Get Rid Of Cold Sores With Help From Riverside Dental Care

When you have a cold sore, likely, your first thought isn’t that your dentist can help you deal with it. Cold sores—also called fever blisters—is the common name for the herpes simplex virus, and it causes tiny clusters of blisters to form around lips. Over-the-counter ointments may be able to help you manage your cold sores, but for some people, these ointments don’t have much of an impact.

Instead of trying to deal with your cold sores on your own, you can visit Riverside Dental Care and explore far more effective treatment options.

• Cold Sore Treatment Options At Riverside Dental Care
• What To Do If You Get A Cold Sore Prior To A Dentist Visit
• Ways To Help Prevent Future Cold Sores

Cold Sore Treatment Options At Riverside Dental Care

Cold sore treatment is one of the less commonly-known dental services we offer at our dental clinics. At this time, we offer two options, depending on the stage of your cold sore development.

Pre-Cold Sore Treatment Option

At the onset of a cold sore, prior to an eruption, you may feel a tingling in the lip. If you recognize this sign, our dentists can provide a prescription called Valtrex to help take cold sore away.

Visible Cold Sore Treatment Option

Another option is laser treatment at our dental office. For the best results, it is better to catch your cold sore during the onset, but laser treatment can be effective for those who have visible cold sores. Our office has a laser that can help take away the cold sore, with research showing that using laser treatment helps with pain management. Also, studies show there is the possibility that if the cold sore is treated about 2-3 times in that area, it has less of a chance coming back in that general area.

What To Do If You Get A Cold Sore Prior To A Dentist Visit

Along with how to manage cold sores, there are times when you may develop a cold sore before a dental appointment. It is important to contact us if you do develop a cold sore, as there are other steps we will need to take to protect both you and our staff.

In some instances, you may be encouraged to reschedule or to come in for cold sore-specific treatment, particularly if your cold sore is painful. With suspected cold sores that have not yet appeared, you may be able to stick to your appointment while our staff exercises caution. There is no set answer, so it is best if you call us.

Ways To Help Prevent Future Cold Sores

At this time, there is no cure for cold sores. While laser treatment at our dental clinics can help reduce and potentially eliminate outbreaks in a treated area, that doesn’t mean that you will not have cold sores develop elsewhere on your lips. However, you can take steps to help prevent future cold sore flare-ups, such as:

• Avoid sharing personal grooming items with someone who has an active cold sore.
• Reduce stress levels to help prevent immune system drop.
• Apply sunscreen and lip balm, as excess sunlight can trigger cold sores.
• Opt for laser treatment when a cold sore is coming on.

If you are concerned about a cold sore—whether one is developing or you have one pop up before an appointment—don’t be afraid to contact us. We are happy to help in any way we can, whether you are looking for treatment or want to reschedule your appointment.