It is with great pleasure that I look forward to reading your Holiday Review each year! I was especially interested in the home remedy on canker sores submitted by Jane Mettham.1 For as long as I can remember, I have used baking soda on canker sores. It is used in a similar fashion as described for alum powder and is a common household product. Similarly, it hurts like heck but it seems to work. A quick search of PubMed revealed a reference for using baking soda mouthwashes in the treatment of oral ulcerations.2
Jennifer MacDonald PGY2 Family Medicine Fredericton, NB