When Cracking a Smile Actually Hurts
Angular Cheilitis is a common skin condition affecting the corners of your mouth.
As saliva collects at the corners of the mouth, it causes dryness. Over time, the dry skin may crack open and become irritated or infected. People often confuse angular cheilitis with cold sores. However, unlike cold sores, angular cheilitis is not contagious.
This condition tends to be more common in the very old and the very young, but anyone can develop angular cheilitis. The most common triggers are:
- Eczema
- Wearing Dentures
- Wearing Braces
- Drooling during sleep
- Thumb Sucking
- Lip Licking
- Misaligned Teeth
- Smoking
Although painful, angular cheilitis usually isn’t serious. Some of the symptoms you might experience are:
- Cracking
- Crusting
- Blisters
- Bleeding
- Redness
- Swelling
- Maceration (soggy, lighter-colored skin)
Your treatment plan depends on the cause of the angular cheilitis. It may include:
- Antibiotics: Oral (by mouth) or topical (on the skin) antibiotics treat bacterial infections.
- Dental work: Denture or other mouth hardware should fit correctly. Misaligned teeth or a bite may improve with braces, retainers or headgear.
- Dietary changes: Eating foods rich in protein, iron and B vitamins can clear up problems caused by a poor diet or lack of nutrients.
- Ointments or creams: Antifungal creams or topical steroids relieve selling and pain from cracked corners of the mouth. Lip balm or petroleum jelly can keep your mouth moisturized and protected.
While this condition usually goes away about two weeks after starting treatment, severe angular cheilitis can result in scarring or weak, thin skin if it isn’t treated. For some people, this condition is chronic or ongoing and will require management the rest of their lives.
If you have dentures, use these simple tips to help prevent or manage this infection:
- Keep dentures free of food
- Brush dentures every day and soak them at night in a denture cleaner
- Remove dentures at nighttime
If you are dealing with dryness keep these tips in mind to help prevent angular cheilitis:
- Frequently sip water
- Don’t smoke
- Avoid alcohol
- Ask your dentist
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