Herpes, Canker Sores and Fever Blisters
Mouth ulcers can come in many different types and varieties. Anyone who has ever had one knows how irritating and painful they can be.
Fever blisters and cankers sores are the two most common types of mouth ulcers that cause discomfort in millions of people worldwide. Canker sores and fever blister are often confused with each other however, canker sores occur inside the mouth and fever blisters outside. Do not take chances with mouth ulcers. Be wise and contact your dentist for advice.
There are many studies going on today that are looking at ways that mouth ulcers can be reduced in everyone they afflict. About 50% of Americans today has had at least one bout with some form of mouth ulcer.
Fever blisters are usually caused by a contagious virus called the herpes simplex virus. There are two types of herpes simplex viruses. Type 1 applies to herpes simplex in oral fever blisters.
Mouth ulcers that are from the herpes simplex type 1 virus are generally transmitted through kissing. It is not uncommon for children to get the virus from their parents. This type of mouth ulcer can also be spread when a child rubs their hands on their mouth and then touches another person’s mouth. Most people that have become infected with this type of mouth ulcer did so by the time they were ten years old. Once a person has the herpes simplex virus, it may manifest itself in the form of an open sore many more times over that person’s lifetime or it may lay dormant in the nerves under the skin and never show up again. Whatever the case, the herpes simplex virus always stays in the body.
Canker sores, which are mouth ulcers that are found inside the mouth, afflict roughly 20% of Americans today. Canker sores usually begin in the mouth as reddish swelling and then burst into open sores usually within a day. These types of mouth ulcers can be very irritating and take days to clear up. Most people will experience their first canker sore sometime between the ages of 10 to 18.
The cause of canker sores is not generally understood. Some dentists feel that canker sore may be an allergic reaction to certain types of food or they may be an allergic reaction to a specific type of bacterium that is commonly found in the mouth. These types of mouth ulcers may also be the result of nutrition deficiencies, specifically in vitamin B12, folic acid and iron.
