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For aptha, also called apththous ulcers

Or, if you're weird, ‘canker sores’

Base: Chamomile.
Complement for inflammation: Curcuma.
Additions if you have at hand: Salvia, Melissa, Lavender, Echinacea, Green tea.

Grind the dry herbs and put into a jar. Add the powders, sieved to remove clumps. Use as much curcuma as your patient would tolerate in tea form. Don't add green tea to the base mix, so that you can use it at nighttime. Mix and label.

For immediate care on all sores: compress.

Make a bag of the base mix, for example with a coffee filter or empty tea bag. Soak it in boiling water, and let it cool to touch. Press against the sore as long as you have patience. It can be recharged by soaking it in more boiling water.

For lower sores: mouthwash

(Upper lip sores are hard to reach meaningfully with a wash.)

Boil some water, add a generous quantity of the mix, plus extra curcuma, plus cloves for preservation. Simmer it on a closed pot for at least 15min, then let it cool before sieving out the plant material. If the patient doesn't mind alcoholic mouthwash, add grain alcohol or a strong spirit for more preservation. Boil a large jar for storage in fridge, and a small one to keep in the bathroom sink. Instruct them to keep the wash in contact with the sore for as long as reasonable.

Tea

Use the mix as the week’s herbal tea. If it's before 15:00, blend with green tea. The tea is less effective than the other forms (especially the compress), but it’s calming in other ways, and hydrating. Instruct them to keep the wash in contact with the sore for as long as reasonable.

If the sore has edema / lymphatic swelling

If your patient can tolerate salting the sore, mix curcuma and salt 50/50 in a small container; otherwise use pure curcuma powder. Add a bit of water, cautiously, til you can spread it as a paste; aim for a drier paste, saliva will keep it wet. Olive oil works too, and washes harder. Spread it over the whole edema, not just the sore, and let the paste lie there; reapply when it washes off. The swelling should reduce soon, if not something's up.

General aphtha care instructions

Increase the number of dental care sessions per day, and always do mouthwashes.

If the patient doesn't supplement B12, suggest doing it.