Can any vitamins or minerals help prevent or reduce canker sores or cold sores?

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Canker Sore Triggers and Treatments?

Written by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Updated January 30, 2025 ⓘ

Answer:

Canker sores and cold sores (i.e., "fever blisters") are relatively common, sometimes painful conditions with similar symptoms but different causes.

Canker sores are painful blisters that form on the inside of the mouth. Canker sores are not contagious (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 9/2021).

Cold sores, on the other hand, cause painful blisters on the outside of the mouth. Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus (usually type 1 or HSV-1) infection and are very contagious, although not everyone infected with the virus shows symptoms (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 9/2021).

Sign in as a member to learn which, if any, supplements, including green tea, iron, L-lysine, monolaurin, olive leaf extract, vitamin B-12, or zinc, may be beneficial for canker sores or cold sores. Also, find out if applying tea tree oil to cold sores or alum to canker sores reduces healing time.

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