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Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is the most prevalent condition affecting the oral mucosa. It is characterized by frequent, complex, and painful episodes. This review aims to identify the most effective treatments for RAS.

Material and Methods: This review evaluates different treatment approaches for RAS, focusing on pain relief, reduction in lesion size, and healing time. It includes English language studies published from 2013 to December 2023. Articles related to the treatment of "recurrent aphthous stomatitis" were searched on PubMed and Web of Science and selected based on their relevance and inclusion criteria.

Result: Some methods, which included an oral mucoadhesive film containing chitosan, TA pomade, and photobiomodulation therapy, have not significant pain relief. Probiotic lozenges, Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements, and levamisole have all shown promise for pain alleviation, lesion size reduction, and faster healing. 10 studies showed a positive effect on ulcer size, and 8 indicated a significant reduction (P < 0.05). While certain therapies, including diode laser and Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements, have shown some benefit, others, like triamcinolone acetonide (TA), did not significantly reduce ulcer size (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: It is difficult to determine which treatment is most beneficial for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), it is critical to prioritize symptomatic improvement. Further research is needed to compare the efficacy of these approaches and their long-term effects to optimize RAS management.