I’ve been struggling with recurring mouth sores lately, which my dentist thinks might be related to my new blood pressure medication. It was making eating and even talking quite uncomfortable for a few weeks.
What really helped was switching to a SLS-free toothpaste and using a mild salt water rinse twice a day. I also found that avoiding crusty breads for a while gave my mouth time to actually heal.
Has anyone else noticed more sores as they’ve gotten older? What rinses or dietary changes worked for you? Does anyone use those over-the-counter gels?
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The SLS-free thing is a game changer. I had the same issue after starting my heart meds. It’s the sodium lauryl sulfate that irritates the lining.
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Which brand of toothpaste did you find? I’m looking for one that doesn’t taste like chalk.
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I’ve used warm salt water since I was a kid, and it still works better than anything else. Cheap and effective.
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My doctor said it’s common with Amlodipine. I had to switch medications entirely because the sores were getting so bad I couldn’t eat dinner.
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I tried those numbing gels but they just wash away in two minutes. Not worth the money in my opinion.
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Watch out for acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus when you have an active sore. They really sting!
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I had this when my dentures weren’t fitting right. They were rubbing against my cheek and causing a sore that just wouldn’t go away. Once I got them relined, the problem vanished. It’s funny how the smallest shift in the mouth can cause so much pain at our age.
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L-Lysine supplements helped me. I take one a day and I haven’t had a major outbreak in months. Ask your doc first though.
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Thanks for sharing this, Martha. I’m going through this right now and it’s miserable.
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Stress is a huge trigger for me. If I have a busy week with the grandkids, I can almost guarantee I’ll have a sore by Friday.
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I use a honey-based gel I found at the health food store. It doesn’t numb it, but it seems to coat it better than the chemicals.
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How long did it take for the SLS-free paste to work for you? I started three days ago and haven’t seen much change yet.
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Getting older is just one thing after another! Glad you found a solution for the pain.
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I get a prescription rinse from my dentist called Magic Mouthwash. It has a bit of steroid and antihistamine in it. Works wonders for the really deep ones.
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Glad you found relief, it’s so miserable when you can’t even enjoy a cup of coffee. I’ll be trying the salt water tonight.
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