Cold Sores

What are the most common types of mouth sores?

  • Canker sores: Small white lesions surrounded by inflammation or redness.
  • Cold sores (fever blisters): Painful blisters around the lips, under the nose or around the chin.
  • Oral thrush (candidiasis): A fungal infection from the overgrowth of yeast (Candida albicans).
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What causes cold sores?

Infection from the herpes simplex type 1 virus brings on cold sores. Once a person is infected, it stays in the body, and recurring flare-ups are possible. The virus that causes the condition is highly contagious, and care must be taken to prevent spreading the disease when an outbreak is active.

What symptoms can occur with mouth sores?

  • Canker sores: Appear as small white or yellow center lesions with a red border. They develop in the mouth on the tongue, inside cheek areas, lips, gum line and throat area.
  • Cold sores: Appear outside the mouth, either individually or in clusters. They appear as red, raised blisters typically around the lip edge. They can also occur under the nose or chin.
  • Oral thrush: Symptoms include creamy, off-white or reddish lesions on the tongue and inner cheeks. The tissue under the sores can become tender. The lesions may spread to other areas of the mouth or the esophagus (the tube that carries food between your mouth and stomach, resulting in a sore throat and problems with swallowing.

How are different mouth sores treated?

Remedies vary according to the type of oral condition. These are the typical treatments for commonly occurring mouth diseases:

  • Canker sores: Usually heal in 7 to 10 days. Over-the-counter anesthetic ointments and pain relievers can provide temporary relief from pain. Rinsing the mouth with an oral antimicrobial rinse may help to reduce the irritation.
  • Cold sores: These typically heal in about a week. The blisters may come back during times of stress or due to exposure to sunlight, allergies or fever. Topical anesthetics can provide temporary pain relief. Prescription antiviral drugs may help reduce the frequency of recurring flare-ups.
  • Oral thrush: This is readily treatable in healthy children and adults. Symptoms can be worse for those with weakened immune systems. Typically, treatment for the infection involves 10 to 14 days of antifungal medication in the form of liquids, lozenges or tablets.

How can sinus infections and congestion be prevented?

There’s no guaranteed way to prevent sinusitis, but following these recommendations can help:

  • Do not smoke and avoid other people’s second-hand smoke
  • Keep away from known allergens
  • Wash your hands frequently, especially during cold and flu season. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

If left untreated, what are the possible side effects of sinus infection?

If left untreated, you may continue to experience pain and discomfort until the symptoms end. In rare cases, untreated sinusitis can lead to more severe or chronic conditions.

References used as sources for this page

  1. Mouth sores: Medline Plus MedlinePlus Encyclopedia. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003059.htm. (Accessed September 3, 2019)
  2. Canker sore – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/canker-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-20370615. (Accessed September 3, 2019)
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