Can toothpaste cause Cheilitis?

Cheilitis is a severely painful and uncomfortable condition. But, you may ask what cheilitis is. It refers to the condition of ‘inflammable lips.’ The disease or problem manifests in dry, red, chapped, blistered, and itchy lips. The various symptoms of cheilitis include – redness, cracking, bleeding, pain and swelling. The two main causative factors of cheilitis are – external and internal factors. The condition’s external causes include allergic reactions to cosmetics or drugs and exposure to extreme heat or cold or the sun.

This type of cheilitis can be termed contact cheilitis. The internal causes of cheilitis include oral infection, autoimmune disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and age-related factors. You must be mindful of the ingredients you put on our lips and inside our mouths. Patch testing lipsticks and other makeup products become crucial. But, another generally overlooked product that often comes in contact with our lips is toothpaste. So, the looming question is – can toothpaste cause cheilitis?

Toothpaste – a cause of Cheilitis?

Allergy to oral hygiene products like dental floss, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc., may be rare, but they exist. Research has identified approximately 30 allergens in toothpaste, and they are common in most of the tubes available in the market. Research shows that toothpaste is the second most typical cause of contact cheilitis after lipsticks. On the contrary, it is the commonest cause of cheilitis among males.

The flavoring agents in toothpaste are the most common reason that causes contact allergy or cheilitis. The most common flavoring allergens you can derive from the mint plant are spearmint, peppermint, menthol, and carvone. Other allergy-inducing ingredients in toothpaste include –

• Propolis – It is an antiseptic agent
• Hexylresorcinol – It is a plaque controller found in toothpaste
• Azulene – is an anti-inflammatory ingredient
• Dipentene – It is the solvent used in cleaning products
• Fluoride salts
• Preservatives

Toothpaste contains a common surfactant and detergent called Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), which aids in toothpaste’s foaming. This ingredient may aggravate and sensitize the cheilitis that you are suffering from.

Other oral hygiene products that may cause Cheilitis

Apart from toothpaste, other oral hygiene products can also be the cause of cheilitis. Dental floss has an allergen called colophony which may cause cheilitis. Mouthwashes have allergens that are similar to toothpaste tubes. Although denture cleaners rarely cause cheilitis, those with an ingredient called ammonium persulphate can cause contact cheilitis among people.

Methods to treat contact Cheilitis

1. The best way to treat contact cheilitis is avoidance of the product and allergen if identified.
2. Changing the toothpaste becomes one method to treat contact cheilitis.
3. A lip product with sunscreen is preferable.
4. You can also apply a topical antibacterial or antifungal treatment.
5. Regular application of moisturizing lip balm may help in treating cheilitis.

Ways to prevent Cheilitis

Precaution is better than cure. So, it is better to be aware and follow necessary steps to avoid the occurrence of cheilitis in the first place. You should pick or bite your lips. In case this is a habit, you must get rid of it. You should avoid the prolonged use of lipsticks and lip liners. Eating vegetables and fruits abundant in vitamin A, vitamin B12, and zinc is necessary. Oral hygiene is a very important part of our overall health.

Hence, being cautious of the products you use is crucial and do visit a dentist if necessary.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.