“Got Chapped Lips?”

Posted by drgracesun on July 27, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, Healthy Smile, Information | Be the First to Comment

“Stop licking and peeling your chapped lips, just grease them and leave it alone!” Chapped lips, a condition whereby the lips become dry and sometimes even cracked (also known as cheilitis) can be unsightly, annoying and dreadfully uncomfortable. The causes of chapped lips can stem from environmental influences, like long-term exposure to dry, windy or severely hot/cold weather. Other causes could also include dehydration, salty food, a thyroid hormone imbalance, B vitamin deficiencies, hypersensitivity to cosmetic products, contacts with irritants or allergens, a fungus infection or physical illness.

Often times, our lips become dry because the layer of oil that is naturally produced by the body to coat the lips is removed, or is lacking. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of chapped lips, as it can often be multi-factorial. The sometimes-painful condition affects many many people!

Lip balm (or petroleum jelly like Vaseline) can sometimes provide relief for chapped lips, but this also depends on the degree of cheilitis in the lips. Medical grade lanolin USP can help to stimulate and repair lips, and is used in several lip repair products. Other steps you can take to eliminate or cure chapped lips are: Stay indoors and avoid windy, dry weather. Avoid alcohol, no spicy/salty or acidic foods, drink plenty of water and use a humidifier in your room if you are a mouth breather! Use lip care products from old remedies (like honey or duck fat) to products containing petroleum, lanolin, coconut oil, sheabutter, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel. An improved diet rich in Vitamin B2- riboflavin may also help, or take a supplement.

Avoid licking your lips: certain enzymes present in saliva can irritate the lips, and the evaporation of the water in saliva saps moisture from them. If you do have chapped lips, do not play with dead skin cells on the lips – pulling or peeling tissue from the lips can be damaging, the dead skin should naturally exfoliate or can be removed with small, sterilized sugical scissors.

When the corner of the mouth is cracked, this condition is called angular chelitis, and can be an indication of a riboflavin deficiency (and possible a yeast infection). Apart from improving one’s diet and taking a B vitamin supplement, try cutting down sugar intake and applying a lip moisturizer / antifugal cream. Avoid using lip gloss with a sponge wand applicator. Avoid kissing with your pets (I am sorry!) and regarding medication, it is known that Retinoids (isotretinoin and acitretin) are the most frequent drug-induced causes for chapped lips.

If you have tried different approaches to eliminate chapped lips and do not see improvement, it would be best to consult with a medical professional. Evaluate whether there is any underlying conditions requiring attention and/or treatment. Chapped lips can often be a sign indicating that there is health attention needed, so let’s have some lip care for our own good for health and beauty!

“What About Dry Mouth?”

Posted by drgracesun on July 8, 2009 under General Dental Knowledge, Healthy Smile, Information | Be the First to Comment

Do you have a hard time swallowing? Do you ever get cotton mouth (when your throat is dry and uncomfortable)? Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is a serious issue that many people suffer from, though most are unaware a problem exists (or do not know how to care for it).

Xerostomia is a condition in which the salivary glands of the mouth do not function as they should, and provide a less-than-adequate supply of saliva into the mouth. This is not only uncomfortable, but it also weakens natural defense system for your teeth. Saliva rinses food particles away from your teeth, neutralizing acids which can harm your teeth, providing enzymes to help digest food (which also keep oral tissues healthy).

In order to actually understand how to prevent dry mouth, it is important to understand what causes it. Often times, dry mouth can be brought on with emotional and physical stress. Aging, radiative therapy, chemotherapy, medication and physical illness (such as AIDS, diabetes, strokes or Alzheimer’s disease) can cause dry mouth. Various pharmaceutical studies have proven that over 400 prescription and OTC medications can cause xerostomia, such as: anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, tranquilizers, analgesics, diuretics and antihistamines.  Speak with your physician if you are experiencing dry mouth while taking any of these medications.

The consequences of dry mouth can effect one’s quality of life tremendously. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing or speaking, frequent ulcers or sores of the mouth, a frequently altered sense of taste, extensive tooth decay or gum diseases and bad breath. Speak with your physician or dental care professional about what you can do to prevent dry mouth. General rules to ease the discomfort of dry mouth include brushing and flossing twice daily and after meals! Drink plenty of water, work on a healthier diet, chew sugarless gum. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, avoid salty or dry foods (like chips, toast and crackers) and use over-the-counter oral moisture replacement products to lessen the displeasing effects of dry mouth. Visit your dental professional regularly for preventative care and to have additional preventive treaments (like sealant or home fluoride treatment) as needed to preserve your oral health.