Mouth Sores/Canker Sores and Herpes

Nowadays, many people complain of recurrent sores in and around the mouth. The most common sores are canker sores and cold sores, but they are difficult to distinguish when they occur in the mouth. Since the cause and treatment of canker sores and herpes are completely different, it is very important to make the correct diagnosis.

Canker sores are very painful ulcerated lesions that usually occur on the tongue, cheek mucosa, inner lip, soft palate and gum inside the mouth. They are seen only in the mouth and are not contagious. Although it is usually seen as a single one, it can be seen in several regions at the same time. It is more common in women. Although the exact cause of canker sores is unknown, there are many factors that accelerate the formation of canker sores and delay their healing.

Stress is one of the most important causes of the formation of canker sores. The formation of canker sores due to intense stress increases in women before the menstrual period. Foods such as cookies, citrus fruits, pickles, vinegar, chips, which are high in spices and salt, can accelerate the formation of canker sores. At the same time, foods such as tomatoes, eggplants, apples, figs, seafood, nuts, rye can also accelerate the formation of aphth in allergic bodies. Hard brushing of teeth, biting of cheeks, tongue, lips, consuming hard foods that can cause irritation of the mucosa can cause the formation of canker sores. When oral hygiene is neglected, when some toothpastes are used (high SLS rate), the formation of canker sores can be observed when incompatible dentures are used in the mouth. The incidence of canker sores is higher in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases, those with B12 and iron deficiency, and patients who smoke.

There is no definitive treatment for canker sores that can occur due to many causes. There are some methods to shorten the recovery period, which lasts about 7-10 days, and to have a more painless period. Hot, acidic and irritating foods should be avoided. Gargling can be done with mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine or salt water. The intraoral creams recommended by the dentist reduce the pain by preventing the aphthous from growing further.

Cold sores are small blisters that collect water inside, usually formed on the edge of the mouth and on the lip, rarely in the mouth. The disease caused by a virus called herpes simplex is contagious and usually painful. The pain starts before herpes occurs and goes away on its own within 7-10 days. The herpes virus is contracted when infected saliva, mucous membranes or skin are touched with the virus. Because it is highly contagious, most people have been infected with the virus before adulthood.

When the herpes virus is ingested into the body, symptoms such as sores and fever may develop in the mouth, and it may not cause any wounds and symptoms. Symptoms are most common in people with a weakened immune system and other health problems. After the initial infection, the virus remains inside the facial nerves. In some people, it may become active again. This virus, which is found passively in people who have previously had a herpes infection, becomes active in cases of exposure to sunlight, stress, trauma, fatigue, hormonal changes, causing the formation of herpes.

Antiviral creams used in the treatment of herpes are of maximum benefit when applied when herpes is at its initial stage, that is, when the first symptoms appear. When preliminary symptoms such as tingling, itching, whining are felt before the formation of herpes, the emergence of herpes can be prevented or its course can be alleviated with the application of antiviral cream. Probiotics, foods containing vitamins E and C are beneficial for herpes by strengthening the immunity.