Over-the-counter gels provide temporary pain relief for both minor and moderate cankers. They feature an anesthetic called benzocaine that numbs the affected area. They also shield the canker from ...

Before you apply a gel, paste or ointment, dab the mouth ulcer dry with a cotton bud, as “this will prolong the time the medication remains on the mucosa,” Dr Sellerberg recommends.

Canker sores and oral cancer lesions may seem similar ... If your symptoms are uncomfortable, use a saltwater rinse or apply over-the-counter (OTC) gels, ointments, or mouthwashes with medication ...