New Relief From Mouth Sores (NAPSA)—There’s good news for the 60 million Americans who regularly suffer from common mouth ulcers such as canker sores, denture sores and sores resulting from braces or from biting their lips or cheeks. Researchers at the University of Washington School of Dentistry say a new oral patch is the first over-the-counter (OTC) medica- tion clinically proven to speed the healing process and relieve the pain of mouth sores, ineluding sores from braces. The study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. “In clinical trials, one group used Cankermelts about eight hours per day and another group had no treatment. After three days of using the oral patch, 81 percent of people in the treatment group had no more base pain, twice the number of people who had no treatment,” said Michael Martin, DMD, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, University of Washington. “And after seven days, canker sores treated with the oral patch shrank to one-tenth their original size while untreated canker sores grew larger.” In a prior study published in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology (OOOOE), April 2005, 26 out of 27 canker sores (96 percent) that were treated with Cankermelts for at least 16 hours per day, including while sleeping, healed in three daysorless. Cankersores are not viral or contagious. The primary causesare: ee re —_ Y Smile: A new medicated patch can ease mouth sores. 1) genetic predisposition 2) psychological stress 8) euts in the mouth such as those caused by accidental bites or braces 4) diet, which may also be a factor for some people, though specific triggering foods have not been identified. Traditional OTC treatments inelude mouth rinses and oral gels with medicine to numbthe sore or form a protective film over it. While these treatments provide temporary pain relief, they may be difficult to use, leave you unpleasantly numb and offer no actual healing. “I have suffered from canker sores all my musical life and, literally, they get in the way of my music playing,” says Grammy Award-winning woodwind artist Nancy Rumbel. “As a professional musician, I cannot tolerate the eanker sore pain and healing time. Now that I regularly use Cankermelts, I am happy to say that I no longer suffer from canker sores, and neither does my music playing. I would never be without them either on the road or at home. All wind instrument musicians who get canker sores need to know about Cankermelts.” The medication, developed by Orahealth Corporation, contains Glycyrrhiza (licorice root) extract, a natural ingredient that has anti-inflammatory properties and is known to reduce pain without numbing. Beginning as a traditional medicine in ancient Asia, licorice root extract has a long and established history as a treatment for a variety of ulcers. In addition to the active ingredient being a natural herbal extract, the other ingredients are natural food gums and potassium, so the produet is all natural. Because the ingredients are released from the patch slowly over time, the flavor is mild and is described as like sweet coffee. It does not taste like licorice candy, which contains anise. The product’s patented delivery system lets the medicated dise adhere inside the mouth, protecting the ulcer and delivering medication whereit’s needed with time release. The patch provides pain relief (without numbing) in aslittle as five to 10 minutes and naturally dissolves over two to six hours. It does not adhere too strongly, so it ean easily be removed at any time. The patch can also be applied directly to orthodontie braces, protecting the sore from further irritation and releasing medication directly onto the sore. The patch will fully dissolve out of the braces in a few hours or can be removed sooner by brushing. For more information, visit www.orahealth.com or call (877) 672-6541.
