Oral Herpes (Cold Sores): All About This Contagious Virus

 You may have seen cold sores that pop up on or around the lips from time to time, but these blister-like sores appear not only around the mouth and lips but inside the mouth, too, like on the tongue and roof of the mouth. They are called oral herpes because it is caused by a common virus called herpes simplex virus.

In this article, we will go over the common questions about oral herpes on the tongue like: What causes herpes on the tongue? What are the symptoms of oral herpes and what it looks like? And what are the treatments and preventions for this viral mouth infection?

Oral herpes, also called cold sores or fever blisters, is a painful chronic lesion caused by herpes simplex virus. There are two types of herpes virus: the herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1), which is associated with oral herpes, and the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which causes genital herpes. But both of them can affect the mouth and genitals. Once affected by the virus, it remains in the body and stays dormant until reactivated. Some people may show no symptoms, but others will have painful sores. You may also have periodic outbreaks, which the sores appear again.

According to an estimate by World Health Organization in 2016, 67% of the population, or 3.7 billion people under the age of 50, live with the herpes infection.

  • Zin oxide cream: You can use zinc oxide cream to protect the lips or other parts of body against the sun exposure. Zinc oxide cream contributes to better and faster healing process and prevent the virus from getting on to the other parts of the skin.
  • Abreva docosanol cream: Abreva is another cold sore cream to apply on your infected skin for shorter healing time. It helps you get over the herpes infection quickly and prevents more progression of the virus on your skin.
  • Lysine (also for oral intake): Lysine is an essential amino acid also found naturally in foods. It is available as oral supplements and ointment. Apply Lysine cream daily on the infected skin according to the recommended period of time for cold sores treatment. Also, consult with your doctor on usage and daily dosage of Lysine pill.  

Antibacterial mouthwashes. As good home remedies, natural mouthwashes and those with antibacterial/anti-inflammatory properties help to get rid of bacterial activity and soothe the pain of oral herpes. Mouthwashes containing alcohol can be effective in making the inside the mouth drier because of dry nature of alcohol and therefore heal the sores more quickly.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Gum Bone Spurs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Image
  What Do Gum Bone Spurs Look Like? gum bone spur pictures often manifest as small, bony protrusions along the jawbone, particularly near the gum tissues. Their appearance can vary, but they generally have a smooth or slightly irregular surface. In some cases, they may resemble small bumps or nodules on the surface of the jaw. Here are key visual aspects of gum bone spurs: 1.     Location: These growths typically occur on the outer surface of the jawbone, adjacent to the gum tissues. 2.     Color: Gum bone spurs are usually similar in color to the surrounding bone tissue, making them less noticeable. 3.     Size: They can range in size from small, barely noticeable protrusions to larger, more prominent growths. Common Types of Gum Bone Spurs: 1.     Tori Mandibulares: These are bony growths on the lower jaw, often found along the inner side of the lower premolars or molars. 2.     Tori Palatini: These growths occur on the hard palate of the mouth, of
Read more

What is Invisalign treatment?

Image
  does insurance cover invisalign is an orthodontic treatment method that uses  clear aligners  to straighten teeth, a set of transparent plastic aligners that you wear over your teeth over a specific period of time. Alternative ways to pay for Invisalign There are other ways to make your Invisalign as convenient and affordable. Since aligners are an expensive side of dental health (after all it is orthodontics), the price should not create barriers to achieving an enhanced smile. So never give up on that and get straighter teeth and therefore an improved look with the following ways.  Payment plans Talk to your orthodontist/dentist for a flexible monthly payment so that you don’t need to pay the whole sum of money at once. If possible, your orthodontist can arrange your payment in a period of several months or even years. The usual payment plan will be as follow: you should pay a larger amount of deposit upfront and then pay a lower amount of installments each month until all the cos
Read more