If you’ve ever had a canker sore or a cold sore, you know how uncomfortable they can become. You might not even know the difference between the two, but don’t worry. Here at Harmony Dental Care in Oshawa, ON, we can diagnose and treat both of these pesky problems.
Canker Sores
If you have a canker sore, then what you’re actually suffering from is a type of ulcer. They can form inside your mouth and make talking and eating painful and difficult. There are two types of canker sores: simple and complex ones.
In teens and young adults, simple canker sores are fairly common. They can come back a few times a year even after treatment. Nobody knows what causes canker sores to form, though some medical professionals believe they’re either caused by stress or tissue injury. For example, if you are wearing braces or using dentures that don’t fit properly, you can get canker sores.
It’s rarer to get a complex canker sore. Usually, they are caused by another health problem. This can include having a compromised immune system, having a deficiency of vitamin B12, iron, folic acid, or zin, or from having gastrointestinal diseases.
Usually, a canker sore will stop being painful and uncomfortable after a few days and will disappear completely within a couple of weeks. If they are extremely painful though or aren’t going away on their own, Harmony Dental Care can offer laser treatment for some immediate relief.
Cold Sores
Rather than an ulcer, cold sores are a type of blister. They are generally found somewhere near the mouth, such as around the lips, underneath the nose, or even on the chin. These blisters are caused by a specific virus and are contagious. They may appear when you are stressed out, if you have a fever, or if you spend too much time in the sun. You can be regular visitors, appearing every month, or more irregularly for just a couple times a year.
You can usually treat your cold sores with some over-the-counter meds. If they aren’t working, though, Harmony Dental Care can prescribe an antiviral cream.
