Dear Dr. Louise,
I am suffering from an ulcer on my tongue due to a temporary crown. It probably would have healed by now but for having an extraction on the other side of my mouth, so I keep chewing on the side of the ulcer. I’ve tried several products without much success and I wondered if it was safe to put Bag Balm® on my tongue, which means I will inevitably swallow some of it. I know folks put it on their lips, but that isn’t quite the same of course. If Bag Balm® isn’t a good choice, what would you suggest? –Hole In My Tongue
Dear Hole In My Tongue:
There are several non-prescription remedies that can help protect the bitten area of your tongue and give it a chance to heal up. If you have already tried one of these and your tongue still has the ulcer 2 weeks later, that’s NOT normal. Please go back to your dentist or doctor and have them take a look at it.
Most of the time, having ulcers in your mouth is annoying and very uncomfortable but not serious. We don’t really know exactly why some people suffer from mouth ulcers, especially those unfortunate souls who have them frequently. Called canker sores or apthous ulcers, they show up as small but painful craters creating discomfort or a burning sensation when you eat or drink hot or spicy foods and liquids. Apthous ulcers can be caused by stress or provoked by injury, like biting the inside of your cheek, wearing braces that rub or poke, or getting carried away with enthusiasm when brushing your teeth.
The main goal of treating apthous ulcers is to protect that tender spot of raw tissue from poking at it with your tongue or bumping it while brushing or flossing your teeth, so you can eat and drink without experiencing excruciating pain. Several years ago I had several ulcers on the roof of my mouth, and whenever I took a sip of water or tried to eat anything, the result was pain that triggered a flood of tears. I not only had second thoughts about eating or drinking, I had fourth, even fifth thoughts: “Do I REALLY want that sip of water? Is it worth the pain?”
About using Bag Balm® on your tongue, well, it won’t hurt you, but it probably won’t do much to protect that raw spot from the abrasion of chewing or the irritation of having hot foods or liquids in your mouth.
There are products you can use to just want to numb that spot, some that will protect it by covering it, and some that will both numb and protect it at the same time. Which you use depends on what you want to do.
To numb it, the best choice is benzocaine, an effective local anesthetic that is available as both 10% and 20% concentrations. Camphor, menthol and phenol can also help decrease the discomfort, but are not as effective as benzocaine. To protect the ulcer, there are pastes and sticky films that coat the ulcerated spot. If you accidently bite it, though, THAT will still hurt!
The 2 top pharmacist-recommended products for canker sores are ones I have used personally: Orajel® Mouth Sore Gel, a pleasant flavored gel that numbs quickly, and Colgate OraBase® 20% Benzocaine, a sticky paste that numbs and protects.
Orajel® Mouth Sore Gel has 20% benzocaine for pain relief. It doesn’t taste bad; it numbs the area pretty well and doesn’t get washed away by your saliva as quickly as a liquid.
If you accidently bite the inside of your cheek and create a painful hole, I recommend using Colgate OraBase® 20% Benzocaine. You dab the thick paste on the ulcer or sore spot, and it works as a bandage to protect it while also numbing it. Be careful to dab in on; if you swirl it, it changes to a gritty texture that feels weird.
If you are allergic to benzocaine you can try Campho-Phenique®, which contains camphor and phenol, or a plain version of Colgate OraBase® that doesn’t contain benzocaine. Whichever product you choose, if your ulcer doesn’t go away within 2 weeks see your dentist or doctor to get it looked at. Two years ago I had a canker sore that did NOT go away in 2 weeks. Instead, it ended up being the first sign of something more serious. I’m really glad I got it checked out!
You can find more non-prescription products recommended by pharmacists at www.otcguide.net.
I have had a problem with my taste for several months due to antibiotics given to me last Fall for a flu type illness that I contracted from a tic bite. My taste first was a metallic taste and eventually everything I ate tasted bland…not appetizing……and still today almost 6 months after my illness iam unable to taste my food. I do taste flavors somewhat but not in an appetizing way……I keep hoping th food will taste like I remember, but it is not. I do even enjoy eating any more and have only eaten because I know my body needs the nourishishment. My doctor has told me that the antibiotics could have permanently damaged nerves in my taste buds and I may never get my taste back. I recently had a niece tell me about probiotics and that they might help. Is this something I should look into? iam told that it will help….but have not been able to find out if it does. Should I try this or will it be a waste of time?
thank you
Stanley Cable
Probiotics are sold as collections of friendly organisms naturally found in a healthy intestine. These organisms are packaged into capsules designed to pass through the harsh acids of your stomach and into your small intestine where they are most needed. I cannot see how probiotics could help revitalize the tissues in your mouth that tell your brain how things taste (or don’t taste), because they don’t come in contact with your taste buds or the nerves next to them. I wish you the best and hope your taste buds recover on their own.