Mouth, Teeth & Gums
Angular Cheilitis
Red, cracked, sore corners of the mouth, often from moisture and yeast or a nutrient shortfall — healed by keeping the corners dry and protected and addressing the cause.
Also known as: Cracked mouth corners, Perleche
📝 At a glance
Likely root causes: Saliva pooling in the mouth corners (lip-licking, drooling, deep creases, ill-fitting dentures); Yeast (Candida) or bacterial overgrowth in the moist folds; Nutritional shortfalls (iron, B vitamins, zinc).
First thing to try: Keep the corners protected and less moist — apply a barrier balm like coconut oil, and stop licking or picking the corners.
See a doctor if: Cracks that won't heal or keep returning
🔎 Start with the cause
Lasting relief rarely comes from covering a symptom. First find what is feeding the problem, change what you can, and then help the body do what it was designed to do — heal.
Likely root causes
- Saliva pooling in the mouth corners (lip-licking, drooling, deep creases, ill-fitting dentures)
- Yeast (Candida) or bacterial overgrowth in the moist folds
- Nutritional shortfalls (iron, B vitamins, zinc)
- Dry, chapped lips and cold weather
Change what you can
- Keep the corners protected and less moist — apply a barrier balm like coconut oil, and stop licking or picking the corners.
- Address any yeast or bacterial component (an antifungal or antibacterial cream may be needed from a pharmacist or doctor).
- Check that dentures fit well, and support good nutrition with iron-, zinc-, and B-vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More →-rich foods.
- See a doctor if it's persistent or recurrent — an underlying deficiency or condition may need attention.
- Dab the corners dry gently after eating and drinking, since trapped moisture feeds the problem.
- Stay hydrated and use a plain lip balm through the day to stop the corners from cracking.
- If you wear dentures, clean them daily and have the fit checked, as a loose fit lets saliva pool at the corners.
- Eat iron-, zinc-, and B-vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More →-rich foods to support healing.
🌿 Then assist nature: remedies & protocols
With the cause being addressed, these are the actual things people do for this — ranked by the community. Vote ▲ on what helped you and ▼ on what didn't, and open How to do it for the steps. Each shows two quick signals: Evidence (how much science backs it) and Gentleness (how safe and in keeping with whole, natural health).
★ Start here — our first-line pick, pinned for safety
This gentle barrier step is usually the safest first move while you address any underlying cause like fit of dentures or nutrition.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: A barrier like petroleum jelly or coconut oil shields irritated skin from saliva and friction, reducing moisture buildup that keeps the cracks from closing.
- Gently clean and pat dry the corners of the mouth.
- Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or coconut oil to the cracked corners.
- Reapply after meals and before bed, and any time the area feels dry.
- Consciously stop licking or picking at the corners, since this keeps them moist and slows healing.
ongoing until healed, typically 1-2 weeks · 3-4 times daily
Caution: If cracks don't improve within two weeks or keep recurring, a yeast or bacterial infection may need a specific antifungal or antibacterial treatment from a doctor. Persistent or recurring angular cheilitis can point to an underlying nutritional deficiency or condition like diabetes worth checking.
When to get help: See a doctor if cracks bleed heavily, spread beyond the mouth corners, show pus or worsening redness, or don't improve after two weeks of care.
Source: General dermatology patient-education guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
Also helps — ranked by the community (vote to reorder)
An important root-cause step for denture wearers or anyone with recurring cracking tied to saliva pooling.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Poorly fitting dentures change how the mouth closes, letting saliva pool at the corners; correcting fit and improving hygiene removes the ongoing source of moisture and irritation.
- Schedule a dental visit to have denture fit checked and adjusted if needed.
- Clean dentures daily as recommended and remove them at night if advised.
- Keep the mouth corners dry between cleanings and check for pooling saliva.
- Address any thrush (white patches) in the mouth with your dentist or doctor, since it often travels to the corners.
single visit plus ongoing daily care · daily hygiene, periodic dental checkups
Caution: Don't adjust dentures yourself; improper home adjustments can make the fit worse. A yeast infection in the mouth or corners may need a prescription antifungal alongside better denture care.
When to get help: See a dentist promptly if dentures feel loose or cause sores, or if white patches appear in the mouth alongside the cracked corners.
