Canker Sores Healed in a Day

A unique oral patch treatment for aphthous stomatitis treats most of the canker sores in a single treatment within 24 hours, reports a new study.

Researchers at the Sheba Medical Center (Tel Hashomer, Israel), The Hebrew University (Jerusalem, Israel), and other institutions studied 48 patients with active aphthous stomatitis that were randomly treated either once a day with Canker Cover, a mucoadhesive patch containing citrus oil and magnesium salts (26 patients) or three times a day with an oral solution containing benzocaine--a pain relieving substance that is the main ingredient in most canker sore products--and compound benzoin tincture (22 patients). All patients were instructed to apply the medication until pain had resolved, and completed a questionnaire detailing multiple clinical parameters followed by an evaluation of the treatment.

The researchers found that the mucoadhesive patch was more effective than the oral solution in terms of healing time and pain intensity after 12 and 24 hours. Local adverse effects one hour after treatment (such as bad taste, numbing, tingling, and difficulty swallowing after application) were significantly less frequent among the mucoadhesive patch patients compared with the oral solution patients. The median healing time for patients using the patch was 24 hours compared to 120 hours for those using the benzocaine product. The study was published in the January 2008 issue of Drugs in R&D.

"The benefit to canker sore sufferers is quite clear,” said lead author Dr. Avner Shemer, M.D., of the department of dermatology at Sheba Medical Center. "The oral patch heals canker sores in a day, stops pain and protects the sore from food and drink irritants for 8 - 12 hours at a time.”

The Canker Cover, a product of Quantum (Eugene, OR, USA) is a tablet-like patch made from edible ingredients. It adheres to the canker sore within seconds and forms a clear, gel-like protective seal that lasts 8 to 12 hours. The patch reduces pain, protects the sore from the tongue, teeth, food, drink, and other irritants, and does not dislodge while eating. While attached, the patch releases menthol, sea salt, citrus oil and other nutrients which prevent pain and speed the healing process.


Related Links:
Sheba Medical Center
The Hebrew University
Quantum