Hi there,
Angular cheilitis can be caused by many factors, which can be classified into these broad groups depending on their origin:
1) Infection - bacterial or fungal
2) Irritation - dentures, braces, or situations causing a pooling of saliva at the corners of the mouth, smoking
3) Nutritional deficiencies - Lacking of certain vitamins or minerals
4) Systemic disorders - such as diabetes or in situations with low immunity
It really depends on what the cause is. If it is only present on one side, it would more likely be due to irritation. You may wish to see a doctor or dentist to have it checked and treated according to its cause. They will be able to assess and may need to take a swab if infectious origin is suspected. In the meantime, application of lip balm and improvement of oral hygiene can help to keep your mouth free and clean of infection.
In my experience, I seldom see angular cheilitis in my patients. If it is due to the braces, it could be due to irritation from the braces or if the patient is overclosed - this could be due to excessive wearing down of teeth or loss of teeth resulting in inadequate support of the bite. It would be best to consult your orthodontist on this.
I hope this helps and take care!
Warm regards,
Dr Geraldine Lee
Orthodontist
