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Canker Sores and Cold Sores in Guelph

Mouth sores can be a real pain, mainly when they make the simple tasks of eating, drinking or talking a nightmare. Two frequently confused conditions which affect the mouth are canker sores and cold sores. While both canker sores and cold sores may look like one and the same to the untrained eye, they actually differ with the causes, places where they appear (i.e. locations) and available treatment options.

Being able to determine if your sore is either one or the other type will guide you in deciding which of the available remedies to go with. A dental exam would help identify the root cause of a sore if it is unusually painful, has a recurrence, or doesn’t go away on time.

For persistent or recurring sores, our team at Magnolia Dental Guelph will conduct an evaluation and suggest the best suitable treatment methods.

book an appointment Call 519-900-5366

Understanding Canker Sores and Cold Sores

Canker sores and cold sores are types of mouth ulcers, both quite common yet distinct from each other.

Canker sores are small ulcers that can happen on the inner surfaces of cheeks, lips, tongues, and near the gums in your mouth. They tend to be of white/yellow centre with a red rim and usually disappear in a couple of weeks without any particular treatment.

Cold sores are basically viral sores with a blister-like appearance brought about by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) most of the time. These generally manifest as a cluster of tiny sores mainly around the lips area. It is quite common for them to burst, leak, and form sores that eventually dry up. Cold sores have a high contagiousness rate which is why the infection can be transferred just by a kissing kiss.

Canker sores and cold sores quite often get mixed up since either can hurt and be located very near the mouth. Anyway, apart from symptoms there are also differences. That is one big reason you want a correct diagnosis. If you are suffering from very frequent, severe oral sores or have difficulty healing you need the right medical advice.

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Canker Sores vs. Cold Sores: What's the Difference?

The main difference between canker sores and cold sores is their location and the cause of appearance. Canker sores which are not herpes related also do not get transmitted, whereas the spreading of cold sores which are viruses can occur.

Feature Canker Sores Cold Sores
Cause It is usually connected to irritation, stress, food triggers, nutritional deficiencies, or immune responses Usually caused by herpes simplex virus, most commonly HSV-1
Location Usually inside the mouth Usually on or around the lips
Contagious? No Yes
Appearance White or yellow centre with a red border Small, fluid-filled blisters that may crust
Pain Can be quite painful, especially while eating Often preceded by tingling or burning and can be painful
Healing time Usually 1–2 weeks Often about 2–3 weeks
Treatment Protective gels, mouth rinsing, pain relief, and prescription treatment when needed Antiviral medication, topical products, and pain relief

Canker sores typically do not require any form of treatment to heal. Pain and inflammation can be addressed by using products and prescription medications. But, one of the common treatment methods for cold sores is antiviral drugs in particular if taken soon after the initial outbreak.

Common Symptoms to Watch For

Canker Sores

Canker sores are usually small, round or oval shaped ulcers that have white or yellow fluid in the centre with red borders. You may notice:

  • Eating difficulties are associated with pain and/or tenderness.
  • Gingivitis or gum disease while brushing your teeth.
  • A sore inside the cheeks or lips
  • Under or inside the tongue, sores.
  • Dysfunction of the gums or other soft tissues.

A few people experience slight burning or tingling sensations prior to the ulcer’s appearance.

Cold Sores

Cold sores on lips tend to have a pattern to them. The initial stages may involve:

  • Tingling or itching
  • Lips burning – fire at mouth’s edge
  • Small blisters filled with fluid
  • Breaking of blisters 
  • As the sore heals, it crusts or scabbed.

Understand Causes of Canker Sores and Cold Sores?

The distinct reasons that may cause Canker sores and cold sores.

Canker Sores

There are multiple factors that can cause canker sores. Check out the following points –

  • Changes in the body caused by stress or emotions
  • Accidental cheek or lip injuries
  • Irritation by dental work 
  • Spicy, acidic, salty or irritating food
  • Hormonal changes
  • Nutrient deficiencies such as iron, folate and vitamin B12 or zinc
  • Certain immune-related responses

Some people get canker sores more than once and some people get canker sores only occasionally.

Cold Sores

A cold sore is a result of the herpes simplex virus, typically HSV-1. After you have the virus in your body, it can recur.

An outbreak can happen when you have a lot of these:

  • Fever or illness
  • Stress
  • Fatigue
  • Exposure to the sun or wind.
  • Hormonal changes
  • Alterations in immunity function.
  • Eyelid, lip and lip angle injuries are common.

Because cold sores are contagious, not having close contacts and not sharing anything personal during flare-up could help lower the chance of spreading the virus.

Treatment Options Available For Canker Sores And Cold Sores

Getting the accurate mouth sores treatment depends on whether you have canker sore, cold sore, or other types of oral diseases.

