Treatment for Oral Herpes with Linkage to Tooth Ache.

Does anyone know if there is a treatment for oral herpes?

I know my wife caught Herpes a few weeks ago, but now I have developed a cold sore and what appears to be some redness associated with it around my tooth which is causing pain.

I have been recommended a root canal as a possibility for removing the pain, but also recommended to see a specialist for further advice. What exactly is an appropriate treatment as I have not been able to sleep properly as a result.

This is embarrassing, but I'm sure a lot of people have had this problem sometime in their life… I have mostly been lurking in ozbargain and so this is my first post.

Comments

  • +4

    Jesus wept

    • … Well I guess if this is deemed an inappropriate post, then yeah delete, but I will probably find better answers just querying reddit or something. Until then, I probably won't be able to sleep tonight, but the tooth ache is not my only concern.

  • +1

    Don't you have a GP ?

    • -1

      I did get some antibiotics already but it has not helped.

      I did the X-rays today and the tooth looks fine.

      • +2

        Antibiotics does not work for herpes simplex virus if that's what you're wondering. Acyclovir cream which is an antiviral for the cold sore.

        • Thanks, I'll make note of that. The dentist I did visit today said he had no experience and seemed to allude I needed to seek another opinion. I couldn't tell if he was smirking at me when he said the best he could do was a root canal and that there was no treatment. wtf?

          Maybe he was trying to cheer me up through the joke, honestly I couldn't tell at the time.

          There was redness near the tooth which is why antibiotics were prescribed a week ago.

          • +1

            @JoseTam: Not medical advice but could be Acute Herpetic Gingivostomatitis (AHGS). Not much you can really do but ride it out with over the counter medications such as ibuprofen/paracetamol.

            See a GP or another dentist for a second opinion.

        • This is correct but it sounds like OP has assumed that it’s herpes. I once had a GP absolutely convinced my mouth ulcers were herpes, turned out it was bacterial and needed antibiotics. They were so smug when telling me it was herpes and would keep coming back. Much less smug when they revised their diagnosis and prescribed the antibiotics.

          It may be that the GPs original thought was bacterial hence the antiBs.

          OP for people with chronic/recurring herpes outbreaks there are some medications that help. Best to speak with GP. They can do serology to help confirm herpes diagnosis if this is the case.

  • +1

    I have mostly been lurking in ozbargain and so this is my first post.

    or just created a burner account…

    • Yes, but it's the middle of the night and yeah, I doubt I got the bloody time to troll anyone.

      Serious question, is my dentist in the wrong?

      • +1

        Yeah, actually I believe I am in the wrong. A lack of sleep, worries about my relationship, and me just taking things too seriously. Dentist was probably making a joke… F my luck.

        I think I have the information I need now. I doubt he was actually going to do a root canal… I'll probably need some counseling instead.

        • Feel for you mate. Go to counselling, spend some time with your mates, go for a run.

    • ..just created a burner account…

      If that's what he did, he's definitely failed because he seems to have used his full name to ask about herpes!

  • Why do you think the cold sore caused your tooth pain?

    Pretty sure there's no cure for cold sores, once you have the virus they just show up from time to time.

  • Herpes #1 is very common and lots of people carry it unknowingly as well. WHO estimates that 67% of under 50 year olds worldwide have it. It's nothing to be embarassed about it all I'm saying. One of my parents contracted it a few years ago and if anything it's a positive because it gives them an indication of how sick they are as a coldsore pops up when their body is struggling (severely imunocompromised). What are you stressed about? The possibility of dental work? It sounds like you believe your dentist may have been joking, I'd call reception on Monday to clarify and put your mind at ease. I'd also follow up if after a week you're not seeing any improvement with the redness etc in your mouth. And take something for the coldsore (cream).

    • Can you get herpes if someone kisses you

      • +2

        Where are they kissing you?

        • If they have a cold sore on their mouth and you’re susceptible to the virus, anywhere they kiss you that can present with herpes symptoms could get infected. Yes. Anywhere. (Less common but it does happen)

      • My understanding is that if someone with a coldsore (where the virus is active) kisses you, you can get it but remembering that the virus still has to get into you. I know it's contagious but not how contagious. I believe that when the virus is in remission (for want of a better word) it's much less likely to pass on. I know I'm always careful if my mum has a coldsore, and kissing. So many have it and just don't know because it's not something that is normally tested for. That's why I say that it's nothing to be emarassed about.

      • Yes if you have the virus in your system, and they have an active cold sore, you can absolutely get it if they kiss you.

        And yes, if they an active cold sore on their mouth and kiss you ⬇️, that can also infect other regions. Less common, but it can happen.

  • Try oil pulling.

  • +1

    People get cold sores all the time. For most people it happens when they are stressed/unwell.

    Wait till the cold sore is better with appropriate cream from the chemist and try another dentist if your tooth is still hurting.

    This is a very strange post. Tooth pain is a terrible thing though, so that does need to be fixed.

  • +8

    I know my wife caught Herpes a few weeks ago

    More info please

    • +2

      Ms paint diagram?

  • Try a sex clinic. They specialise in this kind of thing whereas your GP probably does not.

    • Op has oral herpes, not genital herpes.

      • +2

        OP says he has oral herpes, but the wife.. it could be either! lol

        • +1

          It could. But I'm assuming he ain't calling out his wifes genital herpes on ozb. I feel bad even writing this but I'm chuckling at the same time. Well look, if you wanted to get your partner to divorce you, it'd be a great move.

          • @cookie2:

            Well look, if you wanted to get your partner to divorce you, it'd be a great move.

            I'm not so sure about that! I'm sure there's much better ways to get divorced than to get something that's not curable! 😂😂

  • +4

    I would be asking who she caught the oral herpes from and how :/

    • +1

      "A lack of sleep, worries about my relationship,…"

  • See a specialist dentist urgently as they will do a 3D map of the tooth and will be able to tell what is wrong. The 3D scan is a 2 or 3 hundred from memory and then the interpretation of it is a hundred and then …. adds up to $500 very quickly, but they have the tools to see exactly what is going on. They may even inject die that shows up in xrays to confirm a diagnosis if required.

  • Whenever you feel the cold sore tingling coming go to the chemist and ask for the single dose tablets. I think they are called vaciclor. They are chemist only medications it comes with three tablets to a pack. If you have it really enough it stops the cold sore from developing.

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