Do you suffer from painful mouth sores and wonder if coconut oil for canker sores is a real solution?
If you've ever experienced the discomfort of a canker sore, you know how frustrating it can be to eat, drink, or even speak.
These small but painful ulcers can make daily life miserable, often taking a week or more to heal. While various over-the-counter treatments are available, many people prefer natural remedies to soothe the pain and speed up recovery.
One such remedy is coconut oil for mouth sores—a plant-based, holistic solution backed by scientific research. Coconut oil is rich in anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that help reduce pain, prevent infection, and accelerate healing.
Explore the science behind coconut oil's effectiveness, how to use it properly, and other natural remedies that can help. Read on to discover how best coconut oil can be your go-to solution for canker sores or if coconut oil antifungal.
What Are Canker Sores and How Can Coconut Oil Help?
Canker sores, or aphthous ulcers, are painful lesions that form inside the mouth, on the gums, tongue, or lips. Unlike cold sores, canker sores are not contagious but can be triggered by stress, nutritional deficiencies, or minor mouth injuries.
Using coconut oil for mouth sores is an effective natural treatment. Coconut oil contains anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that help reduce swelling, fight infection, and promote faster healing.
How Does Coconut Oil Reduce Pain and Inflammation in Mouth Sores?
Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid and capric acid, which help combat bacteria and viruses. These compounds form a protective barrier over the sore, reducing irritation and allowing the ulcer to heal naturally.
A study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine found that coconut oil has strong antimicrobial effects, which can prevent secondary infections in mouth sores. This is why coconut oil for mouth sores is a popular remedy.
How to Use Coconut Oil for Canker Sores: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Apply Directly: Take a small amount of the best coconut oil and dab it directly onto the sore. Repeat several times a day.
- Oil Pulling: Swish a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 10–15 minutes. Spit it out and rinse with warm water. This helps remove harmful bacteria and toxins. (See: The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene)
- Mix with Essential Oils: Blend coconut oil with tea tree or peppermint oil for an added antibacterial boost.
How Does Coconut Oil Work to Get Rid of Canker Sores?
Coconut oil contains capric acid and lauric acid, which coats bacteria and viruses with fat or lipids to fight them off. As the mouth enzymes metabolize capric and lauric acid, they break down into fatty acid chains that are useful for viruses and bacteria.
The canker sore-causing organisms, then, attach to the said chains. They end up dissolving in the end since the fatty acid chains in coconut oil are actually protective to human cells only.
RELATED: Is Coconut Oil Good for Skin?
Does Oil Pulling Help with Canker Sores?
Yes! The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene is well-documented. Oil pulling reduces bacteria and toxins that may aggravate canker sores. It also moisturizes the mouth, preventing further irritation.
The Antibacterial and Antiviral Properties of Coconut Oil for Mouth Sores
Coconut oil contains coconut oil antiviral compounds that target harmful microorganisms. These properties help prevent infections in open sores, promoting quicker healing and reducing discomfort.
Benefits of Organic Coconut Oil for Canker Sores
- Anti-inflammatory: Reduces swelling and pain. Also check this Coconut Oil for Hemorrhoids out!
- Antibacterial & Antiviral: Fights infections.
- Moisturizing: Prevents dryness that can worsen mouth ulcers.
- Natural & Safe: No harsh chemicals or side effects.
For best results, always use best coconut oil that is organic and unrefined.
Can Coconut Oil Prevent Future Canker Sores?
Regular use of coconut oil for mouth sores may reduce the frequency of outbreaks. Since it boosts oral hygiene and reduces inflammation, it can help maintain a healthy mouth environment.
Other Natural Remedies for Canker Sores
1. Match Head
This is one of the most effective cures I’ve used in the past. Light it, blow it out, let it cool, and then hold the charred head to your canker sore.
Don’t forget the “let it cool” part. It will still sting, but that’s the sulfur compounds going to work and killing bacteria.
Do take precaution when using this canker sores home remedy. Do not use too much or too frequently, or inhale or ingest, as excessive exposure to sulfur may cause allergic reactions and irritation.
2. Aloe Vera
In a 2012 double blind clinical trial, subjects were randomly given placebo and aloe vera gel for their minor yet recurrent aphthous ulcers. Results concluded a faster healing process, lower pain score, and smaller wound size on those who used aloe vera.
To use aloe vera for canker sores, swish the juice of an aloe leaf around your mouth several times per day for pain relief and to speed up healing.
3. Eat Better
Diet definitely affects how often canker sores show up. Nutritional deficiencies in vitamins B and C and iron may cause canker sores.
I usually get them when I’ve been neglecting what I know I should eat and going for the simple sugars too much. They may also be linked to food allergies.
Nuts, chocolate, and coffee may trigger allergic reactions which exhibit mouth ulcers as symptoms, especially in children. Try eating healthier to prevent canker sores.
4. Relax
Canker sores are also tied to stress and anxiety. You are more likely to get them when you are under some form of stress.
An enrolled trial published in 2009 studied the influence of psychological stress on the occurrence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The former was concluded to be a triggering factor for RAS, and the use of psychotherapy to help manage mouth ulcers was recommended.
Take some deep breaths, pick up meditation, do some yoga, or find some way to relieve that stress to keep your painful canker sore from growing in size.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix with water and rinse like you would use a mouthwash. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) kills bacteria and helps encourage healing.
Here’s a sample ACV rinse:
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water.
- Swish the solution in your mouth for 30 seconds to a minute.
- Spit it out, and rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
- Try it daily until the sores go away.
Note: If irritation occurs, the pain worsens, or if sore size increases, stop using immediately and seek medical help.
6. Tea Tree Oil
You don’t want to ingest this essential oil, but you can take a Q-tip and rub a small amount directly on the canker sore. Or, you can mix 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil with 1 cup of water, and use it as a mouthwash once or twice a day.
Tea tree oil has disinfecting properties which may numb the pain and help kill any bacteria that might be in and around the sore.
7. Baking Soda
Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the sore several times a day. The alkalinity of the solution helps neutralize the acids causing irritation and pain, as well as deter bacterial growth.
8. Onion
Apply raw onion to the sore for 15 minutes then rinse with water. Like the match, onion contains sulfur compounds which kill bacteria and help promote the healing process.
Check out one more use of coconut oil in this video from Sunwarrior:
Small and localized, painful canker sores can still be debilitating. They can keep one from doing chores or focusing on work.
Try the above-mentioned home remedies for canker sores and see which one works best for you. Practice proper oral hygiene, too, so you can keep your mouth free of bacteria-causing diseases.
You can also try boosting your B complex vitamins for stronger immunity. Our Liquid Vitamin Mineral Rush has a full spectrum of B vitamins and minerals in a fast-absorbing formulation.
