If topical ointments and lips balms are not doing the trick for your cold sore, laser treatment might be an option. Donsdale Dental is pleased to offer this quick and easy treatment for stubborn cold sores. We are able to offer patients laser treatment that can be utilized at the first sign of an outbreak, to lessen symptoms and even prevent the onset of a sore.
Cold sores are highly contagious blisters on the lip and around the mouth that are caused by the herpes simplex type 1 virus. They can be spread when a person touches a cold sore or contacts the infected fluid from sharing eating utensils or razors, or through kissing or touching that person’s saliva. Once you carry the virus, there is no cure and the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. The cold sores can reappear periodically throughout your life; sometimes infrequently, but for others quite often. They may appear for many reasons such as stress, or over exposure to the sun. The lifetime of an outbreak is usually under 2 weeks.
If you are able to see your dentist at the very first stages where there is tingling or subtle pain or itching, but the sore has not appeared yet, we can usually stop the outbreak before it surfaces. Most patients get their cold sores in the same spot, so they are able to sense when one is developing. Most cold sores will start to heal on their own within a few days and then disappear entirely within a couple of weeks. However, if they cause severe pain or make you feel self-conscious, they can be treated. Treatments include skin creams, ointments, or sometimes pills, although these treatments only eliminate the cold sores 1-2 days earlier than they would otherwise disappear, though they can lessen the uncomfortable symptom. A far more effective way to treat cold sores is through LASER THERAPY.
If the lesion is caught early, you can prevent the sore from breaking out. As soon as you feel the tingling that often warns you of an on-coming sore, schedule an appointment for laser treatment. If you already have a full-blown sore, the laser will take away the discomfort and pain associated with the sore and help to dry it up and heal faster. Oftentimes people will get recurring cold sores in the same spot every time. After being treated with a laser multiple times, there is a very good chance that the sore will not appear again in that spot.
