Cold sore is one of the more common problems affecting our mouth

However, there are many other types of problems that your mouth may have and for some of them, you may need immediate medical attention.

Other than cold sore, people are frequently affected by these problems too:

Cold Sore:
Cold sore or fever blisters, a common mouth problem that is associated with fever and cold actually results due to a virus that can be transmitted through close contacts, shared utensils and even a kiss. Generally, these can be alleviated through the OTC creams but if the problem persists, you may need medical help. Canker sores, bad smells and mouth ulcers are other mouth problems.

Thrush:
Babies and elderly people are generally affected by it. Candida yeast is responsible for it and diabetes, weak immune system or use of cortico-steroids promotes its growth. Under such condition, you should immediately consult a physician.

Dark hairy tongue:
It happens due to the growth of small tissues in the tongue which can hold the bacteria. This gives the tongue a dark, hairy texture. This condition can result due to smoking, tobacco-use, taking too much coffee or tea and lack of proper oral hygiene. Regular brushing and cleaning of the tongue through tongue-scrapper is required to control it.

Canker Sores:
Although the exact cause of canker sores or aphthous ulcers is unknown, they are believed to be triggered by infection, anxiety, lack of vitamins and hypersensitivity. Generally, they last for one to two weeks and the discomfiture can be controlled through desensitizing creams and medicines.

Leukoplakia:
They are white patches formed in the mouth, formed due to rough and broken teeth, tobacco use or ill-fitting dentures. Though painless, it warrants proper diagnosis by a dentist as they can also lead to cancer.

Lichen Planus:
It manifests in the form of red blisters or simple white plaques in the tongues and mouth. At times, it can even form on the nails, scalp and genitals.

Geographic tongue:
Sometimes, you may not be able to feel the small crenulations on some parts of your tongue. Normally, you regain the feeling back within some minutes or hours. It is generally not associated with any pain and hence doesn’t need any treatment. But you can use pain killers available on the counter if there is pain.

Mouth Cancer:
Persistent numbness in the mouth, face and neck, difficulty in chewing and swallowing foods or a mouth sore could be the signs of mouth cancer. This can happen due to prolonged habit of smoking, chewing of tobacco and drinking. Sometimes, it can also occur due to genetic reasons. If you find any of these problems, then you should immediately consult your physician.

TMJ:
TMJ or temporomandibular joint can be responsible for excruciating pain in the ear, jaws, neck and face along with problems like headache and difficulty in swallowing foods. Primarily affecting the jaws, it can happen due to clenching and grinding of teeth and injury in the mouth. Use of mouth guard, surgery and medication are the different modes of treatments for this.

Chipped Teeth:
Chipped, cracked or partially broken teeth can lead to severe toothache. It can also permanently damage the tooth. This can happen when you try to crush hard food products like hardened chocolates, bones or ice by your teeth. Such conditions are treated by the dentists through dental caps, dental covering, porcelain veneers or other tooth coverings.

Malgam Tatoo:
You might have seen a tiny bluish-grey patch in the inside of your cheek or gum after a dental filling. This results when a small amalgam filling gets attached in mouth. The silver present in the amalgam material changes the color of the tissues in the mouth and gives it a tattoo-like shape. Although it is innocuous, if it grows in size, you should immediately seek the help of your dentist.

Periodontal Diseases:
Formation of bacteria in the mouth, gum diseases, improper hygiene, smoking, anxiety can be responsible for the receding gum lines. You should consult your dentist under such conditions.

Gum problems:
Gum diseases, bleeding and swollen gums when left untreated can damage the teeth permanently. Illness, use of certain antibiotics and plaque can lead to this condition. Regular cleaning and flossing of teeth and periodic dental check-ups is the best way to prevent it.

Action of aspirin:
Many people keep an aspirin tablet stuck to their aching tooth, hoping that it would relieve the pain. It produces a chapped, white lesion in the inside of the cheek and gums. Normally, these lesions go away within a couple of weeks. But in order to avoid the formation of these lesions, you should swallow the aspirin tablets.

