Mouth Sores - Nicholasville,KY

Hi,
I don't have a home remedy that I can think of right now, but I did want to mention that those cracks in the corner of the mouth can be a sign of severe anemia, I am anemic most of the time, but the last time it was so severe and I had the same thing.

Also, are they staying hydrating?

Just wanted to mention these things, if they stick around for more than 2-3 weeks, I would see a doctor to rule out anemia.

~~Pam

My two year old had sores on the corners of his mouth for nearly a month and grew to almost the size of a dime. Tried a few chap sticks and cold sore meds but no luck. I had read in a home health care book NOT to use neosporin (???). My mother (weeks later, unfortunately) told me to use it and that book was crazy :) Thank goodness I listened to her, they were clearing up and gone within a week. Hope this helps!

You know anytime I want advice for home remedies, I log onto Thriftyfun.com. It has really helped in so many ways for many ailments that our family has had. Hope it works.

.

Dear L.,
Usually cracks in the corners of the mouths is a B-Complex deficiency. My grandchildren use a natural chewable vitamin which includes 100% of the B vitamins. Foods rich in Vitamin B are: whole grains, such as wheat and oats, fish and seafood, poultry and meats, eggs, dairy products, like milk and yogurt, leafy green vegetables and beans and peas. Hope this helps! J. E.

If it's coldsores, giving Lysine will totally put a stop to it. It is an amino acid (part of the building blocks of protein, so it's in our bodies anyway). I forget the mechanism, but it has something to do with the herpes virus needing one amino acid, but Lysine will interrupt it, which doesn't allow the cold sore to thrive. Otherwise, are they drinking enough? Vitamin/mineral supplements and healthy oils never hurt either, used properly of course. And certainly don't pay $69 for those scams!

sounds like chapped lips to me... try chapstick

Ask your pediatrician. Do your children have allergies or eczema? My boys have eczema and have mouths that are broken open a good bit. One OTC product I would recommend is Aquaphor. If it is eczema and gets infected by being open, my kids usually have to take a short course of prednisone and antibiotics. Good luck.

A cheap remedy that could really help is a tube of Blistex Medicated Ointment. It is the whitish ointment that contains menthol medicated ingredients. You can purchase it just about anywhere--esp at drugstores that have a larger selection of lip ointments.
Be sure to get the tube with the angled tip (look closely at the picture on the package). It is usually sold in red packaging that will hang from a hook on the storeshelf. There are chapstick types too but the medicated ointment is the best by far!
Works great and safe!!! My family uses it year round!

yep! definitely the season! in the fall weather, people are more prone to dry skin, noses, colds, asthma, etc. how is their diet? make sure your kids also stay away from acidic foods like orange juice, tomatoes, etc. and dairy products...
the mouth is also a reflection of the stomach...
if you need anything else, don't hesitate!!
B. sabaj, LAc LMBT (#8444)
www.healingpointnc.com

Cracks in the corner of the mouth is usually from licking them in the cold dry air. There is this stuff called Carmex. It used to be sold in only a small jar with a screw on lid. Now you can get it in a tube like chapstick. Very cheap like 1-2 dollars. A little bit goes a long way. It doesnt taste bad either. I think it smells kinda good like coconuts. Since they are a little older you could even use Vasoline if you didnt want to buy the Carmex.

You can use a little vasoline or chapstick too-- I found the vasoline was better (the lip kind is easier to dispense)-- especially at night use it-- it's the dryness of the season.

M.

Hi L.,
I was a pediatric OT before kids. I get those sores and I use a dab of antibiotic ointment on them 2-3 times per day and they go away within a day or 2.
L.

I would try vaseline out of the jar or a good chapstick. Be careful of scented or flavored ones, the additives can be irritating. You also need to make sure that they are drinking enough. Water is the best followed by milk and juice. You have to be careful of the juice because the acid from the fruit can sting-especially orange. Good Luck

Burts Bee's lip balm is good maybe even the best. If you can't afford that, vaseline works too but not as well.
M.

Good Morning L.,

When my kids get cold sores I make them eat a lot of yogurt there is Acidophilus in it which is a natural way to fight Cold Sores, I also keep Carmex on them. If they get really bad in your local supermarket there is this little tube of Medicane that is called Abreeve (sp?) that you put on like lip balm on the site and it works wonderfully

Hopefully that helps
E.

As the others mentioned, I would use a little Chapstick or vaseline.
I would also make sure they are getting enough (B) vitamins.

carmex lip balm works the best...you can get it walmart. it's only a couple of bucks.

I've had the same thing and been told it is a vitamin deficiency. Are your kids taking a daily multi-vitamin? If not, they make some great "gummi" vitamins and Whole Foods even carries some natural ones.

Cracks on the side of the mouth is from aniron deficiency or B. I tend to be anemic and watch for this sign.

what about Aquafor or just plain chap stick?

Hi
If they are the normal dry-skin type cracks, definitely try Carmex or something along those lines. They used to make a similar one that wasn't quite as strong - called Lip Medex - but I haven't seen it in a while. Whatever you use, be sure they put it on several times a day. My kids resist putting anything on their lips for some reason, but I make them do it anyway! Also, avoid orange juice and any other acidic food/drink for a while - they make it so much worse.

My hubby is a PT, but works mostly with Medicare patients and sports medicine with the local high schoolers. It is rewarding work!

Best of luck to you!
A.