If you’re dealing with painful sores in or around your mouth, it can be confusing to figure out whether you have a canker sore or a cold sore. Both can cause discomfort, but knowing which type of sore you have is crucial for getting the right treatment and relief. Understanding the difference between cold sores and canker sores helps you manage your symptoms effectively and avoid unnecessary worries.

Read on to learn the important distinctions between these common mouth sores, their causes, symptoms, and the best treatment options available, including how OraCoat CankerMelts can provide fast, long-lasting relief for canker sores.

What Is a Cold Sore?

Causes of Cold Sores

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus, either HSV-1 or HSV-2. This virus remains in your body for life and can become active periodically. Common triggers include stress, exposure to sun or wind, hormonal changes, and other viral infections. Because cold sores are caused by a virus, they are contagious and spread easily through close personal contact such as kissing or oral sex.

Symptoms and Appearance

Cold sores usually begin as small, fluid-filled blisters that appear in clusters on or around your lips, or sometimes on the genitals. These blisters eventually break open, causing oozing, crusting, and tenderness. You might notice tingling or burning sensations just before the blisters develop. Cold sores typically heal within 2 to 4 weeks but can be painful and inconvenient during outbreaks.

What Is a Canker Sore?

Causes of Canker Sores

Unlike cold sores, canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers, are not caused by a virus and are not contagious. They appear inside your mouth and can be triggered by a variety of factors such as minor mouth injuries, irritation from braces or dentures, stress, genetics, certain acidic or spicy foods, nutritional deficiencies, and immune system conditions.

Symptoms and Appearance

Canker sores appear as one or more small, round ulcers inside your mouth, commonly on your tongue, inner lips, cheeks, or roof of the mouth. These ulcers are usually white, gray, or yellow in the center with a distinct red border. You might experience a burning or tingling sensation before the sore appears. While usually mild, severe cases can involve swollen lymph nodes or even fever.

Cold Sore vs Canker Sore: The Key Differences

• Location: Canker sores occur inside your mouth, including the tongue, cheeks, lips, or roof of the mouth. Cold sores are found on or around your lips and the vermilion border, the line where your lip meets the skin.
• Contagiousness: Canker sores are not contagious and cannot be spread through kissing or sexual contact. Cold sores are highly contagious and can be spread through close contact such as kissing or sharing utensils when active.
• Cause: Canker sores are not caused by herpes. Cold sores result from herpes simplex virus infection.
• Appearance: Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that cluster and crust. Canker sores are shallow ulcers with a white or yellow base and a red border.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canker Sores

Q: Are canker sores herpes?

A: No, canker sores are not caused by the herpes virus.

Q: Are cold sores and canker sores the same thing?

A: No, they are distinct conditions with different causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Q: Is a fever blister the same as a cold sore?

A: Yes, “fever blister” is another name for a cold sore.

Treatment Options

For Canker Sores

If you suffer from canker sores, OraCoat CankerMelts offer a convenient and effective solution. These innovative stick-on melts provide fast, long-lasting pain relief with 15mg benzocaine, plus hyaluronan and Vitamin E to soothe and protect irritated tissue. They adhere securely to your gums or inner cheek for 2 to 4 hours, delivering targeted relief right where it’s needed most.

OraCoat CankerMelts help reduce the discomfort caused by painful canker sores, cheek bites, gum irritations, denture or braces irritations, and minor oral wounds. Unlike gels or rinses, the melts stay in place and offer consistent relief, making them a great choice for chronic sufferers.

Other helpful treatments for canker sores include lifestyle adjustments such as avoiding spicy or acidic foods and managing stress.

For Cold Sores

Cold sores are treated primarily with antiviral medications that can be topical creams or oral drugs prescribed by your healthcare provider. These treatments cannot cure herpes but can reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks. Preventative measures like minimizing sun exposure and reducing stress may help lessen flare-ups. Most cold sores heal on their own within 2 to 4 weeks.

When to See a Doctor

It’s important to seek medical advice if:

• A sore hasn’t healed within two weeks
• You experience severe inflammation or pain
• You develop a high fever or swollen lymph nodes
• Sores are unusually large or interfere significantly with eating and drinking
• Sores extend onto the lips themselves, the vermilion border

Understanding the difference between cold sores and canker sores empowers you to take the right steps toward relief. Cold sores are contagious viral blisters caused by herpes simplex virus, often requiring antiviral treatment. Canker sores, on the other hand, are non-contagious aphthous ulcers inside the mouth that respond well to targeted care, especially with products like OraCoat CankerMelts.

If you’re unsure about your symptoms or if mouth sores persist, consulting a healthcare professional is always the best course of action. With proper identification and treatment, you can find effective relief and improve your oral health.