Mouth Ulcers: Some Tips On How To Prevent Them

[LoShiNi]

Mouth ulcers are common, and 40% of people suffer from them at some point in their lives. They are caused by the Herpes Simplex Type 1 virus. If you thought there was nothing you could do to stop them from appearing, actually, you can.

Follow these simple tips to fight mouth ulcers, reduce inflammation, and even avoid the virus in the first place. Plus, there are also useful recommendations for those already suffering from this problem.

To prevent mouth ulcers, one should:

Check your partner’s lips

If your partner has mouth ulcers, do not kiss them! Ulcers are spread via direct contact. Not only should you avoid kissing but also sharing cutlery and drinking glasses. Also, keep both of your hands away from the infected area until your partner’s ulcer is completely gone.

Reduce stress

If you’ve previously had a mouth ulcer, the virus is still present in your body (and always will be). But you can prevent it from appearing again by keeping stress to a minimum. This is because, when you’re stressed, your immune system is weakened.

Stay away from the sun

Excessive exposure to sunlight can cause outbreaks of the virus since this also weakens the immune system. Always use lip balm and cover your face with sunscreen.

Keep your immune system in a perfect state

Get enough sleep and eat well to maintain a strong and healthy immune system that is capable of keeping this virus at bay. Also, there are some ways to boost your immune system with tasty products:



Consult a dermatologist

Jan Marini, a president of Jan Marini Skin Research Inc., explains that aggressive cosmetic procedures, such as laser treatment, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion, can cause outbreaks of mouth ulcers. If you have a date that you can’t postpone, your dermatologist can give you a prescription of acyclovir that will help hold back the ulcers for a while.

Avoid lip liner

Avoid this or any other cosmetic you use on your lips until your ulcers disappear, recommends Kimberly Sampson, a beautician and training director at ‘emerginC’. Make the most of that time to throw away any lip liner, gloss, balm, or lipstick that may have been contaminated with the virus during your last breakout.

Other recommendations:

1. Consume plenty of foods that are rich in vitamins E and C.

2. Drink tea made from echinacea root.

3. Increase your zinc consumption.

However, if you already have mouth ulcers, you should:

A homemade remedy

Soak a cotton ball with 100% pure vanilla extract, which has natural antiviral properties. Apply it and leave it on the affected area for a full minute. Repeat this procedure 3 or more times per day until the ulcers have disappeared.

Sleep upright

Use extra pillows to elevate your head. The extra height helps the ulcers drain so that the liquid doesn’t accumulate overnight.

Use licorice extract

Mix one teaspoon of licorice extract with ¼ or ½ teaspoon of Vaseline. Apply a thin layer on the affected area for faster recovery.

Don’t touch!

If you touch the ulcers, you could cause a bacterial infection.

Apply ice

Reduce swelling with an ice pack.

Take small bites

Don’t do anything to make the ulcer worse, such as opening your mouth up wide. If the ulcer bursts, the virus could spread throughout your entire mouth.

Visit a doctor

If you really can’t stand it or the ulcers frequently burst, ask your doctor to prescribe you with Zovirax, a medication that fights the virus.