Bayberry Dental Care

Monday, December 17, 2018

Lip Care in Cold Weather

To take good care of your teeth, you also have to take care of your lips. This time of year, we know everybody in Chicagoland is trying to protect themselves from frigid, dry weather. We want patients at Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park to keep their lips from chapping so that they’ll be less vulnerable to dry mouth and teeth misalignments.


Cold air cannot hold much moisture. But liquids on the lips will still evaporate, taking protective oils on the lips with them. For this reason, it is best to avoid taking long, hot showers or baths. But an even worse alternative is sucking on the lips or folding them under the teeth. Children often do this in cold weather and it causes their mouths to become inflamed and painful. Too much of it could also contribute to an open bite and could causes abrasions inside the mouth if the patient is wearing braces.


Lip balm is a reliable way of sealing in moisture, although patients will need to pay attention to which product they use. Some people are allergic to certain fragrances or the chemical menthol. Should they notice their lips becoming inflamed, they should switch to a fragrance-free product immediately. Another strategy is to increase the amount of moisture in the air through the use of humidifiers. Placing humidifiers in the bedroom, in an office, or anywhere else you spend a lot of time makes dry mouth and chapping less likely.


Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.


 

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