Rinse with warm salt water several times a day
Rinse with a baking soda solution
Apply an over-the-counter numbing gel or oral pain reliever
Use an antiseptic mouth rinse
Avoid spicy, acidic, salty, and crunchy foods
Avoid alcohol and tobacco
Brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush
Use a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate
Suck on ice chips or hold ice against the sore
Stay hydrated
Take over-the-counter pain medicine if needed
Use a protective oral paste or patch
See a dentist or doctor if it lasts more than 2 weeks, is very large, or keeps coming back