Your oral health has a big impact on your life. From influencing your self-confidence to just making it easier to enjoy the day, good oral health matters a lot. That’s why when you are suffering from mouth-related pain it can be so difficult to really get the most out of your time. Mouth sores in particular are incredibly difficult to cope with and there are two main types that most people are familiar with – cold sores and canker sores. The two can seem similar at first, but a closer look at them will reveal some significant differences. It’s worth taking a look at both to ensure you know what you’re dealing with.

Canker Sores
A canker sore is a type of open sore that occurs along the tongue or within the mouth. They normally appear as white or yellow and usually have a red area in their center. The size of a canker sore can vary from small to fairly large, and will be mildly to very tender.

The pain of a canker sore can be increased through eating and drinking, but it’s important to note that they aren’t contagious and won’t be spread through any kind of interaction with someone suffering from one.

Canker sores are interesting in that there isn’t a specific cause related to all of them. Instead, several different issues can cause them, including:

• Poor diet
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Food allergies
• Hormones
• Stress

Canker sores generally go away on their own after a few days, and they may reoccur periodically throughout your life. However, there are some treatment options including things like topical gels or ointments that can be used. Mouth rinses may have some effect as well. These treatments can reduce symptoms and can speed up the rate at which a canker sore vanishes.

Cold Sores
Cold sores, on the other hand, are usually formed on the exterior of the mouth around the lips and sides of the lips. The sores are often smaller than canker sores but can grow to be fairly large. They are bright red and may leak fluid or form a scab over them.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and are very contagious. Something as simple as kissing, touching the sore and then touching your own mouth, or sharing food or drinks can spread the disease easily.

Cold sores can’t be cured, and once you have them, you’ll have them for life. Luckily, outbreaks don’t occur that often and when they do they will go away on their own after a period of time. As with canker sores, there are creams, gels, and ointments that you can use to help control symptoms and to speed up the healing process. Some treatments may also help prevent future outbreaks of the sores.

Conclusion
In short, neither of these two common types of mouth sores are pleasant to experience. Prevention methods vary, with the easiest way to prevent cold sores being to avoid saliva contact with someone who has them. As for canker sores, prevention may include things like avoiding certain foods or reducing stress levels.

If you’re experiencing frequent outbreaks of either type of mouth sore, it may be worth visiting a dental professional to see if they can offer solutions for the problem. They’re not major issues, but they can impact your life in significant ways and as such it’s worth taking the time to look into prevention methods.