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Buttermilk Fights Canker Sores

Q. My oldest son used to get canker sores a lot when he got a cold. Then my mother-in-law gave us the ultimate cure that works overnight.

Swish cultured buttermilk in the mouth and hold it there for about a minute before spitting it out. We don’t know why it works, but it does. The buttermilk also heals a sore mouth from a new toothbrush or an abrasion from crispy foods.

A. You are not the first to report that buttermilk can help soothe canker sores (aphthous ulcers). It is certainly a simple, safe and inexpensive remedy.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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