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Do you wake up to cracked corners of your mouth? As painful as the condition is, there are a number of ways to heal cracked corners of mouth very effectively without having to put in extra efforts. It is all about you knowing the remedies for you to witness amazing results.
The condition of angular cheilitis can be pretty painful if you don’t do something needful effectively. It is very important that you trace the cause behind the condition first and then opt for the treatment accordingly.
Here, we are going to share some of the ways you can get rid of cracked corners of mouth effectively.
What are Angular Cheilitis?
Angular cheilitis is a medical condition that is characterized by the presence of cracked, red sore like formation around the corner of the mouth.
The condition is also often termed as angular stomatitis.
It can either affect one side of the mouth, especially around the area where both of your lips meet. It can also affect both sides of the mouth.
What Causes Cracked Corners of Mouth?
The condition of angular cheilitis or the cracked corners of the mouth can be caused for a number of reasons.
Doctors have a hard time pointing out a particular reason behind the condition, believing that the excess moisture could be a possible cause behind the condition.
When the saliva accumulates around the corner of the mouth for a long time, it is likely that the same will end up drying and then cause the cracks in the corner.
The mistake we do in such conditions is licking the area over and over again, making the condition worse even further.
The over exposure to the saliva makes the corner of your mouth more susceptible to the cracking even further, making the sore even worse.
Aside from that, even a fungal infection from Candida could be a possible cause behind the condition.
The deficiency of Vitamin B and iron are also considered a possibility for this condition.
Bacterial infections from staph or strep could also be a contributing cause for the condition of the cracked corners of mouth.
Many people have the question – “Can dehydration cause cracked corners of mouth?” To be honest, there are no proven evidences that the same could be a cause but since dehydration affects the skin texture, it is likely that the same might contribute to the condition further.
If none of these causes suit your condition, the doctors term the condition as idiopathic angular cheilitis, idiopathic meaning that the cause is unknown.
How to Heal Cracked Corners of Mouth?
There are a few natural remedies that can help with the recovery that you possibly didn’t know about. Some of them include:
1. Tea tree oil
If the cracked corners of your mouth are caused because of any kind of microbial infection, it is likely that the tea tree oil can help with healing it.
The combination of the antifungal (R) and anti-inflammatory (R) properties of the oil helps in getting rid of the fungal infection and at the same time, helps reduce the risks of inflammation.
What to do?
- Take 2-3 tbsp of coconut oil in a bowl
- To that, add 3-4 drops of tea tree oil and mix
- Using a cotton bud, apply the oil mixture on your cracked corners
- Leave it on and let it seep into the skin
How often?
- Daily once or twice till it is healed
2. Castor Oil
When it comes to the cracked corners of mouth treatment, it is likely that castor oil can effectively promote faster recovery.
Even castor oil is rich in the antibacterial properties (R) which have been found quite beneficial in helping promote faster recovery in case there is an infection causing the constant pain and discomfort.
The castor oil also helps prevent further risks of dryness of the skin, helping with the recovery even further.
What to do?
- Pour a few drops of castor oil on a cotton pad
- Apply that on the affected area
- Dab it gently to let the oil soak into the skin
- Leave it on
How often?
- 2-3 times a day
3. Supplements
So, if you have been asking what vitamin deficiency causes cracks in the corners of the mouth, here is your answer.
That aside, if you want quicker recovery, one of the best treatment options is to supplement or change your diet to include more vitamin rich foods.
If poor nutrition is the cause of the condition for you, supplementing it with the necessary food or supplements can help keep the condition in check.
4. Baking soda
This compound has antiseptic properties (R) which have been found beneficial in getting rid of fungal infections for good.
What to do?
- Take a bowl and add 1 tbsp of baking soda to it
- To that, add some water to make a thick paste
- Apply the same on the cracked corners of the mouth
- Leave it on till it is almost dry
- Rinse it off with some water
- Pat dry with a towel and apply a hydrating moisturizer to keep the area from cracking further
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
5. Aloe vera
It has a very versatile approach to the treatment of angular cheilitis.
Aloe vera has soothing, moisturizing (R) as well as antimicrobial (R) and anti-inflammatory (R) properties. It helps combat the signs of dryness and at the same time, prevents the infection from spreading or getting worse.
You can either apply the raw aloe vera pulp or even opt for the aloe vera gels that are available in the market.
