What are Cold Sores and Symptoms?

Cold sores or fever blisters are painful oral conditions that form around the mouth and lips. Such sores are contagious.
Canker sores are painful white sores on the inner portion of the cheek, lip, or throat. Such sores are not contagious.
The name, cold sore or fever blister may be misleading as they are not caused by the common cold. The causes of both lesions are different and require separate treatment options. Here, we will explore such differences and will learn how to manage such conditions.

Difference Between Canker and Cold Sores

Although they both sound similar and cause painful sores; we need to understand the difference between the two.

Cold sores are preceded by burning sensations at the site like on cheeks or lips or at places where blisters will appear. It is mostly caused by viral infection i.e. herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Canker sores are often painful and surrounded by an inflamed red area that mainly occurs inside the lips, cheek, or throat. However, the causes of canker sores are not specific. It may include stress, lowered immunity, nutritional deficiency, spicy or acidic foods, or any kind of allergen that aggravate such condition. Also, a positive family history may contribute to such a condition.
Injury from frayed toothbrushes, poor-fitting oral devices, or contact sports can also lead to canker sores. Even after this, the reason behind many canker sores remains a mystery.

Treatments for Canker or Cold Sores

Although both sores are painful, their course of treatment is different from each other.
Minor canker sores generally do not require any treatment. They tend to disappear on their own within a week or two. However, if healing is not happening over a week, you should consult a dentist near you as soon as possible. Also, laser treatment can help in effective ulcer healing. This is considered one of the important implications of laser dentistry.

Laser Treatment for Cold Sores and Canker Sores

Low-Level Laser Therapy can provide immediate pain relief to patients suffering from cold sore or canker sore. Nd: YAG and Er: YAG both kinds of lasers are generally used for treating mouth sores. The procedure itself is very short and simple.

• At first, the laser light is focused on the ulcer. During the treatment, you may experience a warm sensation over the ulcer. The laser will help in disinfecting the ulcer, help in faster healing and reduce inflammation surrounding the area.
• Next, a laser “band-aid” is applied with Er: YAG laser, which seals the nerve endings effectively. So that, the patient won’t feel any pain during treatment. This also induces new collagen synthesis and fastens the ulcer healing process.

Aside from that, there are multiple traditional treatment options that we have mentioned below.

• Avoid any spicy or hot food that may irritate the area.
• Use any antiseptic medication or ointment that promotes healing
• Apply benzocaine gel over the ulcer.
• Take nutritional supplements, if required.
• Rinse or gargle 3-4 times a day with an antiseptic solution may help to ease your pain.
  For the frequent occurrence of canker sores, it is advisable to test for allergies. You can ask our dental experts if the above-mentioned options showed no response. As we have mentioned earlier, the herpes virus (HSV) causes cold sores. So the treatment would include anti-viral therapy including Acyclovir, and Valacyclovir which may decrease the symptoms. Although such medications are effective only if taken within 24 to 48 hours after the symptoms have started.
  Topical antiviral cream may help in relieving pain and soften the sore crusts that formed on the skin.

FAQ

What heals a cold sore fastest?

There is no such medication for faster healing of fever blisters or cold sores. However, in recent times, laser treatment can help in the faster healing of cold sores. Also if your dentist put you on antiviral medication as soon as the symptom started, the healing time will get shortened.

Are cankers and cold sores related?

Both lesions are painful and cause difficulty while talking or eating. Although their cause of occurrence is different. Canker sores generally form inside your cheek, lips, or on your gums. On the other hand, cold sores may appear at the outer portion of the mouth or lips in crust forms.

When should you worry about canker sores?

Canker sores or aphthous ulcers are of two types: major (larger) or minor (smaller). Generally, canker sores heal on their own. But if you notice your ulcers are large and persistent, consult your dentist. And if such sores are associated with swollen lymph nodes with a high fever, seek medical attention right away.

Is it okay to put salt on a canker sore?

If you put salt directly on a sore, you might feel temporary pain or a burning sensation. However, some people report that applying salt over the sore has helped in faster healing.
You can mix the salt with water and prepare paste-like consistency. Apply the paste over the sore with a cotton applicator.
Even after this, if the pain persists, it’s best to consult your dentist right away.

How can I get rid of a canker sore overnight?

Getting rid of a painful sore overnight is not possible. To reliving such painful symptoms, it needs to get cured properly. For faster healing, you can

• Use topical ointment including benzocaine over the sore.
• Make hydrogen peroxide paste and apply with a cotton swab.
• Get plenty of fluids and ample rest to boost your immune system which will further help to promote healing.