As colder weather approaches, your oral health becomes more important. Mouth ulcers might start to appear more frequently.
As colder weather approaches, mouth ulcers might start to appear more frequently. Two common types of mouth ulcers are canker sores and cold sores. Ask yourself: how healthy is your mouth? If you’re prone to developing these painful and unsightly fever blisters, here are some oral health tips for treating them.
Symptoms
Canker Sores: These sores start growing inside your mouth. They can be anywhere from the inner linings of your lips to sprouting on your cheeks. You might also find them on your tongue or upper palate, too. The primary symptom is pain – every time you touch it you will feel it. To let it heal properly, leave it alone for a week or two. If after fourteen days it still persists, or has gotten worse then it’s time to see your dentist. Your dentist can give you an oral exam and decide what to do next. However, unlike cold sores, cankers aren’t contagious.
Cold Sores: Have you noticed a group of small blisters that have seemingly merged into one larger spot on or around your lip? When this happens, you start feeling like Jupiter isn’t the only place in the Solar System with a great red spot. Unfortunately, since a virus causes it, this mouth ulcer is contagious. To get rid of it, you might need to see your regular doctor, who can then prescribe medication meant to eliminate the virus and heal the cold sore.
Solutions
Rinse: Fortunately, as painful and inconvenient as these mouth ulcers are, there are several solutions. If you use an antibacterial rinse, you can reduce the number of harmful bacteria affecting your overall oral health. This rinse doesn’t have any alcohol in it, but it’ll help your mouth feel fresh and clean. It’ll also make the irritation and sensitivity go down.
Paste: You could also use a specially-formulated paste instead of the rinse. The main difference between the two is that this paste is meant to be spread directly onto the site of the sore itself. In this way, you can coat the affected area with a layer that prevents it from becoming inflamed or infected, and it will also boost the healing process.
Improvements
To improve your oral health, try eating a better diet packed with all the nutrients you need to feel better. Fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, grains, and yogurts are all tasty treats to enjoy while fighting off any mouth ulcers.
GET BETTER ORAL HEALTH WITH ANNAPOLIS DENTAL CENTER
Whether you need a tooth extraction or just want to get a dental health check-up, Annapolis Dental Center has the expertise and compassion to work with you to improve your oral health and get you smiling again. Your comfort and health are our top priorities, so we go above and beyond to make our patients happy with the services that they receive. To set up your appointment today, give us a call at (410) 571-5014 or visit us online. For more oral health tips for you and the whole family, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and check us out on Yelp!