What to do?
- Apply the aloe vera pulp or aloe vera gel on the affected area
- Leave it on to dry and seep into the skin
- If you feel any irritation, take it off immediately
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
6. Garlic
It does have amazing benefits in helping improve the overall immunity (R) to let your body fight back. Aside from that, it also does have a combination of antimicrobial (R) and anti-inflammatory (R) properties which help manage the risks of further spread of the infection.
The most outstanding benefit of garlic is because of its active compound, allicin, which helps cope with any sort of fungal infection that could be causing the cracks.
What to do?
- Pass a few cloves of garlic through a mincer
- Extract the juice of the garlic
- Apply it on the affected area with a clean cotton bud
- Leave it on for a few minutes
- Rinse it off once dry
- Apply a moisturizer to prevent the area from getting dry
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
7. Yogurt
It also has moisturizing and soothing properties in it which has been found quite beneficial in helping ward off the signs of the dryness.
What to do?
- Take some yogurt with some clean cotton bud
- Apply it on the affected area and lead it for an hour
- Once dry, rinse it off with some cold water
- Towel dry the face and apply some moisturizer
How often?
- 2-3 times daily
8. Raw honey
If you don’t want to feel the burn or the irritation, the application of raw honey can help speed up the healing process further.
The combination of antiseptic and antifungal (R) properties in the honey is what is considered effective in getting rid of the issue.
It also moisturizes the dry area and helps in promoting faster recovery from the sores.
What to do?
- Start by taking some honey on a cotton pad
- Dab that on the corners of your mouth and let it dry
- Once dry, you can rinse it off with some water
- Apply some moisturizer after that
How often?
- 2-3 times daily
9. Coconut Oil
This has been found to have amazing benefits in healing the sore and even speeding up the recovery by getting rid of the infection causing bacteria or fungi because of the antimicrobial properties of coconut oil.
Additionally, coconut oil also has anti-inflammatory properties which helps keep the inflammation in check. You can also apply the coconut oil on the cracked sores to keep them moisturized and reduce the risks of bleeding from the site.
What to do?
- Using a cotton pad, dab some extra virgin coconut oil on the affected area
- Leave it on till it seeps into the skin
How often?
- Multiple times throughout the day
10. Apple cider vinegar
The use of apple cider vinegar for the treatment of cracked corners of mouth might seem feasible but to be honest it will hurt.
The potent antimicrobial (R) properties of the vinegar help get rid of any traces of the infection effectively.
Not just that, it also does help reduce the issues of inflammation (R) to ensure faster recovery in no time at all.
What to do?
- Dilute some apple cider vinegar in some water
- Dip a cotton pad into the solution and dab it on the affected area
- Leave it on for a few minutes
- Rinse it off with cold water after that
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
11. Olive Oil
It does have potent antifungal (R) and anti-inflammatory properties which help with the recovery process.
It also does have skin healing and moisturizing properties that help improve the condition further.
What to do?
- Dab cotton in some olive oil and apply it on the affected area
- Leave it on so it seeps into the skin
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
12. Saltwater compress
If it is a fungal or bacterial infection that is making the situation worse, it is likely that the application of the saltwater compress can effectively heal the condition faster.
The reason why that is the case is because it draws out the infection and helps in the recovery.
What to do?
- Start by dissolving some salt in water
- Use cotton to dab into the affected area with it
- Do that for a few minutes
- Rinse off the area with some water
How often?
- 1-2 times daily till it heals
How long does it take for angular cheilitis to go away?
It depends on the recovery process and even on the person’s immune system when there is an infection involved.
Generally, it does take a few days to a week for it to be healed completely. Make sure that you don’t poke or probe on the affected area because that can end up making the situation worse.
How to prevent cracked corners of the mouth?
If you don’t want things to get worse, one of the best ways is to prevent the condition in the first place.
Some of the best preventive measures include:
- Moisturize your skin heavily
- Prevent the accumulation of saliva around the corners of your mouth
- Ensure to keep your vitamin levels in check
- Keep yourself hydrated
- Practice proper hygiene
There are a number of ways to heal cracked corners of the mouth and we have sorted out a few for you. If you have been experiencing these signs and symptoms and want to get rid of the same, we would suggest that you do take a look at them and try them out for yourself. Make sure to always remember that prevention is always better than cure.