Clinical treatment evaluations of a new topical oral medication

Clinical symptoms of viral infections, such as herpes labialis (cold sores) and oral ulcers (canker sores), are common in adulthood, affecting approximately 19% of adults aged 25 to 44 years. For some patients, lesions last longer, are more painful, and are more difficult to treat, requiring medications that allow the affected area to heal but do little to alleviate pain. Conventionally, pain caused by oral ulcerations has been addressed with either topical analgesics or systemic pain medications. However, a recently introduced over-the-counter topical medication (ORABASE Soothe.N.Seal) has been shown to be an effective pain-relieving adjunct to healing therapies. This article reviews the characteristics of painful oral ulcerations and details the research findings of a clinical trial of the use of this new medication.