Cold Sore and Canker Sore
Cold Sore and Canker Sore are painful lesions associating with mouth and surrounding area which recur from time to time. While they both can be triggered by stress, low immune system, hormonal changes, trauma, and fatigue, they are two different lesions.
Cold Sore
Cold Sore caused by a virus (the Herpes Simplex Virus). They start with a subtle itch and tingle on upper or lower lips. If not treated, they spread and become crusted that can last up to 2 weeks.
Once a person is infected, the virus stays in the body and causes occasional attacks specially when the body’s immune system is weakened. They can also contaminate others by touch or saliva.
Cold Sore Treatment
While antiviral prescription is widely used as a treatment option, use of laser wavelengths is pretty effective to speed up the healing process and to reduce the recurrence of lesions.
Laser beam can accelerate the healing time, reduces inflammation, disinfect the Cold Sore lesion and reduce the pain.
The procedure is quick with no need of freezing or needles and patient feels nothing rather than a warm feeling in the area with instant relief of pain. The best time to benefit from laser treatment is on the onset of lesions at early stages. Cold Sore lesions are cured within 48 hours of laser therapy.
Patients experience nothing more than a warm sensation on and around the lesion during treatment. Waves of light disinfect the sore, hastens healing time, reduces inflammation, and relieves pain. Most laser treated lesions are cured during the first 48 hours.
Canker Sore
Canker Sores are lesions that occur inside mouth on the gum or ceiling of the mouth. While like Cold Sore they are painful, they are not caused by viruses and therefore they can not be transmitted from one person to the other.
The canker sore lesion is red with white halo and they are extremely painful to touch. They will last for a week and like Cold Sore, they occur during stress or when the immune system is low.
Canker Sore Treatment
Since Canker Sores are not caused by bacteria and viruses, there is no prescription to treat them. Prescription of antibiotic to reduce bacterial activity around the lesion and diet restriction can help reduce the pain.
Use of laser beam can reduce the pain and make the heal faster. Again, no needle is needed and patient just feels some warm feelin in the area during laser treatment. Laser reduce inflammation and sterilize the area eliminating bacterial onset.
While the lesions for both cold Sore and canker Sore may return even after laser treatment, there would be less frequency and milder lesions in most cases.
Soft tissue Lasering of Cold Sore and Canker Sore is a quick and easy treatment that reduces the healing time, reduces the pain and discomfort with fewer lesions in future and with no need for freezing. Healing time decreases.
Laser Cold Sore / Canker Sore Treatment in Vancouver
If you suffer from Cold Sore or Canker Sore in Vancouver, our office can provide laser treatment to make you feel better, Simply call us and book an appointment as soon as you noticed the sore and we do our best to book you immediately to relive the pain.