With all the sweets we tend to eat this time of year, it's hard to avoid those nasty, uncomfortable craters in our mouths we call canker sores. I realized I usually just put up with canker sores, or any small pain similar to it, because I figure it will eventually go away, and heal by itself, right? While that may be true, most of the time, there's definitely no harm in trying to make yourself as comfortable as possible- especially if that means getting rid of a canker sore. It's hard to enjoy your Halloween treats or any other festive treats for that matter if you are battling a canker sore the whole time.

What exactly is a canker sore? It's a small, painful hole you get in your mouth- often on your cheek, tongue, or your inner lip- close to the gums. It's basically a mouth ulcer. It usually looks white or grey with red around the edge.

No one really knows the exact cause of a canker sore, but certain types of food can trigger or irritate them. Typical culprits are foods that are foods high in acidity such as pineapples, lemons, and tomatoes. Also, canker sores can be caused when the skin comes in frequent contact with something sharp or bristly, such as braces, dentures, or even just vigorous brushing. Some believe that they can also be caused by stress hormones.

Whether or not we know what the cause of canker sores are, we sure know that they are painful and not fun to get! While you could just wait for it to heal by itself If you have a canker sore, here are some things you can try to help speed up the process, and in some cases, to help soothe it too!

brush softly so as not to further irritate the sore

avoid irritating foods such as acidic or spicy food

rinse your mouth with a warm salt water solution, or apply salt directly (it will sting!)

apply baking soda directly by sprinkling it on the sore or making a paste with water

put some honey on the sore a couple times a day (this sounds much tastier than the salt water!)

dab some apple cider vinegar on the sore several times a day (another painful but helpful option)

rinse your mouth with a solution comprised of half water and half hydrogen peroxide

try applying aloe vera or milk of magnesia

put some coconut oil on the sore a couple times a day

if you have Melaleuca essential oil on hand, try dabbing it on or creating a mouth rinse

someone said to put earwax on it…. Not sure I'm brave enough to try that one, but just in case any of you are ;)

apply the head of an UNLIT match directly to your canker sore-it will sizzle and burn; you may need to use a few matches- keep going until all the white is gone

I have not tried all of these, but I'm going to start experimenting the next time I get a canker sore! (My husband tried the match method and he said it burns like crazy but if you try it on your canker sore in the early stages it seems to be effective).

Do you have any advice for those dealing with a canker sore? Share your thoughts below!