How do you get bells palsy?

Bells Palsy: Let me get this straight (oral herpes)?

• That is the leading cause of Bells Palsy apparently, in that case wouldn't Bells palsy effect most of the population because the say upwards of 98% of the adult population are carriers of Herpes Simplex!?! Also according to the stuff I read u just have to be a carrier, active outbreaks are not a factor in regards to Bells palsy.

• Answer:

  The connection between Bell's palsy and herpes simplex occurs when the herpes simplex virus attacks particular facial nerves and causes paralysis. Paralysis, and therefore Bell's palsy, does not occur in all cases because the attack is not severe enough or does not attack the nerves on the face responsible for movement of facial muscles. So, it's the luck of the draw whether simple cold sore virus will eventually lead to Bell's palsy. There are many other possible causes of Bell's palsy other than herpes simplex, and scientists are not sure whether these causes, acting singly or in conjunction with the herpes simplex virus, trigger Bell's palsy.