Abscesses, cavities and change in color:
Regular cleaning and flossing with timely dental check-ups are the best way to avoid the formation of dental cavities, abscesses and changes in the colors of the teeth and gum. But dental infections can quickly spread to the sinus and blood streams. So, in case the tooth-ache lasts for more than a couple of days and is accompanied by fever, pain in the ears and neck, difficulty in opening the mouth, consult your dentist immediately.

Foul Breath:
Poor oral hygiene is the root cause of bad breath. The food particles left in the crevices of the teeth facilitates the growth of the bacteria. Other things that may cause bad breath are gum diseases, dry mouth and diabetes. So, brush your teeth and clean your tongue with a tongue-scrapper regularly, drink plenty of water and keep away from foods that promote the growth of bacteria. If the problem persists, consult your dentist.

All the above mouth problems, including cold sore, are better taken care of early to prevent long term bad effect on your health.

The herpes virus prefers to live in your nerve fibers and makes its lifetime home there. Normally it is latent and hiding. When the right conditions present themselves, it will activate and move to the surface to replicate.

This virus cannot create its own kind. Like a true parasite, it forces your cells to create the new virus. Each virus particle enters a single cell on your lip or nose and takes control.

Once the cell is full of new virus, the controlling virus destroys it to release new virus hoards. This explosion of many cells creates the gaping cold sore ulcer. It is very painful since it occurs on the end of the nerve.

Below are the top conditions or causes of cold sores in most people. If you can keep them under control, you will have very few – if any – cold sore outbreaks.

1. LOW PH BALANCE.

Your pH is a measure of the acid or alkaline state of your body. On a scale of 1 through 14, 7 is neutral. Below 7 is acid and above 7 is alkaline. The preferred level for best health is slightly alkaline at about 7.35 on the pH scale.

When in an alkaline state, your cells are rich in oxygen and very resistant to all viruses – including cold sores.

Stress, illness, injury and cold weather are some of the triggers that cause your body to drop into an acid state below 7. This reduces your serum oxygen and makes you less resistant to cold sore attack.

Food choices can also contribute a lot to an acid condition in your body. These include carbonated drinks, pork, white flour, alcohol and pickled foods. Green vegetables will contribute to a healthy alkaline condition.

The vitamin stores have supplements and powders to help keep you alkaline. Many folks swear by these for their optimum health. Give them a try – especially if you have severe and frequent cold sore events.

2. AMINO ACIDS – ARGININE AND LYSINE.

Arginine is a common protein and one of the main causes of cold sores.

Arginine is the primary building block needed to create new herpes simplex virus. Without an ample supply of this protein, your cells cannot create herpes virus.

Your cells store arginine in special receptor areas within the cell. Lysine is another similar protein that shares the same storage receptors.

The good news – your cells cannot create herpes virus with lysine protein. Increasing your intake of lysine saturates your cells and forces out excess arginine. This, in effect, starves the herpes virus and sends it back into hiding.

This tactic is especially noticeable during a cold sore event. It often stops a cold sore dead in its tracks.

Eating more lysine foods – and less arginine foods – can be quite effective. However, most folks find lysine supplements the best way to go. They are cheap, safe and very convenient. Normal dosage during an outbreak is about 4000 milligrams daily.

3. MULTI-VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are also one of the main causes of cold sores. This is quite common actually. Our foods today contain less than half the nutrients of 50 years ago – as proven in hundreds of research studies.

Vitamins and minerals are critical to a healthy body and strong immune system – able to fight off another herpes attack.

Look for high levels of B and C vitamins. These are the stress vitamins that help you cope better with any stress you may encounter. Your body burns these up quickly so you must replenish them daily.

Calcium and zinc are key minerals in the battle against cold sore infection. Zinc destroys virus. Calcium is the main mineral used by your body to maintain an alkaline nature. Get at least 1000 milligrams of calcium daily.

Of all these causes of cold sores, you can see that it boils down to your pH balance, proper nutrient intake and starving the cold sore virus.

Hopefully this article can help you identify your true causes of cold sores, so you can enjoy a cold sore free life.

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