If a canker sore on the lip is minor, it most likely does not need treatment. The majority of canker sores go away without treatment within a few days to a week. In the event that you have a very large canker sore or if you have a sore that has been in place for more than one week without improving, you may need to see a doctor for treatment. Some methods of treatment for a canker sore on the lip tend to include medicated pastes, mouth rinses, and occasionally heartburn medicine, which has proved to be helpful for treating canker sores even though it was not created for that purpose.
While you are waiting for your lip canker sore to heal, you might be able to do some things to help manage the pain. Most drug stores sell numbing creams that can be applied directly to canker sores. These creams might make it easier for you to eat and talk if you are suffering from a painful canker sore on the lip. The effects of numbing creams are usually temporary, and it might be necessary for you to reapply the cream throughout the day as needed for pain. In addition to numbing creams, you might want to avoid eating any foods that would irritate your canker sore and stick to soft foods like ice cream, yogurt, and soups, which shouldn't be served too hot.
If your canker sore does not go away on its own after roughly one week, you should probably see your doctor. You may end up receiving prescriptions for medicated mouth rinses or pastes designed to both relieve canker sore pain and speed up the healing process. Even though heartburn medicine might be helpful for getting rid of your canker sore on the lip, you should not take this medicine for that purpose unless your doctor approves it. Heartburn medicine could contain ingredients that might negatively interact with other medicines you have been prescribed.
Sometimes frequent canker sores are caused by other problems. If you are continually getting canker sores on your lips or inside your mouth that take a long time to heal or don't heal at all, you should see your doctor to make sure you don't have some type of health problem causing a side effect of canker sores. Sometimes food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and nutritional deficiencies contribute to canker sores. There is also a chance that you could be allergic to an ingredient in the toothpaste or mouthwash you use regularly. You might want to consider changing toothpaste or mouthwash brands just to see if the frequency of your canker sores decreases.
