal when using treatment?
With proper treatment, canker sores should heal completely in one to three weeks.
2. What shouldn’t you do when you have a canker sore?
Avoid anything acidic. Coffee, spicy foods, chocolate, salty foods, juices, seeds, and tomatoes can exacerbate the symptoms of canker sores.
3. Does a canker sore spread?
No, canker sores aren’t contagious, and they do not spread through saliva.
4. What makes a canker sore worse?
Acidic beverages and foods can worsen the symptoms of canker sores. Avoid them as much as possible, or, at the very least, don’t let them touch your sores. For example, use a straw when drinking juice so that the liquid doesn’t make contact with the affected area.
5. How can you tell if a canker sore is healing?
The stage after the sore forms into a yellow-gray ulcer surrounded by redness is usually when the healing begins and healthy tissue starts forming over the sore.
Best Cure for Canker Sores
The Tanac Liquid for Relief of Painful Mouth Sores has this competition in the bag thanks to its no-sting application and affordable price tag. It also offers almost-immediate pain relief from canker sores, so you can eat and continue on with your business without symptoms holding you back.