$25

[kip_w]

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After a week or so, the sore on my tongue was well-nigh unbearable. I'd daub some stuff on it that hurt like hell for a minute, and then it would be numb enough that I could eat if I did it quickly. It didn't seem to be getting better.

I asked a pharmacist, and she said I should rinse with salt water (which I'd done the first day, and after I got the stuff to put on it I stopped) and see my doctor instead of just putting something on it. I thanked her.

I got an appointment to see my medical assistant (I could have talked to my doctor the next day, but I feel like I get better advice from the assistant) and she said there is no cure. They don't even know what causes it. Bacteria probably. Some people seem to get them from their toothpaste. But she gave me a folk remedy: alum. Moisten a cotton swab, dip it in the alum, apply it to the sore, when it stops stinging, it's time to rinse.

How often? What time of day? No, no, she said. You do it once. Twice if you still have it the next morning, and that's it. Her husband is prone to mouth sores, and this is what works for him.

So I bought alum at the store, went home and put it on. I still had the store next morning, though it felt better. I put some on again. I can see the sore, but I can also eat or drink whatever I feel like now without pain. By tomorrow, I can probably start using the Water Pik again, and floss without feeling like I'm sawing my tongue.

So here's my gift to all you who suffer from mouth sores. It's alum. This information cost me twenty-five dollars, and I'm passing it along for free.
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Comments

[nellorat.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it's better. This past week I had a dental appointment & spent far too much time staring at posters of all sorts of horrible things going wrong in the mouth, so I'm doubly glad yours got resolved.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Are you talking about canker sores?

K.

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

That's what I've always called them. I don't recall either of us using the word when I was at the doctor's office this time.

[rtred.livejournal.com]

You have the weirdest problems. Clearly the gods have an issue or two with you.

[meggins.livejournal.com]

I've never had a sore on my tongue that bad. Thank goodness. I haven't had any in severla years--*knocks wood*--and they usually go away on their own. I will try to tuck this info away, just in case.

Glad you're feeling better. It sounds like it was really miserable.