Mouth Sore Treatment

Dealing with mouth sores can be uncomfortable and frustrating, especially if the treatments you’ve tried haven’t worked effectively. Dr. Patel and the team at Green Dentistry can help you determine the root cause and stop mouth sores so you can live a confident and healthy life.

Mouth sores are irritating or painful lesions that can develop in different areas on the mouth and lips. They can be caused by:

• Injuries
• Infections like gum disease
• Hormonal changes
• Vitamin deficiency
• Underlying diseases
• Stress

There are several different types of mouth sores, but these three are the most common:

Cold Sores

Cold sores are painful blisters that appear on or around the lips. These affect millions of people and are caused by the herpes simplex virus. They appear and disappear throughout a person’s life, often brought on by illness or stress.

While they are contagious and can be spread from one person to another when a sore is active, they also resolve on their own in a few days or weeks.

Canker Sores

Canker sores are shallow, ulcer-like sores that generally appear inside the lips, cheeks, and on the gums. Unlike cold sores, these are not contagious or caused by a virus. They may occur as a result of a mouth injury, like accidentally biting the inside of your cheek while chewing.

However, some medications or diseases can cause canker sores or make individuals more susceptible to them.

Ulcers

Ulcers are similar to canker sores but are usually larger and can present anywhere inside the mouth. They are more likely to be painful and require treatment.

There are multiple treatments available to stop mouth sores, some of which are available over the counter. Other mouth sore treatments require a doctor’s prescription. Which treatment you need depends on the kind of sore you have and its cause.

Cold Sore Treatments

If you have a cold sore, you may be able to treat it with a topical cream or gel like Abreva. The active ingredient in this treatment is 10% docosanol, which is an FDA-approved antiviral medication that has been shown to shorten healing time. Prescription cold sore medicines include acyclovir antiviral cream or oral antivirals like valacyclovir.
Other treatments for cold sores include:

• Topical creams or gels with lidocaine to relieve pain
• Hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and inflammation
• Cold sore patches that cover the sore during healing
• Cold or hot compresses to reduce pain and swelling
• Canker Sore and Ulcer Treatments

Treating canker sores and mouth ulcers usually involves keeping the mouth clean and avoiding irritating foods and beverages. Most ulcer-like sores respond well to warm saltwater rinses or milk of magnesia to coat the sore.

It’s also crucial to brush and floss your teeth frequently while avoiding brushing the sore itself. You should also refrain from eating acidic or spicy foods while you have an active ulcer.

Green Dentistry specializes in treating mouth sores in a holistic way that gets at the root cause of the sores and helps prevent them from occurring as often.

While prescription treatments are available and may be recommended, Dr. Patel uses them in conjunction with natural mouth sore treatments to minimize potential side effects and protect your health. Dr. Patel will take down your health history and do a complete examination to determine the best treatment for your specific condition.

At Green Dentistry San Francisco, we can help you get rid of mouth sores with natural methods that make your overall health and wellbeing a priority. Contact us today to make an appointment at (415) 878-5257 or request to see our holistic dentist online here.