No one wants to have to deal with the irritating pain and discomfort of a mouth sore—much less a parent of a toddler who is crying non-stop due to a painful mouth sore. And while most parents understand that mouth sores and ulcers are completely normal, they often end up becoming frustrated with themselves not knowing the best way to alleviate their precious baby’s pain. Kids get mouth sores for a number of different reasons, which surprisingly doesn’t include eating worms, mud, or any other equally disgusting treat that toddlers seem to love! Sores can be caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies, food allergies,or as a result of a weakened immune system due to changes in weather or environment.
How to Treat Your Toddler’s Mouth Sore
There are remedies for almost any ailment. A sore throat, blisters, foot and mouth, a virus, a fever, and so on, and it is no different with mouth sores. Mouth sores in and, as the symptoms go away by themselves with time, they are usually nothing to worry about and require no treatment. Small children have a weaker immune system than adults, which is what makes them more susceptible to ailments like mouth sores and colds and there are hundreds of over-the-counter products like gels and tablets that can be purchased to offer some relief to your mini-me. However, with more people shunning the use of pharmaceuticals as a form of healing minor ailments in children, natural home remedies for treating mouth sores in toddlers are becoming increasingly popular. You may have heard of home remedies, such as using toothpaste, milk of magnesia, baking soda, coconut oil, and so on to help with the healing process. Some of which work and others that don’t. Here are some of the top natural remedies for toddler mouth sores that are equally as effective as the creams you would find in the drugstore.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Used for thousands of years to cure a whole range of issues from indigestion to cuts and grazes, apple cider vinegar is top on our list of home remedies for toddler mouth sores. When we think of vinegar, we automatically think of an acidic, sour liquid that stings and burns when applied to wounds or sensitive skin. What the majority of people fail to realize, is that is actually alkaline—and infection cannot survive under alkaline conditions. Hence why nature’s magic medicine is so efficient and effective at curing a whole host of illnesses and topical ailments. If your toddler is old enough to be able to swill the ACV around their mouth like mouthwash, then doing this a couple of times a day after brushing their teeth, when their mouth is nice and clean will allow it to be an effective and quick way of getting rid of mouth sores.
Organic Raw Honey
If your child is over a year old, then applying raw, organic honey to the sore can work wonders when used regularly. The natural solution is most effective when applied to the sore using a clean cotton swab a few times a day, especially after feeding time. Honey is used in natural medicine almost all the time, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Research actually reveals that, if applied to a burn, honey is capable of completely eradicating pain in as little as 10 minutes—so there is no reason why it shouldn’t work to heal wounds like mouth sores equally as quickly. Manuka Honey is actually the specific type you ideally want to be using in order to encourage a wound to heal, but don’t worry too much if you can’t find it locally—any raw honey will do the job just as well.
Salt Water
Salt water is a well-known cure for surface wounds, as it is . Salt water can offer heaps of relief with regards to numbing the pain caused by a mouth sore and it has the added bonus of penetrating the bacteria in the sore and healing it at the same time. A salt-water rinse can be given to your toddler as often as once an hour if the pain is really bad. Be aware that it can cause dehydration in little ones, so always remember to give them some water to drink shortly after they swill with salt water. We always recommend using organic products when using home remedies to treat ailments, so it is best to use either Himalayan rock salt or organic sea salt rather than standard store-bought table salt. Applying pure salt to the sore will be rather painful, so it’s best to always dilute it somewhat so that further irritation can be avoided.
Recurring Mouth or Canker Sores in Kids
Earlier in this article, we are usually nothing to be worried about, even in kids—given that the pain they cause is manageable with natural remedies and they heal by themselves after about a week. That said, if you notice that your child is not showing any signs of improvement, say, after 10 days, or the sores keep reappearing, then it could be time to visit your dentist to rule out any other underlying issues that could be cause for concern. Most often, your dentist will be able to advise you with regards to the best products to use that will be gentle, yet effective at helping you and a toddler maintain a healthy and sanitary dental routine. It could well be that the products you and your toddler habitually use are too harsh or they produce an allergic reaction in your child.
Conclusion
As a parent, especially if you are totally new to the , it can be tempting to rush off to the doctor at the first signs of trouble. When it comes to dealing with mouth sores in toddlers, natural remedies are a great way to put your mind at rest by knowing you will be alleviating your pain, healing the cause of the issue and ushering them toward a swift recovery, using only mother nature’s products. If you are concerned that your child is suffering from mouth sores due to allergies, then steer clear of using pharmaceutical chemicals.