How do you get rid of a canker sore fast?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Canker sores heal alone in 1 to 2 weeks; fast relief comes from warm salt-water rinses, pharmacy numbing gels, and protective pastes that coat the sore. A milk of magnesia dab soothes too. While it heals, dodge citrus, tomatoes, spice, salt, and scratchy foods, and switch to a soft toothbrush - an SLS-free toothpaste helps prevent recurrences in people prone to them. Big, stubborn, or frequently recurring sores earn a prescription steroid paste or rinse, which shortens them meaningfully. Get checked for sores past three weeks, unusually large or multiplying sores, or sores with fever or rash. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you tell a canker sore from lookalikes.
What to do
- Rinse with warm salt water a few times daily: cheap, and genuinely soothing.
- Coat or numb it: pharmacy protective pastes and benzocaine gels make eating possible.
- Dodge the triggers while it heals: acid, spice, salt, and crusty food.
- Get checked past three weeks: or for big, multiplying, or feverish sores.
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