How? Where are you? Where did you go?
I’m sorry, but self-immolation seems like an overly drastic solution to the problem.
In case anyone is interested, there is no real cure for canker sores. There is a way that many chronic sufferers can reduce the occurance of them though. Almost all tooth pastes contain a substance called sodium laurel sulfate (SLS.) SLS is foaming agent also commonly found in shampoos. Double blind studies have shown that switching to a toothpaste that is SLS free will reduce the frequency of outbreaks in most people.
For my money, the best tasting SLS free tooth paste is made by Rembrandt.
Haj
:eek:
Toothpaste called Rembrandt??
“Hello, Prime Minister Kok? It’s Coldfire here. I think it’s time to strike! I say, roll out those 12 tanks and 6 F16’s. We’re attacking the US!”
Hey! What happened to my post? It was there yesterday!
To sum up: I’ve had canker sores since I was a kid. I’ve seen several threads here on the board since I joined up, each containing several remedies. None worked, nor did any of the various preparations prescribed to me by doctors and dentists throughout the years.
Recently, I was prescribed Claritin for hives. About a week after starting to take it, my canker sores disappeared. I thought it might be a fluke, but I ran out of Claritin for about a week, and after three days without it, the canker sores returned. Back on Claritin now, and the sores are gone. For the first time in forty years, I am canker-sore-free.
Yaaaaaayyy!!!
I’m so happy for you, pugluvr. My older kids have terrible canker sores, and the younger one just started Claritin for allergies. I’ll be thrilled beyond words if this helps. Elderpoet has a terrible time with them…he is a trombone and tuba player, and gets the worse canker sores I’ve ever seen–can’t eat, loses weight, etc. Awful things.
Thanks for mentioning this!
~karol
I mentioned my own canker sore problem to my doctor a couple years ago, and he recommended taking a lysine supplement (found on most well-stocked vitamin shelves). Taking it daily has greatly reduced my outbreaks. If I miss a few days, or get a particularly insistant sore anyway, I’ll sometimes double up dosage to beat them back.
The explanation my doctor offerred was that the lysine somehow interfered with the replication of the virus responsible for the sores. Leave it behind when visiting Jurassic Park, though…
I take Claritin for allergies, but never noticed it as having any effect on canker sores. If it works for you folks, congratulations. I do find, however, that Claritin is so drying that I get bleeding cracks on my fingers if I take it for an extended period.
I’ll keep the SLS issue in mind, though I’ve tried samples of Rembrandt (sorry for mentioning it again, Coldfire), and have found it insufficiently fluid for a toothpaste – it tends to crumble and fall off the brush.
You know… this could be my first “support group”.
I’m so happy for you, pugluvr. My older kids have terrible canker sores, and the younger one just started Claritin for allergies. I’ll be thrilled beyond words if this helps. Elderpoet has a terrible time with them…he is a trombone and tuba player, and gets the worse canker sores I’ve ever seen–can’t eat, loses weight, etc. Awful things.
Thanks for mentioning this!
~karol
I’m so happy for you, pugluvr. My older kids have terrible canker sores, and the younger one just started Claritin for allergies. I’ll be thrilled beyond words if this helps. Elderpoet has a terrible time with them…he is a trombone and tuba player, and gets the worse canker sores I’ve ever seen–can’t eat, loses weight, etc. Awful things.
Thanks for mentioning this!
~karol
I also have a problem with kanker sores. L-Lysine didn’t work for me, and I use Metadent for its hydrogen peroxide (it seems to help a little, but not much). Since I have no allergies, Claratin isn’t really an option for me.
What works best for me is living a stress-free life. 
Esprix
hajario, I heard about the toothpaste thing, too. I tried a non-SLS toothpaste for awhile and got a slight reduction in sores, but it was temporary.
Coldfire – what next, Van Gogh ear swabs? Vermeer ointment for athlete’s foot? Deodorant – “If you want to feel surer, next time try Durer!”
Umbriel, had I not found that Claritin virtually eliminated my sores, I’d be trying the lysine next. Hey, Mr. Pug takes Claritin all the time for hay fever, and is plagued with cracks on his fingertips, but never knew what caused them. Whaddaya know? I’m going to forward this factoid on to him.
Umm guys…
caker sores are caused by a fairly interesting herpes virus strain.
Just get a prescription for that drug that prevents genital herpes outbreaks… (can’t remember the name) Its the same type of virus and it works nicely
Just take it when you feel like one is going to form (usually you have 2 or 3 days of warning before it gets all painful) the antiviral drug will keep the sores from forming.
I’m suprised that an antihistamine helped the canker sores… After all its basically an immunosuppresent, which to me would say it would increase the frequency of canker sores… I know I used to get worse ones when I was on allergy medication.
As for the toothpaste thing… I could see that helping, IF SLS irritated your gums or mouth… irritated/damaged cells generally allow for greater easy of infection.
But I’d try out the actually drug designed to prevent the viral sores from developing.
Damn chicken pox… 
Esprix
I’ve recently discover (on me at least) extra strength halls help. It reduces there lifespan to 2 or 3 days. Or opening your mouth and drying them out for a while. Aren’t cankers ulcers? That what I thought…?
Wearia
Thats
I think you’re confusing canker sore with cold sores, CRorex.
Cold sores are caused by a herpes simplex virus, canker sores are believed to be caused by “an altered local immune response associated with stress, trauma, or local irritants”
(from this site: http://www.sinuscarecenter.com/fevblaao.html )
also see this site: http://www.animated-teeth.com/canker_sores/t1_canker_sores.htm
My wife has suffered terribly from these little horrors for the last couple of years. We will try the Claritin Pugluvr, and thanks.
I’m glad it worked for you. Let’s hope we’ll be as lucky.
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I had 8 wisdom teeth out, and get HUGE canker sores at the sites. Nothing stops them, but when I get them, I wet an asprin, put it on the sore, suffer 10 minutes of unbelieable pain while the canker sore is burned off, then it’s gone. I’ve recommended this to several people, some who praise me and some who curse me.
Holding a wet teabag on the sore is a milder version of the above cure (tannic acid rather than salacylic). Drawbacks include stained teeth and the difficulty of holding the bag in the right place depending on where the sore is. I’ve found it only marginally effective, but have used it on particularly annoying ones. I may give Annie-Xmas’ remedy a try next time I need a last resort, but folks with lower pain tolerances might want to give the bag a shot.