Q. I am desperate for a remedy for canker sores. My mouth is just full of them and they are so painful I am having trouble eating. My doctor prescribed Aphthasol, but it didn't help. My dentist has offered antibiotics and strong steroids, but nothing has worked.
A. Physicians don't know what causes canker sores (aphthous ulcers), but a deficiency of folic acid, vitamin B-12 and iron may contribute. Prescription treatments are not always effective.
We recently heard from D.W. in Garland, Texas, whose mother was a dental assistant in the 1930s. In those days, the dentist recommended swishing the mouth with sauerkraut juice several times during the day, swallowing about a tablespoon. D.W. says the sores should start improving within a day or so.