Having oral herpes or more commonly known as cold sores can be both painful and embarrassing. The fact that the condition does not have a cure or even a vaccine can often make it seem hopeless. This however should not be the case and as with everything else, proper understanding of the condition may help people manage the problem and come to terms with. The best way of doing this is by knowing more about the condition and you can start this off by learning about the stages of a cold sore.Preventing Getting Cold SoresThe most obvious way of not getting these kinds of sores is to make sure who you come in contact with has none of these. Kissing a person with cold sores can spread the virus as well as coming in contact with the virus through infected saliva. The prevention of these kinds of sores is better than curing it. Avoid direct contact with anyone’s mouth area if possible. Do not kiss relatives even in the cheeks if you suspect they have cold sores.Preventing Cold Sores OutbreaksIf you have had oral herpes before, chances of you experiencing another outbreak is high if you are not careful. Preventing another oral herpes outbreak means you have to be meticulous when treating the current bout of the virus. Use individual cotton buds to apply the cream or medication on the sores. 

cures for cold sores

Do not reuse the cotton buds by dipping them again and again in the medication from the cold sores.Sometimes changing your diet will be what you need to do to cure your cold sore problems. If you are a big coffee drinker then reduce the amount that you drink to lessen your breakouts. Also adding vitamins and supplements to your diet is a good idea to combat cold sores and garlic is an exceptional supplement that has been proven to assist with many areas, as it is a natural antibiotic and germ killer. Green tea is another item that is great for curing cold sores, it is known to kill bacteria causing germs. Placing a green tea bag on the affected area can help to reduce the time you have the breakout as well as reduce the pain experienced.Tea Tree Oil is another of the home remedies to cure cold sore, just dab it on the affected area throughout the day. You can look to your cupboards and fridge for many items that can help to alleviate problems with cold sores, items such as Red wine, grape juice, strawberries, apples and apple juice.Remember that knowing the stages of a cold sore infection can mean the difference between living in misery with it and managing it properly in order to lessen the severity, discomfort and even the length of the cold sore’s duration.