Any medications taken are only meant to reduce the time taken to heal and prevent the recurrence of the infection. The healing duration lasts about 10 to 14 days, forcing you to resort to alternative management.
Several home remedies have been tried by people and have proved beneficial, while some have led to a worsening. One of the best methods is the use of toothpaste
Home remedies such as toothpaste for cold sores are moderately effective in relieving the pain and itchiness of cold sores. Since the herpes virus causes cold sores, it is quite apparent that toothpaste won’t kill the virus. Its main purpose is to dry out your blisters, making them less noticeable and provide temporary relief. An in-depth analysis of the mechanism and working of the toothpaste is provided below:
[Also Read: Top 7 Home Remedies For Cold Sores]
Acidic pH facilitates the replication of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Foods and chemicals can make the pH around our lips acidic. Toothpaste helps to balance this pH and inhibits virus replication.
Toothpaste dries the blister and reduces the time taken by the blisters to drain.
Toothpaste, when applied before the eruption of blister inhibits the growth of blisters and reduces the healing period.
[Also Read: How to get rid of Cold Sores Naturally]
Being used for daily oral hygiene is one of the most common benefits of toothpaste. When brushed in a right way, toothpaste removes existing bacteria and plaque. Though toothpaste contains certain abrasive materials, it is gentle on the teeth enamel and strong enough to eliminate plaque from the teeth. You can also use a toothpaste containing fluoride.
Not only is toothpaste used for oral health, but it is also used for skin health. It helps treat pimples, which depends on some of its specific characteristics.
Toothpaste helps whiten the skin is another benefit of toothpaste. It is an effective remedy that you should try. To use toothpaste for this purpose, mix a tablespoon of toothpaste with a little lemon juice then apply the mixture to your face as a pack or mask to improve your skin tone.
Though not a cosmetic product, toothpaste can play an essential role in wrinkle removal. To get rid of wrinkles(2), you have to apply a little toothpaste to the wrinkled areas and leave it overnight daily. This will gradually reduce and fade away the wrinkles.
Toothpaste helps conceal and deal with dark spots. You can make a mask from toothpaste and juice of tomato, and then apply it onto the face for dark spot removal.
For the best results, it is considered that you apply toothpaste to a cold sore that has not yet appeared completely. There are signs when the cold sore is coming and you would tend to feel the symptoms such as itching, rash formation or even tingling in the site of the infection.
That is when you would apply the cold sore. Hence it has to be remembered that this technique is used for the prevention of cold sored from working their way into painful pustulous sores. It is also recommended that you use a white non-gel kind toothpaste.
Cold sore is a skin lesion that occurs on the lips, caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Cold sores are extremely common. Most adults are infected with HSV, usually transmitted in childhood by regular close contact with parents, siblings, or friends. Toothpaste is the best remedy for such cold sores. Apply toothpaste on your cold sores to avoid medications, and for an effective cure.
[Also Read: Benefits of Coconut Oil for Cold Sores]
Yes, you can put toothpaste on a cold sore to help relieve the discomfort, but toothpaste is not a miracle cure for herpes.
Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters on the lips and around the mouth. These are the result of viral infection and they are contagious for around 15 days
Cold sores are not genetic, however, some new research suggests otherwise claiming that some patients tend to show a genetic predisposition towards frequent and severe cold sores.