14 Home Remedies for Mouth Ulcers in Babies & Kids

Mouth ulcers or canker sores are white spots or sores surrounded by a reddish, inflamed area that appear on the inside of the lips, gums, and even tongue. They are painful and can make it very difficult for you to talk and chew. If your child has canker sores, it must be hard to see him in pain. While it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment, there are some known home remedies for mouth ulcers to soothe his pain. Thankfully, mouth ulcers are not contagious and can be treated at home with simple home remedies. In this article, we’ll explore a few home remedies for mouth ulcers in babies and toddlers to provide them relief and bring back their cute smiles.

14 Best Home Remedies for Mouth Ulcers in Infants & Toddlers

Mouth ulcers can occur in children due to a number of reasons, such as stress, injury, vitamin and mineral deficiency like vitamin B12, folic, and iron, body heat or even food allergies. It can be easily cured with these effective home remedies.

1. Honey

If your child is above the age of one year, you can use honey to treat mouth ulcers. Apply it to the affected area a few times. Honey has great anti-microbial properties, which will heal the sores quickly.

Please Note: Do not give honey to your child if he or she is below one year of age, as it can cause botulism (a life-threatening food poisoning caused by Clostridium botulinum).

2. Turmeric

A staple in most households, turmeric can be used to treat mouth ulcers in children. Its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial properties heal all sorts of wounds and cuts. To make the application easier, mix it with honey.

3. Coconut

Coconut is another staple item in all Indian households, and it comes in handy in treating canker sores. You can either give your child coconut water to drink or make him gargle with coconut milk. If you don’t have these at home, you can simply apply virgin coconut oil on the sores. However, do not use coconut oil for your baby if he is younger than 1 year of age as the scientific research on the efficacy of coconut oil in babies in still underway.

4. Curd

Curd and buttermilk are great remedies for mouth ulcers in children. Make your child swirl either curd or buttermilk in his mouth. Curd is a great remedy because the friendly bacteria in it help fight harmful germs and keep fungal infections at bay.

5. Holy Basil

Chewing basil leaves (tulsi) is another great remedy for mouth ulcers. The leaves contain medicinal properties and can cure the ulcer in a jiffy. Tulsi leaves should be chewed along with warm water twice a day for them to show results soon.

6. Ghee

Another derivative of milk, ghee, is one of the top home remedies for canker sores in toddlers. It can work wonders in healing mouth ulcers. You need to apply the ghee on the affected area at least three times a day for best results. Doing this will help the sores heal faster and provide relief to your child. If she doesn’t like the taste of ghee, you can give clarified butter (preferably homemade and unsalted) instead.

7. Aloe Vera

Another famous household remedy, aloe vera, is a great choice to heal mouth ulcers in children too. The leaf – gel provides relief from the pain, and its antibacterial and healing properties contribute towards the health of the gums. You can either apply the gel on the affected area or mix it with water and use it as a rinse thrice a day for great results. If you choose the latter option, then make sure to use cold water to mix the gel with – this provides relief from the pain, and the kids will enjoy it too. However, this remedy is used in the wrong way mostly, so it should be tried only if the child is old. And do try this remedy only after consulting with your doctor.

8. Liquorice

You can soak a tablespoon of liquorice root in 2 cups of water and make your child gargle the water a few times a day in order to heal the mouth ulcer. If you have the root in the powdered form, then the best option would be to mix it with a little bit of turmeric or honey and then apply it over the affected area. The liquorice will act as a demulcent, and it also has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce the pain and swelling around the ulcer. Even if you apply it when the mouth ulcer is at its most potent, you will see instant results – the open lesions become relaxed, and the red colour decreases. However, this remedy should be tried only for older kids.

9. Ice Cream

Cold foods can soothe your child’s ulcer pain. Toddlers can eat ice cream for instant relief. Ice cream is a medicine that your child will never say no to.

10. Saltwater

Prepare a solution by mixing salt or baking soda with a glass of water. Tell your child to rinse her mouth with this solution and then spit it out. However, make sure that your child doesn’t swallow the mouthwash.

11. Curry Leaves

As curry leaves possess antibacterial and antifungal properties, chewing on a spoonful of these leaves can help cure your child’s mouth ulcers.

12. Coriander Seeds

Coriander seed-infused water is another great remedy that helps cool the body down and reduce the chances of mouth ulcers. You can boil one teaspoon of coriander seeds in one cup of water, and strain the seeds away to cool down the water. This cooled water can be given to babies older than 6 months to drink in small amounts or gargle 3-4 times a day.

13. Fresh Juice

Hydration is the enemy of mouth ulcers. If your little one is hydrated properly, mouth ulcers will always stay clear. Make sure your little ball of wonder is always hydrated with breast milk (for babies and toddlers) and water, fresh juices and milkshakes (for babies 6 months and above). Fresh juices can be given to babies which is a tasty twist to plain water.

14. Papaya

Ripe papaya can also help provide relief from sore ulcers in the mouth as it has antibacterial properties and fights bacterial infections.

In most cases, mouth ulcers reduce and disappear without leaving any long-lasting effects on children. These remedies for sores in a child’s mouth can speed up your child’s recovery and lower his chances of getting ulcers in the future. It’s best to consult the paediatrician if the problem persists for more than a week.

References/Resources:

1. Shanbhag. V. K; Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene – A review; J Tradit Complement Med.;PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198813/?report=classic; June 2016

2. Cohen. M. M; Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons; J Ayurveda Integr Med.; PubMed Centra;; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296439/?report=classic; October-December 2014

3. Canker Sores (Aphthous Ulcers); Nemours KidsHealth; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/canker.html

4. Mouth Ulcers; Childrens Hospital Colorado; https://www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/symptoms/mouth-ulcers/

5. Abdulla. C. O, Ayubi. A, Zulfiquer. F, Santhanam. G, Ahmed. M. A, Deeb. J; Infant botulism following honey ingestion; BMJ Case Rep.; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3448763/?report=classic; September 2012

6. When Your Child Has Mouth Sores; Saint Lukes; https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/when-your-child-has-mouth-sores

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