If you deal with recurring canker sores and cold sores you know that they can be very unpleasant; even downright painful. That tell-tale tingling ache probably has you bracing yourself for the unpleasant inevitable. Canker sores are small in size but pack quite the punch of nagging discomfort. Meanwhile, if you have to weather regular cold sore breakouts, not only do you have to feel awful, but the appearance of these lesions can make you very self-conscious, to say the least. Many people aren’t exactly what certain what causes canker sores and cold sores, or even how to tell the difference between the two. Katy TX dentist, Dr. Colin Lathrop, is happy to provide an overview.
What are Canker Sores?
There are several theories on the cause of aphtous ulcers (AKA canker sores). No matter how they start, however, it’s certain that they qualify as an infection. Canker sores appear on the inside of your mouth, on your tongue, and sometimes inner lips. They usually last for no more than two weeks. The short duration is welcomed by most canker sore sufferers because the lesions can be surprisingly intense, even making it difficult to speak and eat comfortably.
What are Cold Sores?
Dr. Brad Rodd is a professor (and dentist) who teaches at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He says that between 20% and 30% of people who have cold sores deal with them on a recurring basis. Also known as fever blisters, cold sores are derivative of the herpes simplex type 1 virus. Cousin to herpes simplex type 2, cold sores are also contagious. Most people that carry herpes simplex type 1 virus have it from the time they’re children. The infection lays dormant most of the time. Certain things can ignite a cold sore break out. Sun exposure, stress, and even mild physical trauma to the direct area can bring a fluid-containing lesion somewhere around the outside of your lips, above the surface and extremely visible to the human eye. Cold sores generally remain symptomatic for about a week.
Visit your Katy, TX Dentist
Dr. Colin Lathrop is an experienced and widely respected dentist serving patients in the Katy, TX area. Patients can schedule an appointment with Lathrop Dental Center by calling our office at 832-437-3849.
