How Canker & Cold Sores are Treated? Must Know

Canker sores and cold sores often appear similar and may even occur together. The terms are widely used interchangeably in common parlance. However, they are two different entities and have to be approached separately. 

Let’s understand the difference between the two:

Cold sores 

Fever blisters, also known as cold sores, are tender, fluid-filled sores that develop on the lips and outside of the mouth. These blisters are highly contagious. 

They are formed due to an infection by the herpes simplex virus, typically type 1, or HSV-1. These infections are spread through oral sex and can harm your mouth or genitalia. Even if you can't see the sores, cold sores can spread to other people. In most cases, the virus lives in the nerve cells, where it can occasionally reactivate, move to the skin, and result in recurrent fever blisters. 

A huge section of the world’s population is usually infected with the virus, but in most the virus remains latent. 

A cold sore has a definite path of progress:

It itches and tingles at first—you will feel a mild tingling and burning sensation around the lips just before the formation of the cold sore. Usually, small, fluid-filled blisters appear along the edge of your lips. Sometimes they show up inside the mouth, on the cheeks, or around the nose. The tiny blisters can combine, burst, and leave shallow, open sores that ooze and crust.

The symptoms include:

For the first episode, symptoms usually appear between a few weeks and twenty days after the day of virus exposure. It is accompanied by fever, weakness, headaches, sore muscles, and sore gums. The blisters heal in about a couple of weeks to three weeks, but the area continues to feel sore. Recurrences frequently occur around the same area of the lip.

Subsequent episodes are less bothersome.

Canker sores

Canker sores are essentially whitish-yellow ulcers that can only form inside the mouth—typically, canker sores on the tongue, inside of the cheeks, or inside of the lips. They are often known as aphthous ulcers and do not spread by contact.

Why does it happen?

Stress, anxiety

A food, toothpaste, or beverage allergy

Poor immunity due to an underlying health condition.

Gastrointestinal issues

Nutritional deficiencies like that of vitamin B12, zinc, folate, or iron.

Certain drugs like NSAIDS

Major change of bacterial fauna in the gut and the mouth

The canker sore appears in the following order:

The soft tissues inside the mouth feel rough and tingly. It may burn as well. Canker sores all over the mouth look small, round, or oval, white, gray, or pale yellow, with a red border or edge. They develop in the mouth, either alone or in groups, on the tongue, at the gum line, on the soft palate, or inside the cheeks. Fever and fatigue may occur in some cases.

Canker sores aren’t too troublesome. They run their course to completion in about three weeks. 

Treatment modalities:

Canker sores treatment:

Small canker sores usually heal on their own within a week or two and don't require medical attention. Vitamin and mineral supplements should be taken to speed the healing. Avoid abrasive or spicy foods that may irritate the sore, and take extra care when brushing your teeth to avoid irritating the sore. 

For the sores that cause trouble:

Vitamin and mineral supplements

Wet tea bags can be placed over the sores to reduce discomfort

Over-the-counter (OTC) creams and gels contain active ingredients such as benzocaine, hydrogen peroxide, and fluocinonide.

oral medications, such as steroid medications often work for stubborn sores.

Dexamethasone-containing mouthwashes reduce swelling and pain

A cautery procedure involves using chemicals or instruments to burn or destroy the canker sore

Many antiseptic and pain-relief medications may be purchased without a prescription. Like :

Water diluted with hydrogen peroxide to half-strength

One tablespoon of salt and baking soda in four ounces of water

Cold sores treatment

Cold sores usually disappear on their own within a few weeks—but there are methods to calm the sores and speed up the healing:

Use a drying agent, such as 70% rubbing alcohol as soon as sores first appear.

Denavir (penciclovir cream) is a topical antiviral cream that may accelerate healing and reduce pain associated with lesion ulcers.

If taken orally within 24-48 hours after the onset of symptoms, acyclovir (Zovirax) or valacyclovir (Valtrex) may decrease symptoms. 

Apply zinc oxide cream once crusts have formed.

A moistened styptic pencil is applied several times per day.

Lasers in the treatment of canker sores:

What does the laser do to heal canker sores:

The high-energy light beam kills the latent virus in the sore.

The laser beam stimulates the tissues to enhance healing.

The pain stops almost immediately.

Healing of the ulcer is superfast.

Usually, anesthesia may not be required to complete the procedure.

Recurrence is comparatively lesser.

What happens in the procedure?

The dentist will position the laser's tip a few millimeters away from your ulcer. When activated, the laser can emit a pulsed or continuous beam of light energy, which the doctor will move over the ulcer area for 30-60 seconds.

The whole procedure might take 2-3 minutes. 

Conclusion

Canker sores and cold sores are both common, but the HSV-1 virus causes cold sores, while the cause of canker sores is varied. Although both can be uncomfortable, canker and cold sores typically need to heal on their own.  Home remedies can be useful if you experience either of these.