Here at Thornton Dental, we care about suiting your dental needs! Hence we can definitely reschedule your appointment, just give us a call!
Don’t worry about rescheduling, cold sores are common during fall and winter season and under normal conditions they should heal within 8-10 days and we’ll see you then!
If you’re a cold sores sufferer, a tingling feeling on your lip usually means one thing: a new set of cold sores is about to erupt. Cold sores are generally caused by herpes simplex virus 1, which is extremely common. Cold sores on the lips are usually spread through skin-to-skin contact.
Cold sores are uncomfortable and unsightly. And while they typically clear up in two to four weeks, in the meantime sufferers endure red, oozing, and crusting blisters around their mouths.
Once you get the cold sore virus, it is with you forever. The virus sits dormant in your body until a trigger —among others, stress, illness, or hormonal changes — causes it to reappear on the surface of your lips.
The best way to avoid an outbreak is to avoid exposure to certain triggers. The best way to treat an outbreak is to respond early. If you already have a cold sore, Thornton Dental has you covered. Finally, it is also important to know how to avoid transmission of the virus.
Follow the tips below to avoid and deal with your cold sores.
Avoid triggers. Here are some common triggers:
Have your prescription on hand. This is important if you are a regular sufferer. It may make sense to have your prescription in hand already when you feel that first tingle of a cold sore. Talk to your doctor about this possibility.
Left alone, a cold sore will generally last 10 to 14 days. Here’s what you can do to limit the discomfort on your own or shorten the duration of an outbreak:
See a doctor. Prescription medications such as acyclovir (Zovirax) are available to fight the virus responsible for cold sores, and they can stop a cold sore, well, cold! Treatments can be topical (applied on the surface) or oral (swallowed). Your dentist and doctor can help you with this.
Grab an ice cube. Applying ice directly to the sore can reduce swelling down and provide temporary relief from pain.
Don’t touch! If you have a cold sore don’t touch it, poke it, or rub it. This will not help the cold sore heal and can only spread the virus.
Sleep upright. If you have a cold sore, prop a couple of pillows under your head at bedtime. This allows gravity to help the blisters drain.
Change your dental appointment! The last thing that you want to do when you have a cold sore is to hear a dentist ask you to, “open wide.” A dental exam will stretch your lips, aggravating your cold sore, and it can even cause cold sores to break open and spread.
During an outbreak:
After an outbreak:
Our mission is to make dentistry affordable, without sacrificing quality of care.
Thornton Dental has been serving the community of Thornton, Beresfield, Tarro, Woodberry, East Maitland, Chisholm, Raworth, Green hills, Metford, Ashtonfield, Tenambit, Morpeth, Lorn and surrounding areas of Maitland.
Call us on (02) 4966 2996 or book your appointment online today!