Herpes (Oral)

A live virus that lives in the nerve root causes herpetic lesions or cold sores. Once a person develops or "catches" herpes, the virus cannot be eradicated from the body but it can be kept in a dormant stage.

Herpetic outbreaks occur when the virus is stimulated by any one of a number of factors such as stress, sun, windburn, trauma, stretching of the tissues such as during a dental visit, or being generally run down. Many of these factors are unavoidable, but there are things one can do to prevent herpes.

Protecting the lips with a sunscreen year-round helps. Recognizing and decreasing life stresses helps as well. Prevention can be approached medicinally. L-lysine is an essential amino acid that helps to prevent herpes. Amino acids are the building blocks of our proteins and are as safe as vitamins. The recommended dosage is 500 mg. per day when not suffering from the herpes and 2000 mg. per day during an outbreak. The 2000 mg. can be taken all at once or in divided does. L-lysine can be purchased over the counter at your pharmacy.

Acyclovir ointment(***) is an anti-viral ointment available by prescription only. It actually inhibits the virus from multiplying. Acyclovir should be applied 4-6 times daily at the first sign of an outbreak. The tingling or itching phase that many people experience before an outbreak is when the virus is multiplying. The ointment is of no use on a full-blown lesion, but can eliminate or greatly decrease the outbreak if used before the lesion appears.

Herpes lesions are very contagious. They can be spread to any body part. Oral contact with other people must be avoided. Herpes of the eye can cause blindness. Herpes of the hands or genitalia is very disabling as well.

Please call our office if you have other questions about this information.

*** Patients who require prescriptions such as anti-viral ointment, require evaluation by their dentist or other health care provider before use. This information is for use by patients who have already been diagnosed properly.