Some consider pomegranate juice one of the natural cures for mouth ulcers. If you have already developed ulcers I don’t think it will help (in fact it might hurt), but it is certainly good for prevention of ulcers from developing in cases of poor nutrition.

If you need to cure mouth ulcers, however, read on to see how the bark of the pomegranate tree, or the pomegranate skin may help.

If you already have oral ulcers, you might feel discomfort and pain, and you should certainly try to minimize the problem. You can do that either on your own by using home remedies and changes in diet, or together with your physician.

It may be a good idea to try some home remedies first, before going to your doctor to prescribe over-the-counter medications.

Possible Causes of Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers are not necessarily a huge problem, but in some cases they can be an indication of a serious condition. A lot of people experience them occasionally, and they usually last a couple of days. But why they appear in the first place?

The incidence of oral ulcers can be a combination of several factors. For example, they may occur due to infections, or immune problems.

Sometimes, the problem is in the salty, hot, as well as abrasive foods. Other times oral hygiene can also be an important factor for occurrence and/pr prevention of mouth ulcers.

Very often the problem is cumulative in nature and related to , say, poor nutrition together with, for example, not getting enough sleep and chronic stress. If that’s the case, you can work on enhancing your immune system and improving your nutrition.

Prevention

If you cannot always avoid stress you certainly can try to improve your diet. And here is the place where pomegranate juice enters the picture.

Pomegranate juice has plenty of vitamins, especially calcium, iron, vitamin B6, and magnesium. In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties of this juice can only help to reduce the occurrence of ulcers.

It also has astringent and antibacterial properties which both contribute to prevention of ulcers and cavities.

If you want to give it a try with pomegranate juice, the best option is to prepare the juice by yourself.

While you can buy organic 100 percent natural pomegranate juice, the downside is they are pasteurized, and as such, many of the important nutrients and enzymes will be lost.

So, for maximum effect, the best result can be achieved with a home made juice consumed right after the juicing process.

Besides juicing, there are other things you should do.

For example, you should avoid cold foods and drink. You should use fresh whole food rather than processed food. Foods that are alkaline should be preferred instead of acidic foods.

Healing Oral Ulcers Naturally

You probably shouldn’t be using pomegranate juice if you already have ulcers. The reason is its relative acidity (the same holds true for grapefruit, pineapple, lemon and lime juice). The acidity of pomegranate juice is not that high as citrus juices, with pH estimated in the region of 5-5.5.

A home remedy for mouth ulcers is boiling the bark of the pomegranate tree in water. After sieving, use the filtered water to gargle for a couple of minutes.

Ayurvedic medicine has a similar cure for mouth ulcers. It recommends using the pomegranate skin boiled in water, and using the remaining water to wash the mouth.

Last but not least, you might try to purchase some pomegranate capsules to make your gums stronger.

Additional Concerns

By all means avoid sweets and limit some fruits and vegetables, like apples, oranges, apricots, peaches, and tomatoes. Also avoid acidic fruits such as lemons, limes, and grapefruits.

Sugar promotes the growth of bacteria in the mouth that feeds on the sugar turning it into acid, thereby preventing the healing of the ulcers. Just by avoiding sugar and limiting carbs,  you can dramatically improve the health of your mouth cavity and eliminate ulcers entirely.

Avoid vinegar and salty food. Salty and spiced foods have a strong stinging effect on the mouth sores.

The Bottom Line

If you have oral ulcers from time to time, it might be a good idea to improve your nutrition, for example, by avoiding sugary food and including some real foods into your diet.

Pomegranate juice can help you provide some vitamins and minerals and boost your immune system, thereby preventing the incidence of ulcers.

If you already have oral ulcers, you may want to try some of the home remedies based on pomegranate (probably not the juice, though).

If the problem persists, for example, like more than 10 days or so, consult your dentist or doctor.