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What Causes Swollen Gums And Sores In Mouth?
Question: I am not currently sexually active and have not really had much experience. Currently, I haven't been kissing anyone. But Sunday, I woke up and my gums were swollen. They were a bit tender but did not hurt much. Although, they did have a weird rash on them. The next day I went to dentist, who then sent me to a dental oral surgeon to be safe. She took one look at it and said that it looked like herpes, but she wasn't sure. Especially because I didn't have cold sores on my lips. She said that it didn't look serious. But I am really freaked out now. She said to come back in two weeks, just to make sure it will go away. It's possible it could be mouth ulcers. Both my dentist and the oral surgeon keep saying that I shouldn't worry. It is nothing serious. However, I don't want herpes. I am someone who doesn't even get cold sores anywhere else. So this is all very strange to me. The oral surgeon said that it is possible I could have picked up a weird virus from a restaurant. I just have two sores in two different locations. The top upper right and lower left. They don't hurt really when I touch them, but I am really concerned about my oral health. Nor does fluid leak out of them. This really sucks. I am so careful about who I kiss and where my mouth goes.
Brief Answer:
get tested
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
It is possible to get a blood test to see if you have been exposed to Herpes. Also if there is a blister in your mouth you doctor could do a herpes swab test on the lesion. There are two types of herpes (herpes simplex virus 1-oral and HSV-2 genital). Either can occur in the oral region but it is unlike that you have HSV-2 if you have not been having oral sex. Herpes infections usually are very painful and cause blisters. They tend to recur in the same place. Sometimes recurrences are frequent and sometimes they are rare. However there are also many other viruses that can cause sores in the mouth. Most of these are not recurrent. I think it is likely that you do not have herpes and that you just have some sort of other viral infection causing the sores in your mouth. Hopefully they will go away in a few weeks as the dentist suggested.
What you describe does not sound like herpes to me.
I hope this is all cleared up very soon.
K. Robinson MD
get tested
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
It is possible to get a blood test to see if you have been exposed to Herpes. Also if there is a blister in your mouth you doctor could do a herpes swab test on the lesion. There are two types of herpes (herpes simplex virus 1-oral and HSV-2 genital). Either can occur in the oral region but it is unlike that you have HSV-2 if you have not been having oral sex. Herpes infections usually are very painful and cause blisters. They tend to recur in the same place. Sometimes recurrences are frequent and sometimes they are rare. However there are also many other viruses that can cause sores in the mouth. Most of these are not recurrent. I think it is likely that you do not have herpes and that you just have some sort of other viral infection causing the sores in your mouth. Hopefully they will go away in a few weeks as the dentist suggested.
What you describe does not sound like herpes to me.
I hope this is all cleared up very soon.
K. Robinson MD
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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