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Cold Sores

What are cold sores?

Cold sores are the consequence of a viral infection, normally in childhood. They usually appear on the lips and nostrils but can be more widespread.

How do you catch cold sores?

You can catch cold sores by:

  • Directly touching a cold sore
  • Kissing someone with a cold sore
  • Sharing household objects such as towels, cups and cutlery

What Are The Symptoms?

  • The first signs are usually tingling, burning or itching.
  • Within 24 hours painful blisters form. Blisters breakdown into shallow ulcers after a few days.
  • Cold sores are infectious from the early tingling stage up to the end of the ulcer phase.

Healing is normally complete in 10 to 14 days. In children cold sores can become infected with bacteria and develop impetigo.


Why do they keep coming back?

After the first infection, the virus lies dormant in the nerve that supplies the infected area.

The virus can be reactivated at any time and cause another cold sore.

Various trigger factors are:

  • Stress
  • Fatigue
  • Strong sunlight
  • UV light from sun beds
  • Menstruation or pregnancy
  • Generally when feeling run-down

Our Advice

If you have a cold sore, wash your hands thoroughly if you accidentally touch it.

Do not:

  • Touch the cold Sore
  • Touch your eyes during the infection
  • Kiss (especially children) when you have the infection
  • Pick the ulcers or the scab. You will infect your fingers with the virus
  • Share eating/drinking utensils with others, especially children
  • Share the same towels or face cloths with others in your family
  • Consider rescheduling your dental appointment when a cold sore is present if non urgent as it may cause discomfort during treatment

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Because we are a family run practice with patient care at the heart of everything we do.

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What Our Patients Say About Us


  • What a totally unique experience for me - that I found a dental appointment comfortable!! Even though I have had a rather long time without a dentist. Every member of staff - sorry I cannot remember all the names, were delightful. Deserving a six star in customer service. The reception team were delightful and welcoming. Hassan was very thorough and kind. Treatment plans were explained very efficiently too and no fuss made to book the next appointment. I felt everything was explained to me in a way I could understand and a lot of time was taken with Xrays and photographs to make sure we had all the information needed. I felt I was in safe hands. Thanks

    Andree Lucy - See Google Reviews

  • Once again excellent , quality service from this amazing dental practice. So much reassurance and patience from Joanna and Mary who were able to put me at ease for my extraction. I felt very confident to be in such good hands. Thank you so much to you all. Once again thank you for the excellent service and treatment given by Victoria Lee and her orthodontics staff. Her calm , professional manner and thorough preparation to fit my braces has been superb. Grateful thanks too to Tiffany for her encouragement and enthusiasm!

    Annabel Didymus - See Google Reviews

  • Went there for work experience this week and I enjoyed it a lot. All the staff were lovely and always trying to help and letting me get closer to watch treatments and explaining it all. The staff is very kind and likeable and made me feel welcome. Facilities were very clean aswell. Thank you El Nashar 😁

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