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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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Please get in touch with our friendly team on 01626 212121

Why Choose Us?

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


  • I was recommended to El Nashar dentist as a great dental practice. Since joining their care and customer service has been exceptional. I am currently undergoing a full restoration with Joanne Sutcliffe who is so thorough and friendly with the best advice always taking into consideration the work involved and providing the best possible outcome. She is a perfectionist and has spent a considerable amount of time in providing me with a healthy smile. I love how Mary ( her dental nurse) always has a reassuring hand on my shoulder when having any treatment. All the girls on the reception are super friendly and so helpful. Katherine and Tiffany have been a huge help in keeping me updated throughout. Best decision I made to sign up to this dental practice.

    Bridget fairbrother - See Google Reviews

  • Would highly recommend El Nashar Dental Practice to anyone. Myself and my husband have used them for years (10+) and my mum also uses them. The service is always polite, efficient and friendly. The team are lovely, the plan is a fair price and they offer a good variety of appointments. My partner wouldn't go anywhere else, Fran is a wonderful person and a fab hygienist and we see Lauren as our dentist who is also lovely. Couldn't recommend enough, you feel like you've joined a small family. :)

    Jacqui Duffield - See Google Reviews

  • An emergency extraction extremely well cared for today, and most sympathetically dealt with by Dentist Victoria and her kind nurse, I’d never met either ladies before and I immediately felt at ease . It was an extraction I was dreading, but I couldn’t have asked for better treatment. Special thanks to you Victoria for your support, empathy, professionalism and kindness. The whole process was a breeze. Also to never forget the consistent politeness and friendliness of the reception staff . Many thanks . ☺️

    Life’s lessons - See Google Reviews


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