Oral paste applied incorrectly hinders mouth sore healing, pharmacist explains

Many people experience mouth sores, commonly known as canker sores, and often turn to oral pastes for faster healing. However, pharmacist Hung Cheng-hsien points out that sometimes the medication isn't ineffective; rather, the application method might be the issue, leading to slow or non-existent healing.

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Oral paste is clearly applied, why are mouth sores still not healing?

Oral pastes, such as those containing triamcinolone acetonide 0.1%, are typically topical steroids that help reduce local inflammation and are used for oral inflammatory lesions and ulcers caused by trauma. While studies show they can alleviate pain and speed up healing for recurrent mouth ulcers, Hung stresses a crucial point: these pastes are not suitable for all types of mouth sores. If the sore is due to a fungal, viral, or bacterial infection, pastes containing triamcinolone should not be used, as explicitly stated in product information.

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Actually, oral paste is not used like this.

To ensure effectiveness, Hung advises a specific application technique. First, make the affected area as dry as possible by swallowing saliva and gently dabbing excess saliva around the sore to help the paste adhere. Second, apply a small amount of paste directly onto the lesion and gently press it to form a thin film, rather than rubbing it back and forth or spreading it widely. Finally, the best times for application are after meals and before sleep, to allow the medication maximum contact time with the sore without immediate disturbance from eating or drinking.

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It's not that the medicine is ineffective, but the usage method might be problematic.