Certain toothpaste may alleviate canker sores

Q: When I was a kid, I used to get horrible canker sores. My mother treated them with silver nitrate. After my braces came off, I took better care of my teeth and brushed more frequently. .When I hit menopause though, the canker sores were back with a vengeance. My daughter and I went to Europe a few years ago. I got a canker sore right away, but I found a toothpaste with fluoride but no SLS. It worked perfectly to clean my teeth without causing canker sores. When we got home, I checked online and found it. It’s called Elmex Sensitive Toothpaste.

A: Many readers have reported that toothpaste containing SLS triggers their canker sores. A systematic review of the medical literature concludes that people with frequent mouth sores “may benefit from using SLS-free dentifrices for their daily oral care” (Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine, May 2019).

Q: I am a pharmacist. I had a stuffy nose recently. I took everything I recommend to my patients (e.g. NyQuil, Sudafed, antihistamines etc.). Nothing worked. an old friend told me I should put Vicks VapoRub on the soles of my feet. I was desperate, so tonight I did. Within 5 minutes my nose unclogged! It’s amazing.

A: We’ve heard about using Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet to stop a persistent nighttime cough. Using it for nasal congestion is new to us, but it may work in the same way. We suspect that the menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, thymol and other essential oils in Vicks trigger special receptors in the skin. These TRP channels may activate nerves that affect congestion and cough.