A sore on the corner of your mouth could be a result of dental work, or it could simply be a coincidence and non-dental related. It is not uncommon for most people to walk out of a dental appointment feeling fine, but may notice a sore shortly after.
Dental related causes for sore on corner of mouth after dental work
No matter how careful you are, sometimes you can end up with an unintended consequence from a dental procedure. You can count on it being unintentional and the dentist may not even realize it.
Here are some common scenarios which may have caused the sore.
Wisdom tooth cavity filling or extraction
Don’t forget to visit the dentist regularly to ensure that no further dental damage is caused and to maintain a healthy smile. Teeth that far back makes it very difficult for the dentist to get access to it. A person’s mouth is only large enough to open so wide. If you have a small mouth it makes it even harder. Your dentist may have had to stretch your lips out to reach the gum pockets with the drill.
As you can imagine, this situation would apply to any cavity filling on a back tooth and also to taking out a wisdom tooth as well. The same techniques and tools that are used for a root canal on the wisdom tooth can be used on a deep tooth cleaning of a decayed wisdom tooth. This is a common side effect of lip stretching, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Post operative stress
According to a recent study, canker sores can occur when you are stressed. Even though most people experience some level of dental fear, it’s best to try to address it early on. Situations like adding on a cavity filling or wisdom tooth removal can be quite stressful. This is a common dental problem that many people have, but they don’t know how to fix it or what the problem is. It’s no myth, the root canal is the most feared dental procedure.
Burn from dental drill
You may have been burned from the dentist’s drill during the procedure. You must have been pretty numb to not feel that it was hot. The best way to cool your tooth while drilling a hole is to use water. Sometimes it’s difficult to get enough water sprayed on the tooth. This can cause your lips or tongue to be sore and tender, along with a slight burn.
Eating while you’re still numb
Your dentist appointment will take about an hour, and then it will take 2-3 hours for the numbing to wear off. If you’re feeling hungry, it’s possible that you tried to eat before your numbing wear off and now your lips are chewed up.
Non-dental related causes for sore on corner of mouth
Sometimes the dentist isn’t to blame and whatever went wrong with your mouth could’ve been a pure coincidence. It’s possible that it was a reaction to the oral medication that I took to help reduce any pain from the procedure. It’s really good to be able to answer this question and here are a few reasons as to why there is a sore.
Coincidental cold sore outbreak
If you get frequent canker sores, it may have just decided to appear after your dental appointment. Stress is one of the common causes of canker sores. It can also be caused by a vitamin deficiency. Patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis often do not consume enough vitamin B12. If this sounds like you, you should have your vitamin levels checked by your primary care doctor. It’s a good idea to do so every year.
Coincidental herpes outbreak
Perhaps it was just a herpes outbreak that coincided with dental work. Of course, a lot of herpes outbreaks are also stress induced. Were you stressed out during the dental procedure? The good news is that there are antiviral treatments for herpes outbreaks. You may take one of these antivrials.
Perhaps it was a combination of dental work and an outbreak of the cold sore virus. You might feel stress during the dental procedure. The majority of herpes outbreaks are also due to stress. Herpes outbreaks are treated by antiviral treatments. The good news is that there are antiviral treatments for herpes outbreaks.
- Acyclovir
- Famciclovir
- Valacyclovir
To get the prescription for these, you must visit your primary care doctor.
Fungal infection
It’s also possible that you caught a fungal infection after receiving dental work. It’s not uncommon for the mouth to get a fungal infection, so don’t panic. If you have dentures, it’s a good idea to brush them regularly so that they look great and don’t stain or discolor. Patients who wear dentures are often prone to oral candidiasis, which can be treated with anti-fungals.
- Fluconazaole
- Clotrimazole
- Miconazole
- Nystatin
What should you do about it?
If you happen to get a sore on the corner of your mouth after dental work, there are precautions and treatments that you can do at home.
- Minimize mouth opening. Don’t open your mouth all the way because stretching it will make it worse.
- Lubricate mouth. Apply some vaseline to the corner to keep it moist so it doesn’t crack.
- Stay hydrated. Drrink enough water to prevent the lips from chapping.
- Numbing gel. If it is painful you can apply some anbesol to it.
- Painkillers. You can also take over the counter pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Rest and nutrition. Your body only heals if it has the nutrients it needs. It also repairs itself while you are sleeping so get some rest.
If it happens to be one of the non-dental related sores, you can take the medications as described above.
How long do the sores on the corner take to heal?
The sore on your mouth could be painful for 1-2 weeks before it goes away. No matter which home treatment you select, you may need to be a bit patient with this process. Be sure to get enough rest and take in nourishing food to give your body the things it needs for healing.
See Dentist For Life
Looking for an experienced and trusted dentist in Marysville, Ohio? Look no further than Dentist For Life! We provide comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. We take a wide variety of insurance plans and are currently accepting new patients. You can reach us at (937) 707-1111 or schedule your appointment online here.
