Banish canker sores and herpetic lesions

Banish canker sores and herpetic lesions

The outbreak, in the earliest stage, is invisible to the eye but has a tangible feeling to it. An itchy, tingly sensation occurs, and then the lesion erupts after this sensation goes away. Common sites are the lip (outer or inner) and the soft pink tissue within the mouth or the nose.

by Dr. Nicholas Meyer — 

These pesky sores of the mouth can also manifest within the nasal passages. The sores are caused by the herpes simplex I virus. This virus infects many Americans, and it surfaces during times of stress.

Stress can be physical (too much sun), emotional or nutritional. It has been my experience that the most common cause of an outbreak is a recent emotional stress that occurred about 10 days prior to its appearance.

The outbreak, in the earliest stage, is invisible to the eye but has a tangible feeling to it. An itchy, tingly sensation occurs, and then the lesion erupts after this sensation goes away. Common sites are the lip (outer or inner) and the soft pink tissue within the mouth or the nose.

A cousin disorder is known as shingles, from the chicken pox virus, which has much the same physical manifestations, but its locations are different. These sores typically can appear on the face following the nerve distribution of the trigeminal nerve. One of the most serious consequences of this virus is the loss of the eye to the infection. The outbreak also can occur on the back or rib area. The lesions are very painful and hundreds, if not thousands, of little blisters appear.

Treatments vary, but the use of the Neodymium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (NdYAG) laser has been found to be very effective in stopping its progression in the earliest stage of the outbreak. If caught during the tingly stage, the spread can be halted. If caught a bit later, once the blisters appear, the application of the light can shorten the course of the outbreak by about half.

The laser deactivates the virus in the treated area, and the likelihood of its reemergence there is low.

Nicholas Meyer, D.D.S., D.N.M., is a general dentist in Scottsdale, Ariz., who has a special interest in developmental disturbances of the facial complex that contribute to such maladies as TMJ, snoring and sleep apnea. milldental.com, DrMeyer@milldental.com or 480-948-0560.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 33, Number 3, June/July 2014.