If home remedies don’t cut it

Some cold sores are just too painful to bear, and home remedies might not do the trick to make them more tolerable. In that case, it may be time to seek medical help.

‘If any mouth, lip, skin, or throat sore persists for more than two weeks, or you have any other symptoms or concerns, it’s imperative that you see your dentist or GP immediately to rule out more serious problems, or to provide additional care for the sores,’ advises Dr Ressler. ‘While rare, sores – especially ones that are not painful, or other bumps or irregularities in the mouth – may be linked to oral cancer and other conditions and should be evaluated by your GP.’