Toothpaste On Cold Sore: Does It Work?

A cold sore is also known as a fever blister. They are surprisingly common and appear as small fluid-filled blisters, usually around your lips. The blister will appear over several days and then break shortly after. At this stage, a scab will form which takes several days to go. It can take up to two weeks for the cold sore to disappear but they don’t usually leave any scars. If the cold sore isn’t gone within 2 weeks you should consult a doctor.

How Do You Get Them?

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1, allowing the cold sores to affect your mouth or your genitals. They are highly contagious. That means you can catch them just by touching an infected person’s cold sores. This usually happens via kissing or oral sex.

Does Toothpaste Work?

Cold sores can be annoying as you are very aware of their presence, they are often itchy, and can be painful. Itching them is not a good idea as this increases the likelihood of you spreading the virus to other parts of your body.

There are several triggers for cold sores, such as bright sunlight, a weakened immune system, or even an allergic reaction to specific creams.

If you’re thinking about using toothpaste on your cold sores it’s a good idea to visit the dentist first to verify there are no other complications. A good Alexandria dentist will be happy to assist you with dealing with the issue.

Toothpaste is commonly used to treat a cold sore. It can be effective. The majority of kinds of toothpaste contain a substance called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. It’s this compound that is believed to help heal cold sores faster.

The SLS can be put onto a cold sore while it is blistering. The toothpaste effectively numbs the area, reducing the pain and irritation your experience. At the same time, the toothpaste dries out the blister, preventing it from growing bigger. This ensures the cold sore will heal faster although it can’t stop it from appearing altogether.

The best approach when applying toothpaste is to start using a little as soon as you feel the tingling that tells you a cold sore is coming. You can put some toothpaste on the site every two or three hours and leave some on overnight.

It will help!

Preventing The Spread Of Cold Sores

An alternative to toothpaste or something you can use alongside is to mix a pinch of salt with the toothpaste and rub it into the cold sore before you go to bed. This approach can help to reduce the healing time

If you want to stop cold sores from spreading you have to avoid kissing anyone or engaging in close contact until yours is healed and no longer contagious. Alongside this, make sure you wash your hands regularly. Every time you touch your cold sore you could be spreading it everywhere. It’s best to avoid touching it and if you do, wash your hands thoroughly.