The critical factor is your immune system, which is why you have to keep it healthy. There is no single treatment available to cure this contagious skin disorder, but you can try certain home remedies to relieve pain and itchiness. SLS is a surfactant and a foaming agent found in most household soaps and detergents. Yes, you can put toothpaste on a cold sore to help relieve the discomfort, but toothpaste is not a miracle cure for herpes. The best way to treat and prevent a mouth rash is to figure out what causes it. Herpes symptoms can range from tell-tale signs to nothing at all. Toothpaste on Cold Sore: How to Use . Invalid e-mail address.

The social stigma associated with cold sores makes having them embarrassing too. You can do a lot of prep work to make the perfect sleep environment. Toothpaste on Cold Sore: Method. Do not kiss or maintain intimate contact with people who have genital herpes or cold sores. Apply toothpaste on your cold sores to avoid medications, and for an effective cure. Apply a thin layer of white non-gel toothpaste on the infected area where you feel itching. You can change your preferences at any time through our Cookie Preferences Tool. You need to clean the area properly to trigger healing. Some patients might experience adverse results after using toothpaste. And yes, I've read many times that holding ice against the lip when you feel a cold sore coming on can help stop it.

In addition, stress, fatigue, and even an upset stomach may trigger a cold sore.

Do not expose your affected area to direct sunlight and wear sunscreen all the time for protection.

Is It Safe to Gargle Peroxide? On the other hand, some of the doctors and researchers feel that SLS in toothpaste may aggravate cold sore symptoms. I have been dealing with cold sores since I was 6. HSV-1 is responsible for cold sores, and there’s a possibility that it might be suppressed by a chemical in toothpaste. Rubbing salt on wounds and blister is a traditional remedy for inhibiting viral or bacterial infection on the skin. © YYYY  Colgate-Palmolive Company.

How long is a cold sore contagious for?

According to the Wound Care Society, the toothpaste ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) suppresses the activity of the virus.

Many toothpaste brands include sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Wash your hands well with some soap and clean water. This can take 2-4 weeks. 16 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress and Anxiety, How to Fall Asleep in 10, 60, or 120 Seconds. Apply the toothpaste 5 times a day and before going to sleep. Mouth ulcers are white painful sores with red borders inside the mouth. If it is used at the initial stage, the infection may disappear at the premature stage itself. Painkillers — will not directly treat the cold sores, but it will help manage the soreness. Mix in some licorice powder with water or petroleum jelly and apply directly to sores. We use cookies and similar technologies to understand how you use our website and to create more valuable experiences for you. That combination of toothpaste and salt works quite well for me and helps relieve the pain. Lemon balm — lemon balm extract reportedly has healing properties. This page explains exactly how much water you should drink in a day. Mix a small amount of salt into toothpaste to form a thick paste.

Apply the paste before going to sleep at night and every hour or couple of hours during the day. You are viewing the UK English site. If you find that toothpaste is aggravating the condition, then you might switch over to a natural or herbal toothpaste free of chemicals. Toothpaste is one home remedy that's sometimes recommended as a cold sore preventative, but the jury is still out on its effectiveness. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. You may also find people talking about several other remedies which are not clinically proven–one such remedy is to mix some salt and toothpaste and apply it directly to your sores. Outlined hereby is how to use toothpaste on a cold sore: Grab, at first notice of the prodromal signs of a cold sore, a toothpaste with the some of the above mentioned compounds. Keep reading to find out more. Before we go into the details of how to use toothpaste for healing cold sores, it is worth knowing some basic facts about this infection. Bitter and Bad Taste in the Mouth: Causes and Remedies. Apply the paste before going to sleep at night and every hour or couple of hours during the day. Is there scientific research and evidence that supports this? When applying toothpaste, always opt for a white paste instead of gels. The drugs used to fight cancer may cause oral changes. For some people, cold sores may occur recurrently for a long period. Aloe vera gel — helps soothe the inflammation while moisturizing the affected part. Do not share razors, towels, toothbrushes, silverware or other objects of personal use with others. After the initial infection, HSV-1 lies dormant in the body until something triggers it to become active, and a cold sore develops. Peppermint oil — said to be effective against cold sores. Many people have raved about the positive effects toothpaste has had on their cold sores, but is it true? Stress can also be a trigger for viral outbreaks. Most claims of its effectivity are based on personal accounts, so they should be taken with a grain of salt. They are embarrassing, hurt a lot, and look gross.