Canker, cold & mouth sore treatment

Your MinuteClinic provider can discuss your symptoms and various treatment methods. They can also discuss your medical history and conduct a visual exam of the affected areas.

Remedies may include over-the-counter products, prescription medication and other treatments. These may make you more comfortable and promote healing. Your MinuteClinic provider can prepare a personalized treatment plan to help relieve the symptoms and heal your oral condition.

1. You may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:

   If you made your appointment online:
   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic:
   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment:
   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and zip code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

No one know what exactly causes canker sores, but some people think the immune system, bacteria or viruses may be involved. Other factors that may increase your chances of having canker sores include:

• Allergies
• Genetics
• Iron or other vitamin deficiencies
• Smoking
• Stress or trauma
• Injury
• Certain foods

Canker sores often get confused with cold sores, which are caused by herpes (HSV-1) virus. Fortunately, canker sores are not contagious. To tell them apart, it's worth noting that canker sores occur inside the mouth, while cold sores form outside the mouth.

Infection from the herpes simplex type 1 virus brings on cold sores. Once a person is infected, it stays in the body, and recurring flare-ups are possible. The virus that causes the condition is highly contagious, and care must be taken to prevent spreading the disease when an outbreak is active.

Oral thrush is the result of a fungal infection from a yeast known as Candida albicans. Although this yeast is normally found in the mouth, it can sometimes overgrow and cause undesirable symptoms. Thrush is most common among:

• Newborn infants
• Denture wearers
• People who have been severely weakened by illness
• People with compromised immune systems

Remedies vary according to the type of oral condition. These are the typical treatments for commonly occurring mouth diseases:

• Canker sores: Usually heal in 7 to 10 days. Over-the-counter anesthetic ointments and pain relievers can provide temporary relief from pain. Rinsing the mouth with an oral antimicrobial rinse may help to reduce the irritation.
• Cold sores: These typically heal in about a week. The blisters may come back during times of stress or due to exposure to sunlight, allergies or fever. Topical anesthetics can provide temporary pain relief. Prescription antiviral drugs may help reduce the frequency of recurring flare-ups.
• Oral thrush: This is readily treatable in healthy children and adults. Symptoms can be worse for those with weakened immune systems. Typically, treatment for the infection involves 10 to 14 days of antifungal medication in the form of liquids, lozenges or tablets.