Author Name: Dr. Sandra Thompson
Angular Cheilitis in Kids is an inflammation characterized by redness, cracking, and irritation of the skin found at one or both corners of the mouth. The cracks in the skin may cause discomfort, making daily actions such as smiling, speaking, eating, or brushing teeth unbearable.
Angular cheilitis can occur in kids of any age but is more common in those who regularly lick their lips, drool, breath with their mouth open, or have braces or other dental equipment in their mouths. Living in dry environments, which includes hot and dry conditions in Las Vegas, can also contribute to this problem as the lips and surrounding skin can get dehydrated and crack easily.
Despite being fairly common, angular cheilitis is easily confused with other oral problems. Unlike cold sores, caused by the herpes simplex virus, this condition does not include blisters and appears as a cluster only around the mouth corners. This problem differs from chapped lips because chapped lips involve the whole surface of the lips.
For many children, the presence of continuous moisture due to saliva softens the skin, enabling irritations to occur due to yeast or bacteria. Since there are different causes that may lead to such a problem, pediatric dental examination can help identify its root cause.
There are different conditions that could lead to Angular Cheilitis in Kids, but in most cases there are multiple causes behind it. It is vital to determine the cause behind it, since an effective treatment would require targeting the irritation source rather than the crack itself.
One of the main reasons why kids suffer from Angular Cheilitis is moisture accumulation in the corners of their mouths. This can happen because of lip licking, drooling while sleeping or opening the mouth often. Since the saliva dries after some time, the skin becomes dry and irritated and hence the cracks form.
The dry environment in Las Vegas increases the likelihood of such problems. Humidity levels in this region are low and the sun shines quite often, which leads to drying of the lips and the area around them.
There are other factors that can contribute to this problem. One of them could be certain mouth habits. For example, thumb sucking, using pacifiers for a long period of time, or even mouth breathing might irritate the corners of the mouth constantly. Kids with braces, retainers, and other orthodontic devices might have this problem because of salivation around the mouth and mild irritation caused by the device.
Sometimes the cause of angular cheilitis is the lack of some nutrients. Iron or B vitamins deficiency makes children's skin prone to cracking. It leads to the development of yeast and bacteria which can stay there and cause this disease to become chronic.
Also, kids with a compromised immune system and some diseases might suffer from angular cheilitis periodically. You should contact your child's pediatric dentist to find out all the causes of this condition.
The symptoms of Angular Cheilitis in Children usually start out as mild irritation and become more unpleasant if neglected. They may show up on either side of the mouth and cause discomfort while engaging in everyday activities like eating, smiling, talking, and even brushing your teeth.
Parents may notice:
It can be difficult to diagnose the condition in younger children, as they may only refuse some foods or tell you that their mouth hurts. Babies and toddlers may become irritable while eating if the cracks hurt.
Several common conditions can resemble angular cheilitis, making an accurate diagnosis important.
A cold sore is a result of herpes simplex virus and begins with the formation of small blisters, which tend to burst before forming scabs. The location of cold sores is mainly within the lips or around the lips and not just the corners of the mouth.
A canker sore occurs on the inner lining of the mouth such as the cheeks, lips, tongue, or gums. It looks like a small ulcer that is white or yellow in color with a red border and not the corners of the mouth.
Chapped lips are usually caused by dryness or exposure to elements and occur all over the lips, while angular cheilitis occurs only on the corners of the mouth and mostly because of moisture or infection.
Since treatment for these conditions differs, a parent needs to have his child checked if he is unsure of the condition affecting his child.
Angular Cheilitis Treatment in Children will vary based on the cause of the infection. In most instances, there are various procedures that can be used to allow quick healing of the affected area of the skin.
Given the presence of excessive saliva in most cases of angular cheilitis, keeping the corners of the mouth dry and clean will prevent further irritation of the affected skin. Children must be advised not to lick the affected area.
A pediatric dentist or doctor can provide protective lip cream for the child. The products should only be applied in the correct manner as instructed, especially in younger children.
If lips licking, thumb sucking, mouth breathing or drooling is causing the issue, recognizing the habit and treating it properly will help avoid the frequent irritation.
Sometimes, braces, retainers and other orthodontic devices can cause problems with saliva leaking out of the mouth. If there is any such problem, a pediatric dentist will be able to help solve it by adjusting the braces or retainer.
In case there is any yeast or bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe proper therapy in the form of antibiotics or antifungals. They have to be used only according to the prescription from your health care provider.
If there are any problems with nutrition and deficiency of important nutrients, changing the child’s diet or providing him or her with proper vitamins will definitely help. Often, iron and some B vitamins have to be tested for.
A child suffering from chronic or recurrent angular cheilitis has to come back again for another visit in order to make sure everything is alright now.
Although mild cases may improve with good lip care, parents should schedule a pediatric dental evaluation if symptoms become more severe or fail to improve after several days of home care.
You should contact a pediatric dentist if your child has:
A pediatric dentist can examine your child's mouth, identify contributing oral conditions, recommend appropriate treatment, and refer you to a physician if additional medical evaluation is needed.
No. Angular Cheilitis in Kids is non-contagious. It is most frequently associated with irritation, extra saliva production, dry skin, or an excessive growth of the existing bacteria or yeast, but not with the spreading of some condition from one person to another.
Yes. Las Vegas weather tends to be hot and dry, so it may dry your child's lips and skin around them and create additional cracks because of licking the lips or dehydration.
No. Angular Cheilitis is located at the corners of your child's mouth and does not cause blisters as cold sores. These conditions are also caused by different reasons such as moisture or irritation.
Yes. Orthodontic appliances may affect the way the saliva accumulates around the mouth or cause irritation, which can contribute to angular cheilitis.
9859 W Deer Springs Way #110
Las Vegas, NV 89149
We proudly serve Las Vegas, Providence, Skye Canyon, Summerlin and Centennial Hills.
Mon-Thurs: 8am-5pm
Friday: 8am-12pm