If you suffer from a painful, sore mouth, you may well have the common condition known as angular cheilitis.
This is very likely if you have persistent cracking in the corner of the lips which you can't seem to shift.
There are various reasons why angular cheilitis might form in an individual.
It is very common in older people who wear ill-fitting dentures and also in those who might have sagging, loose skin around their mouth edges due to the natural aging process or significant weight loss.
people who are prone to putting things in their mouths, such as fingers or pens are also susceptible.
It's not as simple as just drying the area up, as repeated dampening of the mouth edges can lead to either a fungal or bacterial infection taking root and this needs eradicating in some sufferers before the condition goes away altogether.
Fortunately, you can use very effective natural treatment for cracking in the corner of the lips to at least get some relief from the pain and one of the best places to start is to try to remove the root causes.
If you know that ill fitting dentures are an issue, then get them adjusted or get a new pair.
Once they are sorted out, soak them overnight in a weak bleach solution, rinsing well before use, as this will help kill off any bacteria or fungus which has become ingrained.
If loose skin is a problem, then keep the area dry by gently dabbing with a tissue and moisturize the area well each morning with a waterproof cream such as zinc and caster oil for protection.
For those who suck pens or bite fingers, one simple treatment is to use the bitter-tasting liquid which you use to stop children biting their nails.
Simply paint onto the offending objects! To give some relief from the sharp pain, try using a layer of petroleum jelly.
This can be very effective at preventing air from hitting the cuts and is a good treatment for cracking in the corner of lips.