Salt is a natural disinfectant and can effectively promote healing by reducing swelling. It can be used in various ways. Keep in mind that unless the canker sore is very small, using salt will hurt a lot. Below are the most popular methods, listed from the least to the most painful.

Mouth rinse

Mix some salt and water in a cup, then swish in your mouth for about a minute.

Applying directly

Apply a pinch of salt directly to the canker sore. Try to keep the salt in place for at least 30 seconds.

Scrubbing

Some people have reported that scrubbing a canker sore with salt until the white layer disappears helps it heal faster.