Oral Health, Canker, and Cold Sores – Dental Insurance Plus
Canker sores appear inside the mouth. They are small ulcers with a white or grayish base and are bordered in red. You can have one or more canker sores at a time. Experts are not sure what causes canker sores. However, they do think that stress, as well as fatigue and allergies, can increase the risk of getting them. Canker sores are not contagious and usually disappear in a week to 10 days. The herpes simplex virus causes cold sores/fever blisters and is contagious.
Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that often appear on or around the lips but can crop up under the nose or around the chin. Emotional upset can trigger an outbreak. So can a fever, a sunburn, or skin abrasion.
