Cold Sores And Ulcers that reoccur every month in the mouth.

Cold Sores

A cold sore is a group of tiny, painful blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). They’re also called fever blisters or herpes simplex labialis.

Up to 90% of people around the world have at least one form of HSV.

The symptoms are usually the most severe the first you time you get cold sores. A first-time cold sore can make a child seriously ill.

After the first outbreak, your body should make antibodies and you may never have another infection. But many people get cold sores that come back.

Cold sores are very common and can be treated very effectively with lasers at our dental practice.

 

Cold Sores And Ulcers

Cold Sore Symptoms

Cold sores are most likely to show up on the outside of your mouth and lips, but you can also get them on your nose and cheeks.

You may get cold sores as late as 20 days after you’re infected. The sore might appear near where the virus entered your body.

Cold sores happen in stages:

  1. You have a tingling, burning, or itching feeling.
  2. About 12 to 24 hours later, blisters form. The area becomes red, swollen, and painful.
  3. The blisters break open, and fluid comes out. This usually lasts 2 or 3 days.
  4. A scab forms on the sore. It might crack or bleed.
  5. The scab falls off.

You might also have red or swollen gums, swollen glands in your neck, fever, or muscle aches.

Cold Sore Diagnosis

Your dentist or doctor might diagnose a cold sore just by looking at the blisters. 

Cold Sore Treatment

There’s no cure for cold sores. Once you have the virus, it stays in your body. The sores themselves usually heal on their own in 1 or 2 weeks.

Antiviral medications can speed healing, especially if you take them at the first sign of an outbreak. Your doctor might tell you to use:

How Does The Laser Help Cold Sores

It reduces the pain after applying the laser onto the cold sore for 30 seconds

Cold Sore Prevention

To lower your risk of another outbreak:

  • Get plenty of rest. A lack of sleep weakens your immune system, so you get sick more easily.
  • Wear lip balm with sunscreen. Look for SPF on the label.
  • Talk with your doctor. If you get sores often, they might have you take an antiviral medicine every day.

To stop spreading the virus, when you have cold sores, don’t:

  • Kiss anyone
  • Share eating utensils, glasses, towels, lipstick or lip balm, or razors
Aphthous Ulcers

“Thanks for stopping the pain from my cold sore. It healed up within 3 days and not have to wait more than a week.”

                                                                                                        Kerry.

First-time infections can also cause:

  • Burning and pain inside your mouth
  • Sore throat
  • Pain when swallowing
  • Headache
  • Upset stomach

Surely you have noticed all of the hype about the various teeth whitening procedures that are nearly everywhere you look. There are TV commercials for different methods, there are tubes of toothpaste, whitening strips and even kiosks at the mall where you can get your teeth whitened.

This patients ulcer lasered for 1 minute and the pain reduced by 90%.  And cleared up 3 days later.

Recently, several studies using lasers show they help with both a reduction in pain and provide for quicker healing compared to other treatments.

Aphthous Ulcers

Aphthous ulcers are a common occurrence in the general population. Although not life-threatening, they can be the source of a great deal of patient annoyance and discomfort.

We use a laser to help reduce pain in many patients mouths.  It is an easy process that takes 30 seconds.

Aphthous Ulcers (also known as aphthous stomatitis, canker sores), are a common and painful problem and can make eating and talking difficult. . An aphthous ulcer is an ulcer that forms on the mucous membranes (on the soft tissues in your mouth or at the base of your gums) — like on the inside of the lips and cheeks or below the tongue. 

Aphthous Ulcers are benign in nature, non-contagious and can occur as single ulcers or in clusters.

Recurrent aphthous ulcers do not create much of a concern and go away on their own in a week or two, but at times, they could be associated with significant health problems. Aphthous ulcers that occur in conjunction with symptoms of genital ulcerations, uveitis, arthritis, conjunctivitis, fever should be brought to your doctor’s attention at the earliest as this will prompt a search for any cause or origin of this condition. 

What Causes An Aphthous Ulcer?

The exact reason why aphthous ulcer develops is not yet known. What most researchers and practitioners think is that the immune system is disturbed by some external factor and reacts abnormally against a protein in mucosal tissue which causes Aphthous ulcer.

Possible triggers for developing Aphthous ulcer:

  • Accidental – An injury due to dental work, harsh brushing or physical activity

  • Emotional stress and lack of sleep

  • Toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulfate

  • Self-inflicted bite

  • Shortage of vitamin B, iron, and folic acid

  • Hormonal changes during menstruation

  • Viral infections

  • Conditions like HIV/AIDS can suppress the immune system

  • Bacteria present in the mouth can cause an allergic reaction and trigger ulcers

  • Existing health issues like Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, Behcet’s disease can also trigger reoccurrence of Aphthous ulcer

Aphthous Ulcers

Symptoms and types of aphthous ulcers.

Aphthous ulcers are of three types: minor aphthous, major aphthous and herpetiform aphthous. However, each of this type has different symptoms.

Minor aphthous ulcers

These are the most common ones. They are mostly small in size, less than 5 mm in diameter and can form as a single aphthous ulcer or in a cluster. These typically do not cause much pain. 

Symptoms: 

  • Usually small ulcers

  • Oval-shaped with a red edge

  • Heal in one to two weeks

Major aphthous ulcers

 

These are 5 mm or larger and occur in pairs or as a single ulcer. They are not very common. These are quite painful while eating or drinking.  

Symptoms:

  • Are larger and deeper than minor aphthous sores

  • Have irregular edges when they become large, but when they are small they would look similar to minor aphthous ulcers

  • Extremely painful

  • Takes up to six weeks or months to heal and can leave extensive scarring

Aphthous ulcers treatment

There is no cure for aphthous ulcers, but one can lessen pain and discomfort and promote healing. In most cases, the ulcers will disappear without treatment. If the ulcer needs your doctor’s attention, treatment will be based on the severity of the ulceration, the affected person’s general health and the location. 

How Does The Laser Help Cold Sores

It reduces the pain after applying the laser onto the aphthous ulcer for 30 seconds