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Conditions

Mouth Ulcers and Cold Sores

In Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle he describes in detail the mysterious substance called Ice 9 which with one touch to the lips will kill a person instantly. It seems possible that Vonnegut took inspiration from oral herpes because it’s caught in exactly the same way – but don’t panic; this virus is far from fatal. Oral herpes is the most common cause of cold sores, small, fluid filled lesions that usually develop around the mouth and often burn, itch and tingle, and mouth ulcers – which are found inside the mouth. Further ailments can sometimes include swollen gums, bad breath, dehydration, a sore throat and excess saliva. Cold sores, most commonly caused by the herpes simplex virus, are highly contagious. The cold sore causing virus is easily passed on via skin to mouth contact, such as kissing, or through a shared object like cutlery, a seemingly innocent lollipop or that pen lid you just can’t resist chewing – in other words catching the virus is often unavoidable. Notoriously Liza Minnelli and David Gest publicly argued for months in the media over who passed the virus on to who (yes that really happened). But don’t get to the end of this article and panic buy a crate of bleach – there’s really no need to start sanitising everything before getting your mouth around it. Whilst the herpes virus admittedly does stay in your body forever its impact is normally pretty minimal with most people just having the occasional cold sore ot mouth ulcer. There are numerous non-prescription treatments available for they do decide to strike, most commonly taking the form of a cream which can be applied to the affected area and clear the sores up in a couple of days – if only Liza and David would vanish as easily. If you are getting constant mouth ulcers you should see your GP in case there is an underlying condition at work.

If your worried about your child’s mouth ulcers, check our condition guide for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.

Comments and Questions

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hello i would like you to help me please,my problem is, have got excess saliva in my mouth,whenever am talking to anyone saliva keep flying out of my mouth,i can see they are barring their face with their hand or they are pretending they are scratching their face but i know is my saliva,am so embrass i dont know what to do,is there a cure for this





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hello i would like you to help me please,my problem is, have got excess saliva in my mouth,whenever am talking to anyone saliva keep flying out of my mouth,i can see they are barring their face with their hand or they are pretending they are scrathing their face but i know is my saliva,am so embrass i dont know what to do,is there a cure for this





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Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/

the skin on my lips is constantly sore and dry . i have tried many products but no joy . i have not worn lipstick/gloss or anything perfumed on my lips for years as this aggravates the problem. the skin is costantly peeling off and often bleeds





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hi i have two weid looking nails on my two little toes..my nails grow upwards and they are really sharp..i havent been able to wear sandals or even show my feet at all for 21 years because of this..is there any sourt of operation i could go for to flattern my toe nails down to look normal like everybody elses?





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hi i suffer alot from cold sores, i get at least 2 or more a month, ive tried everything you can get over the counter, is there anything else i can try? thanks





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I have a persitent sore throat, which comes, and goes. My G.P. has taken a swab for a lab. test, which came back negative, and now he seems to have run out of ideas! Having just cured my mouth ulcers by increasing my intake of vitamin 'B', I am wondering if my diet is lacking in something? Has anyone any suggestions?





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I am a 32 year old women who suffers greatly from mouth ulcers. I have had them from late teens and dont remember a time in my life i didnt have them. There is no ryhme or reason when getting them, i get 1 or 2 then 24 hours later i have up to 8 or 9 anywhere in my mouth. They are extremly big and can last up to 3 weeks at any one time. I have been to my doctors and my dentist and both refered me to the dental hospital. They took blood and over the corse of 2 visits i was told that it was in my genes and part of my "make up" and just put up with it!!!! When they are at there worst i cant eat or speak as the pain is so incredible and due to this i get very upset and feel very low. I have tried everything from gels, pastes, mouthwash, tablets, pastels over the counter, and also herbal remedies and nothing has ever worked. I have also cut things out of diet eg: Cinnamon, Citrus, etc but to no avail. Iam desperate for someone to please please help me. i have also sent a video of the ulcers in my mouth.





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Due to another problem I have, I cut out wheat, and gluton from my diet, and began to suffer with persitent mouth, and tonuge ulcers, also a sore throat. My GP tested me for various things, but with no definite conclusion! A friend passed me an magazine article, which suggested taking a vitamin'B' supplement, or eating oats in the form of porridge, they being high in vitamin'B'. The items I had cut back on contained high portions of vitamin'B'. Within 48hrs. of increasing my vitamin'B'intake all the ulcers had disappeared, and have not returned, although I still have a sore throat! What really bothers me is that my G.P.does not appear to look outside the box, and seems to rely entirely on the results of lab. tests, when clearly they are not always right, discounting any such cures, as I have experienced!!! Suggest try the vit.'B'cure you have nothing too loose!

Have visited the doctors,and dentist both say my 12 year old son has a mouth wart! how is this treated as it getting bigger!





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Hi I have an ulcer on my Tongue and I was wondering of it was anything to do with my braces that I got in december? Thanks





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5 yr daughter has sufferd from constipaton since birth. She gets cramps,sickness,and ulcers.She has a very good balanced diet.The last year and since xmas shes constantly had mouthfull of ulcers. doctors passed it off as 1 as those things.dentist said linked to stomach.been on lactolose daily for the last 2 months and no ulcers.Do i push for futher investigation.many thanks





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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