Angular cheilitis is a common problem and many suffers do not even know that they have it or that. Instead they suffer the painful sores around their mouths in silence. There is a cure! This article will tell you how to recognise the symptoms and what angular cheilitis remedies to use.

Angular cheilitis is basically sores in the corners of the mouth which are caused by bacteria and fungus which grow and prosper due to the collection of saliva in the corner of the mouth. The sore can dry and crack every time the mouth is opened and can turn into abscesses. The risk of contracting angular cheilitis is increased by having had head or neck irradiation and by diabetes mellitus. It can also be aggravated by a vitamin B deficiency. Having dentures can also increase the risk of contracting angular cheilitis. Dentures provide warm damp nooks and crannies for fungus and bacteria to develop and a set of ill-fitting dentures may also cause saliva to gather in the corners of the mouth both of which can stimulate the development of angular cheilitis.
Now that you know what angular cheilitis is, how do you cure it?

Many western doctors and dermatologists prescribe anti-fungal creams and topical steroids to combat angular cheilitis. Unfortunately, these treatments do not always stop the problem but only the symptoms. You need something else to properly stop it from reoccurring.

Cheilitis treatments that are more effective actually prevent the infection from occurring in the first place. Which cheilitis treatments will be most effective for you will depend on why you have the problem in the first place. Following a diet that is rich in vitamin B12 and iron is an effective treatment as these nutrients will bolster the parts of your immune system that are unable to fight off the fungus and bacteria that cause angular cheilitis. However, if it is your dentures that are causing a problem, it would be beneficial to have them fitted correctly or even replaced for a set which do fit correctly.

None of these will provide an immediate cure. They will however cause the problem to stop reoccurring. Whilst you wait for your chosen treatment to take effect, you can use some of the following techniques to relieve the irritation caused by the sores.

Moisturise your lips regularly using an unscented or flavoured lip balm. Do not lick your lips, saliva is acidic and will aggravate the problem.

Try to avoid eating and drinking acidic foods and drinks. This includes citrus fruit and fruit juices as well as spicy food.

Putting olive oil or vitamin E oil on your lips on a regular basis will help to keep them moist and ease the irritation.

Cheilitis treatments do not work in just a few minutes, changing your diet will take a few days to get consistent and you need to keep it up for the rest of your life. While you are waiting for your diet to take effect and your immune system to come to the party, keep the irritation at bay with moisturiser and no acidic foods or drinks. It is possible to cure angular cheilitis; you just need to find the right balance of nutrients in your diet.