There are a number of treatments to cure mouth ulcers. There are either topical treatments (mouthwashes, gels, sprays, patches) or systemic.
There are 3 types of topical treatments:
Of the medications listed by A.A.O.M., only corticosteroids have been studied in well-designed clinical trials in patients with RAU14. But patients should be counselled regarding the potential for candidal overgrowth when steroid rinses are used for extended periods. The most potent steroids can lead to mucosal thinning and erosions of the mouth's tissues
Systemic mouth ulcer treatments that have been studied are oral corticosteroids, colchicine, dapsone, levamisole, thalidomide (the most efficient). All have known side effects and, for some, potentially serious side effects. For example, the limitation of the use of the thalidomide is due to its serious side effects noticed in 97% cases.
is the first systemic mouth ulcer treatment to prevent mouth ulcers without known secondary effects. AftaZen has been developed to treat mouth ulcers for people with .
Mouth ulcers, although not of microbial origin, are often secondarily infected, which can cause a longer crisis. Antibacterial mouthwash can be useful in order to avoid this infection. However scientific studies show contradictory results on Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis. Some 16 show no benefit of pain relief while others 19show a small relief but no effect on frequency of crisis.
Be careful: mouthwashes are not a preventive treatment for mouth ulcers, and if used too often, they can have serious consequences on the oral flora imbalance (killing needed bacteria in the mouth).
Using corticoid-based mouthwash or cream can be very efficient against mouth ulcers, especially for patients with prodromes (premonitory symptoms). This treatment blocks the inflammatory process of the mouth ulcer, but does not really cure the disease. Known side effects are candidosis or mucosal atrophy5.