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Mouth Irritations
The two most common mouth irritations result from fever blisters
(cold sores) and canker sores.
Fever blisters or cold sores appear outside the mouth. A virus
called herpes simplex causes them and the fluid they produce is
very contagious. Once infected by the virus, outbreaks may be triggered
by a number of things, including fever, illness, stress, injury
or exposure to sunlight. There is no cure, but there are medications,
which can help. Some are available over-the-counter such as Orabase-B
and Orajel. Regular dental hygiene should continue, but patients
should use caution not to irritate the affected area.
Canker sores develop inside the mouth. There is no known cause,
but the sores are not contagious. There is no cure, but Orabase-B
and Orajel can alleviate pain. Dental hygiene should continue gently
to avoid irritation.
If conditions continue to worsen, contact our office. There may
be other, more serious, conditions that could be to blame.
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