If you're someone who is regularly affected by cold sores or canker sores (or both), you might be wondering if the state of your dental health has any effect on these sores that appear in and around your mouth. And while you're thinking about that, you might also be wondering if these sores will affect your ability to receive dental care. 

Similar With Different Causes

Cold sores and canker sores might appear to be quite similar, but they have different causes. Cold sores are the result of the herpes simplex virus. This is a permanent, ongoing condition that remains dormant for extended periods of time. The appearance of cold sores indicates that the virus has emerged from its dormant stage, but this is temporary, and the virus will soon enter dormancy once again. Medical intervention is generally not needed, but aggressive symptoms might require antiviral drugs. This is a matter to discuss with your doctor, as it's not related to your dental care. Having said that, active cold sores can be extremely contagious, and so you should not seek dental care until they have subsided. 

Canker Sores

Canker sores are another matter entirely and are not a symptom of a virus. They can be related to your dental care (although not exclusively), and any necessary treatment might involve a trip to the dental office. The key difference is that cold sores occur outside your mouth, whereas canker sores develop in your mouth. Your dentist can prescribe a medicated mouthwash (often with steroidal properties) to help speed up healing. Large canker sores can also be cauterized by your dentist, which alleviates discomfort while encouraging healing. This cauterization can be achieved with a chemical swab on the sores themselves, or even with a dental laser.

Recurring Sores

Hopefully, canker sores will only be a temporary and infrequent irritation. When they recur on a regular basis, you can still receive topical treatment from your dentist, but further investigation is warranted. Certain autoimmune diseases can contribute to the development of canker sores, as can allergies. It could also be due to damage to the soft tissues in your mouth. When a canker sore regularly reappears in the exact same spot, it might actually be due to a rough edge on an adjacent tooth, which your dentist can quickly correct.

In short, remember that cold sores and canker sores are completely different complaints, and your dentist can assist you with canker sores.