Small Health Clues: Cracks at the Corner of Your Mouth

They say a dentist can tell a lot about your overall health by examining your mouth. Likewise, an optometrist or ophthalmologist can also tell you about various aspects of your health by examining your eyes. In the meantime though, there are little signs we should pick up on to make us realize there may be a bigger issue we need to address.

But, it’s the little telltale signs that we may dismiss as irrelevant. But, simple things like ridges in your fingernails and cracks at the corner of your mouth can sometimes be the first warning sign you notice. So what about those painful cracks at the corner of your mouth?

Technically, cracks at the corner of your mouth are called angular cheilitis and there are a few causes:

- Infection – you know how you close your mouth and a little saliva gets stuck at the corners? Yeast loves saliva and therefore
fungal infections are the most common infections at this site. Watch how much you lick your lips and ask your physician
for an anti-fungal medicine. They work like a charm.

- Denture problems, missing teeth, ill-fitting braces – when your bite is thrown off, a number of other things are as well and
this can cause painful cracks.

- B vitamin deficiency –deficiency in one or more B vitamins can lead to issues in your mouth including a red tongue, a
swollen tongue, cracks at the corners of your mouth, and throat swelling.

- Iron deficiency – this is rarely the cause of cracks here but, iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency
worldwide. If you’ve ruled out all other causes, get your iron levels checked.

Even if something on your body seems minor though a bit annoying, get it checked out. There are many small cues to bigger problems.

Iron for the Over 65 Crowd

I’ve seen two diametrically opposite personality types in the over 65 crowd. The first type focuses on their aches and pains and believes that age is slowing them down so there’s really no use in trying to figure out why they feel sub-par. People that fall into the second personality type believe they can overcome aches and pains, age doesn’t matter and they are enthusiastic about all that life has to offer. As a dietitian and exercise physiologist, I think everyone will feel better if they are physically active and eat a healthy diet. And oftentimes, elderly people fall short on several nutrients, making their diet, and not necessarily age, the root cause of some of their health issues.

The elderly often take in fewer total calories, protein, vitamins B6 and B12, folic acid, iron and zinc than they need. All of these play critical roles in good health. Iron deficiency anemia, the second most common cause of anemia in the elderly, can make you feel tired, breathless and decrease your ability to focus. Iron deficiency anemia can also decrease immunity leaving you susceptible to infections and illness.

If you feel fatigued or you’re having trouble concentrating, get checked for anemia. There are many causes of anemia in the elderly so your physician will likely run a few different tests to find out what is ailing you. Talk to your physician about all of your symptoms, what medicines (prescription and over the counter) and dietary supplements you are taking. After all, you deserve to feel energetic every day!


References:
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Mar;79(3):516-21.
J Nutr Health Aging. 2004;8(1):2-6.
J Am Geriatr Soc 1992;40:489-96.