Metal Mouth Message Board

I used to get a lot of canker sores when I was a child (and sometimes even in adulthood). My parent ALWAYS used POWDERED ALUM. You can find it in your neighboorhood supermarket spice isle. It cost about a dollar. All you have to do is wet your finger a little (to get the Alum to stick to it) and then get some (not a lot) on your finger and then apply it to the irritated site for a few seconds. Careful not to swallow the Alum. I am not going to lie and say it doesnt taste bad, because IT DOES, but almost everytime I have used this the sore is gone in about 10 minutes. Definitly worth it. My friend frequently gets canker sores and was whining about them when I told her about this remedy. She immediatly went out and bought some Alum and tried it. She called me and said that the sore was gone, and that she was ALWAYS going to used this remedy. I have no idea how or why it works but all I know is that my Grandmother grew up on a farm and they used this and then she became a nurse and she STILL used this remedy. Give it a try, let me know how it works for you.


REMINDER: IT TASTES LIKE CRAP BUT IS DEFINITLY WORTH IT!!!!

Thanks Munchkin, I never thought of using it that way. I use Alum to stop the bleeding when I cut my dogs toe nails too short. Thankfully, that is not too often.

what happens if u swallow it??????

Probably nothing, as it is a baking item. It doesn't take much to stop bleeding or probably the canker sore.

Nothing happens if you swallow, that I can remember, it just tastes REALLY, REALLY bad. But I can say that I have used this method in the past and it truly is a "miracle". Let me know if you have tried it and how it worked for you.

Is the Alum that they sell in the drug store the safe Alum
(alum mordant)? , because I know there is an Alum that is a"harmful irritant that is corrosive to the eyes, mouth, respiratory tract and lungs", especially if you have asthma wich I do so I would't want to put that in my mouth.

I'll wait for response before I buy.

Thank You

Hi Mel, I don't have a clue if it is the same. All I know is that there is an Alum sold in the spices section of Grocery stores - that is what I buy. (I have had the same can for years, as I don't use it often).

Maybe you could ask a pharmasist?

Thanks for the response. I did decide to get it from a grocery store to be on the safe side and it was in the spice isle, and I just used it about 5 minutes ago and I cannot believe it. INSTANT RELIEF, it's a miracle Thank you munchkin, I am eternally greatful

did it burn???? and how long did the relief last?????

No It didn't burn, but the bad news is , for me the pain returned after about half an hour. Then I tried to put more on but it didn't really help. The good news is this morning I feel very little discomfort, so although the sore didn't heal in 10 minutes, I think the alum is making it heal faster than the couple of days it would normally take.