Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a plant that has been used to heal skin for more than 2000 years. It can be used to treat oral health problems such as ulcers, cold sores, herpes simplex viruses, lichen planus (a disease of the skin and mucus membranes) and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). Aloe vera can be grown easily indoors in a pot. You can get them from nurseries. Place it near a window and water when the soil is dry and remember not to overwater it. You can use it by snipping off a small length of leaf and squeezing out the gel inside. This can then be applied directly to the problem area. Just be sure to check first that it is colourless. The bitter yellowish juice is a laxative.