1. Antiviral pills: Medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir can reduce the length and severity of an outbreak, especially if taken early.
2. Topical antiviral creams: Help ease symptoms and may reduce viral spread.
3. Pain relievers: Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, or numbing creams, can help relieve discomfort.
4. Moisturizing balms or creams: Soothing lip products can reduce dryness and ease pain around the sores.
Tips for Prevention
To avoid spreading cold sores or triggering outbreaks, try the following:
Avoid kissing or close contact during an active outbreak
Don’t share personal items like lip balms, cutlery, or towels
Use lip sunscreen if sun exposure is a known trigger
Support your immune system through a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress management
When Should You See a Doctor?
It’s a good idea to consult a healthcare provider if:
Outbreaks happen frequently or are unusually painful
Over-the-counter remedies aren’t helping
The sores spread beyond the lips or grew significantly in size
Pain interferes with eating, drinking, or speaking
You have a weakened immune system, which can increase complications
The cause of Alzheimer’s may lie within your mouth
Alzheimer’s is the most popular reason of dementia in the UK, NHS notes. The exact cause of it is not fully understood such as increasing age, untreated depression, a family history of the condition, and lifestyle factors and conditions linked to cardiovascular diseases, among the rest.
However, in recent years, an increasing number of scientific studies have found that Alzheimer’s isn’t just a disease, but an infection.
A 2019 study finds that Alzheimer’s may be connected to gum disease.
“Infectious agents have been implied in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease before, but the evidence of causation hasn’t been convincing,” Dr. Stephen Dominy, Cortexyme co-founder, explained.
Looking at gingipains, the toxic enzymes of P. gingivalis, scientists explored that high gingipain levels were related to the presence of two other proteins already linked with the development of Alzheimer’s: tau and ubiquitin.
However, the team also found the presence of these toxic gingipains in the brains of deceased patients who were never diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
The question is whether they would be diagnosed with the diseases had they been alive, or is it the Alzheimer’s that cause poor oral care.
