Both cold sores and canker sores are common oral health issues that can interfere with essential activities like speaking and eating. Fortunately, laser dentistry advancements have made treating these uncomfortable sores more efficient and less painful.
At VIP Smiles, we’re proud to utilize the very best in dental technology to give our patients the high-quality care they deserve, which includes treating cold sores and canker sores. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what exactly these sores are, what causes them, and how laser dentistry can provide quick and effective relief.
The Difference Between Cold Sores and Canker Sores
While cold sores and canker sores may seem similar at first glance, they have key differences that set them apart. Understanding these differences is key to providing effective treatment.
Cold Sores
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, occur due to the herpes simplex virus and can be triggered by sun exposure, illness, stress, or a weakened immune system. These highly contagious, blister-like lesions usually appear on the lips or around the mouth and cause symptoms such as burning and itching.
Traditional cold sore treatments include topical creams, antiviral medications, and over-the-counter ointments. Rather than eliminating the underlying virus, these treatments aim to reduce the outbreak’s duration and severity. Cold compresses and pain relievers can also help to alleviate discomfort.
Canker Sores
While the exact cause of canker sores is unclear, they are not caused by a virus, nor are they contagious. These small, painful ulcers develop inside the mouth on the gums, cheeks, or tongue, causing a tingling or burning sensation and developing into a painful, white or red sore. They are often linked to minor mouth injuries, eating spicy or acidic foods, chronic stress, and certain underlying health conditions.
Canker sore treatments typically involve mouth rinses, over-the-counter pain relief gels, and corticosteroid ointments. In especially severe cases, prescription medications can reduce pain and inflammation.
How Laser Dentistry Treats Cold Sores and Canker Sores
Laser dentistry is an innovative tool that uses focused beams of light energy to treat a wide variety of dental and oral conditions. Compared to traditional surgical methods, dental lasers are more precise and less invasive, providing faster healing times, a reduced risk of infection, and less pain.
Treating Cold Sores
To treat cold sores, dental lasers target the virus causing the sore by penetrating the skin and destroying the viral particles. Like traditional treatments, this method reduces the outbreak’s severity and duration; however, it also provides immediate pain relief by reducing inflammation, and regular treatment can also decrease the chances of the sore coming back.
Treating Canker Sores
When it comes to canker sores, laser treatment works by removing the affected tissue and sterilizing the area, which reduces the risk of secondary infection, stimulates blood flow, and accelerates the healing process. The treatment is quick and painless — in fact, patients often feel immediate relief as soon as the laser desensitizes the aggravated nerve endings.
Advantages of Laser Treatment
Let’s take a closer look at some of the biggest advantages of laser treatment for cold sores and canker sores:
- Immediate pain relief: Laser treatment often provides instant and lasting relief from pain and discomfort by reducing inflammation and desensitizing nerve endings.
- Faster healing: By promoting tissue regeneration and increasing blood flow, laser dentistry treatment hastens the healing process and reduces recovery time.
- Reduced recurrence: Regular laser treatments can reduce the frequency of cold sore recurrence by targeting the herpes simplex virus.
- Minimally invasive: Unlike surgical interventions, laser treatment is non-invasive and does not require no incisions or sutures. The procedure is quick and comfortable, with minimal bleeding and a lower risk of complications.
- Improved oral health: Treating cold sores and canker sores with laser dentistry can help patients maintain better overall oral health by promoting greater oral hygiene and reducing the risk of secondary infections.
Innovative Laser Dentistry at VIP Smiles
At VIP Smiles, we believe in harnessing the power of innovative laser dentistry to provide exceptional care, instant pain relief, faster healing, and greater overall comfort. Treating cold sore and canker sores isn’t all we can do with dental lasers — they can be used for a wide variety of cosmetic, restorative, and routine procedures.
If you’re looking for a way to banish cold sores or canker sores, look no further than the laser dentistry experts at VIP Smiles. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you embrace healthier, happier smiles.
