I seem to be getting blood blisters in the inside of my mouth and on/under my  tongue.  I get about one or two a week.  They are painless. What are these? I visited my dentist who claims there is nothing to worry about.

Answer:

This can be a number of things.  However, to get closer to an accurate diagnosis, we would need a lot more information from you, including such factors as your age, habits (i.e. smoker), size of the lesions, whether they leave a scar, if your lymph nodes are inflamed, etc.  There are soo many ailments that appear as red lesions in the mouth but here are a couple of suggestions that can possibly lead you down the right path.

Some of the most common red lesions that appear in the mouth are either recurrent herpes, also known as a cold sore.  Please see our article here for more information on cold sores.  Or, these lesions could result from trauma or rupture of a blood vessel (hemangioma), an allergic reaction, lichen planus, or could even be leukoplakia or erthyroplakia which both introduce serious threats.

In summary, it’s hard to reach a diagnosis with such limited information.  It would be best to visit your dentist and stress your concern about these lesions.  If he/she brushes it off, don’t be afraid to seek the opinion of another dentist or medical professional in the area.  In the end, it’s your health and you have every right to take it seriously.

Hope these tips help out and good luck,

SaveMySmile Team

Cold sores (Fever Blisters), better known as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), are small, irregular shaped, yellow or white ulcerations/sores located in the mouth, lips, or surrounding skin.  The sores typically start off as red, then collapse to form a yellowish ulcer.  These lesions are usually painful.

The first breakout of HSV-1 is more severe than recurrent episodes.  The initial breakout is oftentimes seen in children between 6 months and 5 years and is known as acute herpetic gingivostomatitis.

Recurrent breakouts usually appear on the lip or surrounding skin and are known as herpes labialis.  15-45% of the population has a history of herpes labialis.

What are the symptoms of Cold Sores?

The following symptoms will occur 6-24 hours before a breakout:

• Itching
• Burning
• Tingling
• Pain
• Redness of the skin

Shortly after, multiple small red lesions will appear.  The sores rupture within 2 days, crust over, and generally fully heal in 7-10 days.

If this is an initial breakout, the following symptoms may also occur:

• Sore throat
• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Headache

What causes cold sores?

The sores are caused by a DNA virus known as herpes simplex virus.  Unfortunately the virus remains in the system even when no breakout is present.  Breakouts can also be provoked by the following factors:

• Stress
• Ultraviolet light
• Pregnancy
• Trauma
• Respiratory illnesses
• Allergies
• Other diseases
• Menstruation

Is there treatment for cold sores [herpes labialis]?

Unfortunately there is no known treatment that can completely cure the disease.  However, there are several treatments that can be used to decrease or temporarily alleviate the symptoms of herpes.  These treatments include:

• Anti-viral medications such as Acyclovir
• Nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen, to alleviate the pain
• Over the counter topical anesthetic gels can also help to decrease pain and discomfort