Canker Sore Treatment

Small canker sores often heal on their own without any need of treating them. Treatment can, however, ease the recuperative process. Depending on the sore, it can be treated with:

  • Oral gels or pastes that are used to protect the mouth.
  • Over-the-counter pain relief
  • Do Mouth rinsing 
  • Avoid consumption of spicy, acid, or irritating foods
  • Light brushing with a mild brush
  • Prescription mouth rinsing or medicines for bad sores

When deficiencies in nutrition lead to repeated sores, healthcare providers would most likely suggest fixing the nutritional deficiency. In some cases, very severe or chronic canker sores can bring the need for a more thorough check-up.

Treatment of Cold Sores

Cold sores are mainly treated to get rid of the painful symptoms, to make the duration of outbreak shorter if at all possible, and also to avoid spreading the virus to others.

The treatment involves – 

  • Prescription antiviral medication
  • Topical antiviral creams
  • Pain-relieving products
  • Lip moisturizers
  • Sun protection for the lips
  • Refraining from kissing and close skin-to-skin contact during the active period of the sore
  • Not sharing personal items, such as towels, lip products, utensils etc.
  • Antiviral therapy is most likely to be effective when treatment begins early during an outbreak.

However, if you think it’s a canker sore or cold sore, visit a dentist or health care provider to help determine the best oral ulcer treatment.

Laser Therapy For Recurrent Canker Sores

Laser therapy is a possibility for those that have painful and/or frequent canker sores and may be discussed with a dental professional. Laser treatment involves directing the light energy onto the affected area.

It can assist with a reduction of discomfort and promote quicker healing, depending on the kind of laser and treatment procedure utilized. Recently, systematic reviews of clinical trials have been carried out, suggesting that laser therapy may be effective in decreasing pain due to recurrent aphthous ulcers and can shorten the healing time.

The protocols for treatment, however, are variable, and further research is needed to determine optimal settings and who will reap the greatest benefit from treatment. Laser treatment is not a cure for the tendency to develop canker sores; it is typically used as an adjunctive treatment.

The laser procedure is usually considered an add-on treatment of the chronic condition to develop canker sores rather than a way to cure it.

When You Need to Consult a Dentist Guelph?

Most of the small mouth ulcers will heal. If a sore, however, then it is a good idea to see Dentist Guelph.

  • Has a longer shelf life than two weeks
  • Is abnormally large and painful
  • Keeps returning frequently
  • Sticks to one food or beverage choice, finding it hard to switch from one to another
  • Causes difficulty swallowing
  • Has a fever with him/her
  • Bleeds easily
  • Appears infected
  • Does not improve but worsens

If the sore does not heal or is unusual, it is not something that you should just live with. A dentist will see if it is a normal canker sore, cold sore, irritation or something that requires further investigation.

Tips to Prevent Future Outbreaks

It may be impossible to avoid getting any sort of mouth sores at some stage in life, but there are a number of simple habits that may help you keep your mouth and teeth healthy.

  • Brush your teeth carefully. 
  • Use a soft bristle toothbrush.
  • Floss regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria 
  • Have adequate intake of water regularly .
  • Choose healthy food which is  loaded with vitamins and minerals 
  • Avoid food that causes you discomfort 
  • These are the building blocks for the good condition of your mouth and teeth.
  • Avoid spending too much time outside under direct sun which can cause your lips to become sunburnt.
  • Treatment of an outbreak would be best done by the use of OTC remedies, but it is recommended that a patient not touch or pick at their sores.
  • To have a beautiful smile and overall oral health, visit the dentist from time to time for examinations and cleanings.

If your teeth, orthodontics bite appliances, or other factors keep causing the same area to be irritated in your mouth then speak to your dentist about possible solutions that would make the irritation a thing of the past.

Find Relief from Painful Mouth Sores

Achieving daily life tasks may become more difficult and a person could even miss social events if they have to deal with a mouth ulcer that is causing a lot of pain. Fortunately, most cases of common canker sores and cold sores can be treated successfully if the correct approach is used.

Helpful and personalized dental care is offered at Magnolia Dental Guelph. We can evaluate painful, chronic, and recurring sores. Your symptoms may be caused by various things and our team can help determine what these may be. Thus, we discuss appropriate treatment options, including modern technology where appropriate.

Find Your Perfect Smile

Book your appointment at Magnolia Dental Guelph today for a faster, gentler, and more effective way to brighten your smile!

Book an appointment Call Us: 519-900-5366

faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Canker sores usually develop inside the mouth and are not contagious. Cold sores usually appear on or around the lips and are caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Yes. Cold sores are contagious and can spread through close contact, especially when a sore is active.

Most canker sores heal on their own within 1–2 weeks.

Recurring canker sores may be linked to stress, mouth injuries, certain foods, hormonal changes, or nutritional deficiencies.

See a dentist if a sore lasts more than two weeks, keeps coming back, becomes very painful, or makes eating difficult.

Yes, laser therapy may help reduce pain and support faster healing in some people with recurring canker sores.

Avoid known triggers, protect your lips from the sun, manage stress, and follow your dentist or doctor’s advice on antiviral treatment.

Yes. Canker sores can affect both children and adults.