What is the difference between canker sores and cold sores?
Canker sores and cold sores share many of the same features. Both are painful and both are often caused by stress. Although they frequently appear on the lips and edges of the mouth, cold sores can occur in the mouth as well where they may be mistaken for canker sores. The main differences are that inside the mouth cold sores tend to occur more on the bound or non-movable parts of the mouth such as the roof of the mouth. Cold sores are caused by a virus and therefore can be passed from person to person. Canker sores are not caused by a virus and therefore can not be passed from person to person. They do not appear outside of the mouth.
