Cold sores and canker sores are common oral conditions that can bring a lot of pain and discomfort. Whether it’s the burning, itching and pain from a cold sore or the tenderness of a canker sore in your mouth, both can make eating, speaking and even smiling feel like a challenge. Fortunately, there’s a promising treatment that can speed up healing and reduce discomfort: low-level laser therapy (LLLT).
What Are Cold Sores?
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are small, fluid-filled blisters that appear on or around the lips. These painful lesions are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which remains dormant in your body until triggered by factors like stress, illness or sun exposure. While cold sores often heal on their own over time, they can be extremely painful and annoying during their existence.
How Does Laser Treatment Help Cold Sores?
If you have a cold sore, low-level laser therapy can significantly speed up the healing process and relieve discomfort. By targeting the lesion early on, laser therapy can reduce the severity of the outbreak, or in some cases, stop it from occurring altogether. The treatment works by applying focused laser energy to the affected area, promoting faster healing and minimizing pain. This type of therapy is particularly effective if the cold sore is caught at the first signs of itching or tingling.
Can Laser Treatment Cure Cold Sores?
Unfortunately, while laser therapy can greatly improve symptoms, it is not a cure for cold sores. The herpes simplex virus remains in your body indefinitely. However, repeated laser treatments can help reduce the frequency and intensity of future outbreaks. In fact, those who undergo laser therapy for cold sores tend to experience fewer and milder flare-ups, especially at the same site.
What Are Canker Sores?
Canker sores are another type of oral lesion, but they differ from cold sores in both their appearance and cause. Canker sores are small, shallow ulcers that form inside the mouth, typically on the soft tissues of the cheeks, tongue or the roof of the mouth. They are not contagious, but they can be very painful, especially when eating, drinking or talking.
How Does Laser Treatment Help Canker Sores?
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been shown to reduce pain and speed up the healing process for canker sores. The laser stimulates tissue regeneration and promotes faster healing of the sore, helping you recover in less time and with less discomfort. As with cold sores, the earlier you catch a canker sore, the more effective the laser treatment will be.
The Benefits of Laser Therapy for Cold & Canker Sores
Laser therapy offers a range of benefits for individuals suffering from cold sores and canker sores:
1. Promotes Faster Healing: Laser energy accelerates the body’s natural healing process, helping lesions heal quicker.
2. Pain Relief: Immediate pain relief is one of the most significant advantages of laser therapy. The procedure can help minimize discomfort right after treatment.
3. Prevention: If used early, laser therapy can prevent cold sores from fully developing, especially if you treat the area when you first notice tingling or itching.
4. Targeting the Root Cause: The laser energy targets and destroys the virus responsible for cold sores, helping to reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
5. Quick and Easy: The treatment is fast, usually taking only a few minutes and doesn’t require any anesthesia.
6. Less Recurrence: After laser treatment, cold sores and canker sores tend to come back with less intensity and frequency, especially at the same location.
Take Action for Relief Today
If you’re tired of the discomfort caused by cold sores or canker sores, laser therapy might be the solution you’ve been looking for. By offering rapid healing, pain relief, and long-term benefits, this treatment can make a world of difference in how you manage these common oral conditions.
Don’t let cold sores or canker sores disrupt your life any longer.
Contact our office today to learn more about how laser therapy can help you find relief and improve your oral health!
