Can any vitamins or minerals help prevent or reduce canker sores or cold sores?

I have had canker sores for over 40 years, and the only medical treatment that works for me is Kenalog (a corticosteroid) in an oral base that will stick to oral epithelium.

I have success with L-lysine for cold sores if I take immediately upon feeling the tingle of a sore starting. I also take before flying to boost my immunity for whatever may be floating around the aircraft environment.

I used to have frequent bouts of canker sores that would last for a minimum 2 weeks and then another would start up, and so on. The BEST remedy I have found is an OTC Herbal Medicine tincture called Mouth Tonic. (And I have no financial interest in the company.)

Definitely true about toothpaste. I have always had cold sores and I am now trying the lysine and the alum. I hope it work.
Thank you for having such great comments

Although the cause of sporadic canker sores (aphthous ulcers) is unknown, they can be associated with systemic conditions. Particularly severe, extensive, or frequent canker sores can sometimes warrant a general medical exam.

i use bicarb by adding a few drops of water and forming a paste. A few days and its gone

I get canker sores once or twice a month and have been applying alum to them for at least forty years - probably since I was a kid. You don't need much. It sometimes stings a bit for about ten seconds, but usually only with sores that were already pretty painful. Within a minute the red sore has turned white in the center and the pain is almost entirely gone. I'll occasionally need to apply another dab the following day, but that's pretty rare.

I get canker sores when I eat most fruits. I used to eat multiple servings of fruit per day, now I can't eat any besides apples and some citrus. I have read that people with hay fever often eventually develop similar problems. Not only am I missing out on something I used to enjoy, my diet it not nearly as healthy as it used to be. I wonder if CL would consider adding a paragraph on the relationship between allergies and canker sores.

I am 70 years old and have suffered from very painful canker sores since around age 30. I did find that when I changed to a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate, I had a large reduction in canker sores. I can confidently state, that after many years of taking lysine for a canker sore flareup, within a few days my canker sores are gone. I am very adamant about never being without it. Lysine has been my lifesaver. I should add, that I have always taken my capsules with food due to having a problem with acid reflux.

I take L-lysine faithfully every morning and have for years. I was one that got cold sores so severely and painful that I couldn't talk or eat, they were terrible. We were traveling and a kind pharmacist suggested L-lysine and I've been almost cold sore free for 10+ years!

I have been using Lysine for many years after I found out it heals skin issues.
I'm 74, 6'2" 200 lbs. Anytime I might bite my lip or tongue/nose or lip sore from blowing my nose I take 2-3 grams daily for a few days and they are cleared up. I take 1 gram maybe once a week or so just as an aid. I haven't had a canker sore more than a day or two in many years.

I suffered with painful canker sores or as I call them cold sores on my lips for years during any kind of stomach upset. I started taking lysine 2000 mg only when I felt the beginnings of an eruption on my lips and it would prevent it from getting worse. I would take for several days and stop. In most cases it would never appear although it still felt slightly painful.

Short comment: I have gotten canker sores for 40+ years and started taking 1000mg (so, a gram ;>) daily of Lysine about 2 years ago and I hardly ever get them anymore.
The rest of the story: I thought I had cold sores because I so frequently got a common cold along with them - and got them so much more in the Winter. However, 99.9% of them were inside the mouth (or just above soft palate/roof of the mouth) which from reading sounds like canker sores. In any event, I was sick back-to-back-to-back (and having these sores) for over two months 2 winters ago and finally tried Lysine to see if it would help. Had tried zinc and others things over prior years but without much success. The Lysine worked. In first year, I noticed much less frequent outbreaks and the sores weren't as bad when I did get them. This Winter I maybe had them once. Can't adequately tell you what a relief and quality of life difference it is! I have also had significantly fewer colds. I take the gram a day in between meals. If I feel a sore coming on, I double up and take 2 a day for 2-3 days. Wish I could go back and tell myself about this in my youth. Hope it helps others looking for info/relief. Thanks to Todd and CL for all the great reviews and info here. I realize the studies are far from overwhelming in support of my experience for this condition/indication, but hope the anecdotal experience is helpful.

lots of conjecture and extremely sad that the medical community has assisted so little in this area. so at this point we have lots of anecdote - joy. But i will hazard to add my own experience 1] acute use of zinc may help, 2] longer term use of B12 also seems to help [i take till it seems i dont get them then i quit and dont take till i feel one coming back]. 3] HOWEVER the most promising treatment i have found is simply an antihistamine -- this has completely removed my suffering and usually i just take a benadryl etc when i feel one start.. good luck

I suffer from canker sores, almost always from eating dairy. Certain types of dairy are worse, usually processed or cooked cheeses. Aged cheese I find less of a problem. Ice cream is almost a guaranteed canker.

I've heard of B-12 and supplemented with it but found no difference.

I've heard of L-lysine for cold sores (herpes sores) which I do not have or get, so I'm surprised they list that here as I didn't think canker sores are herpes (although I wonder if any tissue disorder like this is related to herpes, I understand there's like 100 strains of herpe virus).

Anyway - I'd like to know what consumer labs finds in relation to Alpha Lipoic Acid supplementation. I started taking an ALA supplement with collagen for support to fix a detached intercostal rib and have found it mostly prevents getting canker sores, and if I do binge on some nasty cheese, I'll get a small one and it goes away very quickly. It is the closest thing to prevention I have found. Would be interested in learning if this works for anyone else. I imagine everyone body is different, and one person's deficiency is not another's problem etc.

L-Lysine has been the best solution for me. I seem to be very sensitive to lysine/arginine imbalance. This is triggered especially by nuts and seeds.

Canker sores will go away if you gargle at the first sign of symptoms. I've successfully used this remedy for 20 years as follows: 20 seconds three times a day with Listerine (the original formula) or any mouthwash containing those same active ingredients at the first sign of symptoms. I assume the active ingredients in Listerine Eucalyptol, Menthol, and Thymol are key to this remedy.
In addition, as a preventative measure I routinely brush my teeth once a day using Listerine instead of toothpaste. I don't also gargle unless I have symptoms.
Previously I would get painful canker sores in my mouth that would persist for a week. After discovering the remedy described above, I now rarely get any canker sores but if I do they vanish within a few hours of treatment.

Yes. Sls in toothpaste gives me cancer sores also.

I found out years ago that SLS in toothpaste caused my canker sores.