Having dry corners of the mouth can be a nuisance for some people and an absolute nightmare for others. Most of the time it arises due to a simple short lived problem in the mouth itself but take care - because it can sometimes point to serious underlying diseases.
The medical name for dryness at the corners of the mouth is angular stomatitis.
Causes of dry corners of the mouth include:
** bad oral hygeine
** badly fitting false teeth
** burns in the mouth due to hot food or severe mouth sores
The commonest cause in children - and some adults - is licking your own lips. This is often a habit that the person themselves is not aware of until it's brought to their attention.
Underlying health problems leading to angular stomatitis can include:
** lack of iron
** lack of vitamin B
** medications and reactions to them
** severe allergic reactions to drugs or to viral infection
** as a side effect of radiation treatment for cancer
** severe infections or immune deficiency
** celiac disease
If you are suffering from dryness at the side of your mouth then the first port of call is to try some simple remedies initially. If they fail to clear things then you should seek a consultation with your doctor or dentist.