What Is Angular Cheilitis?

Frequently called cheilosis, perleche and on occasion known as stomatitis, angular cheilitis is a common bacterial infection that in the majority of cases appears as slits or cuts at the mouth corners.. While the exact cause of cheilitis is still debated, it is known that people with poor fitting dentures, a vitamin deficiency specifically in the B family or a weakened immune system are more prone to contracting it. Also it is more prevailiant during cold winter months when the bodies natural immune system is typically at it's weakest.

In the picture above we see a more advanced case of angular cheilitis, with crusting and the typical lesions at the mouth corners. If left untreated angular cheilitis can worsen making it painful to open your mouth or even eat and drink.

Symptoms Of Angular Cheilitis

As mentioned above angular cheilitis usually appears as cracks or cuts in the mouth corners, in addition those who suffer from this condition may also experience flu like symptoms and a general feeling of ill health. It may be painful to open or close your mouth and in more advanced cases bleeding may be present at the effected areas.

Typical treatment options include a visit to your doctor or dentist who may prescribe a topical cream frequently a 1-2% hydro cortisone cream to help combat the infection. If you are a denture wearer you can try soaking the dentures overnight in a solution consisting of one part bleach to nine parts water, to kill any bacteria that maybe be present.

Loose fitting dentures and excess weight are also a common cause of angular cheilitis as they don't allow the mouth to close properly creating flaps at the mouth corners that collect saliva. Once collected the saliva becomes the perfect breeding ground for the bacteria responsible for this infection. In the case of excess weight proper diet and exercise is recommended to correct the problem. Those with poor fitting dentures should visit their denturist to have them corrected or replacements made.

Natural Angular Cheilitis Treatment

 One of the more popular angular cheilitis treatment options is an all natural home remedy that directly attacks the source of the infection and using common household items quickly heals  the condition allowing the majority of patients to find relief overnight. If traditional prescription medications has failed to cure your cheilitis than this home remedy is a treatment you should seriously consider.

You can get more details about how this treatment works by visiting >> cheilitis treatment