No one has ever said they love a mouth sore. Mouth sores, occasionally called soft-tissue disturbances, in or out of the mouth can sometimes be painful, unpleasant-looking, and could potentially be a sign of a more serious disease. Many patients have confused cold sores for canker sores and canker sores for cold sores, so Dr. Nandhini Bogavelli wants to help you understand the differences between these irritating sores and what approach you need to take to treat them.
Canker sores. Canker sores don’t develop outside of the mouth but on the tongue or in the mouth. Typically very tiny, whitish-yellow cuts, these sores are not contagious although about 50 percent of the population develop them at some point. We still don’t quite understand what causes them; stress is a suspected contributor. If you do have canker sores, watch out for acidic foods, which can worsen pain from the sores.
Cold sores. Confused many times with canker sores, these sores are actually fluid-filled sacs appearing outside of the mouth, normally on the lips. Their fluid can bubble-over or crust. They can be very contagious, and they regularly last seven to ten days. Like canker sores, they can be related to stress, but they can also form because of weather exposure or fatigue. Ask Dr. Nandhini Bogavelli and our professionals about antiviral medicines if you are dealing with cold sores.
If you have had a sore for more than two weeks, it may be infected. Please contact Pristine Smiles so we can evaluate the best course of treatment. Call us at 717-790-2184 today to schedule a consultation or appointment with Dr. Nandhini Bogavelli and our team in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.