Source: General dental patient-education guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
A supportive, longer-term step especially useful when cracking keeps recurring despite good barrier care.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Adequate iron, B vitamins, and protein support healthy skin repair; correcting a mild shortfall in these nutrients can help resolve stubborn or recurring cracking.
- Include iron-rich foods such as leafy greens, beans, and lentils regularly.
- Add B-vitamin sources such as whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
- Include an adequate protein source at most meals.
- If cracking is recurrent, ask your doctor about checking iron and B12 levels.
ongoing dietary pattern · daily
Caution: Diet changes alone will not fix angular cheilitis caused by an infection or poor denture fit — those need their own attention. Don't start high-dose supplements on your own; ask a doctor to check levels first, since megadosing isn't advised.
When to get help: See a doctor if you notice fatigue, pale skin, or other signs that might suggest a true deficiency, or if cracking keeps recurring despite good care.
Source: General nutrition guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
How the numbers work: a weighted voting system — trusted published sources cast endorsement votes for each protocol, and your ▲/▼ adds to them. Not medical advice.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- Cracks that won't heal or keep returning
- Signs of a possible deficiency (fatigue, pallor) or known diabetes
- Spreading redness, swelling, or significant pain
🌿 The seven pathways to health
Seven pathways for your angular cheilitis — tap the circle to check one off (saved on your device), or ask Remy for help.
“Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health... In case of sickness 1cause should be ascertained, 2go to work intelligently to remove the disease. 3Unhealthful conditions should be changed, 4wrong habits corrected. 5Then nature is to be assisted in her effort 6to expel impurities and 7to re-establish right conditions in the system.”
🌿 Overview
Angular cheilitis is inflammationThe body's natural response to injury — like redness, swelling, or heat around a sore spot. More → of the corners of the mouth, causing redness, cracking, soreness, and sometimes crusting. It often results from saliva pooling in the corners and a yeast or bacterial overgrowth, and can be linked to nutritional shortfalls. It heals by keeping the corners protected and dry and addressing the underlying cause.
The corners of the mouth become red, cracked, scaly, and sore, sometimes splitting or crusting, and can sting when opening the mouth or eating. Moisture is the key driver — saliva collects in the folds (from lip-licking, drooling, ill-fitting dentures, or deep corner creases), letting yeast (Candida) or bacteria flourish. It's also linked to deficiencies in iron or B vitamins, and to dry, chapped lips.
Care combines protecting and drying the corners (a barrier balm like coconut oil, not constant lip-licking), treating any yeast or bacterial component, and correcting contributors — checking dentures fit, and ensuring good nutrition. Most cases clear with this combined approach. Persistent or recurrent angular cheilitis can point to an underlying issue (like a nutritional deficiency or diabetes) worth checking with a doctor.
Common signs
- Red, cracked, sore corners of the mouth
- Splitting, scaling, or crusting at the corners
- Stinging or pain when opening the mouth or eating
- Sometimes a yeasty or raw appearance
🍃 Supporting foods & habits
The gentle, everyday foods and supports that help in the background — secondary to the active remedies above. Vote on what helped you.
How the numbers work: this is a weighted voting system — every published book or article recommending a remedy counts as an endorsement vote, and your ▲/▼ counts too. Not medical advice. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit, eight-laws alignment).
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
Favor these
- Iron-, zinc-, and B-vitamin-rich whole foods (leafy greens, legumes, whole grains, nuts)
- A balanced, nourishing diet
Go easy on
- Nothing specific
Correcting nutritional shortfalls is often part of healing recurrent cases.
⚖️ Good to know
- Persistent or recurrent angular cheilitis can signal a nutritional deficiency or diabetes worth checking.
- Constant lip-licking and saliva keep it from healing.
- A yeast or bacterial infection may need a specific antifungal or antibacterial treatment.
⚕️ What a doctor may offerConventional treatments for this condition — for your information.Show ▾
RemedyRank's heart is natural healing — and honest information. Here is what conventional medical care commonly involves for this condition, listed to inform, never to promote. Decisions about treatment belong with you and your own physician.
Angular cheilitis is treated by drying and protecting the corners, treating yeast/bacteria, and fixing contributors.
Commonly offered
- Barrier creams to protect the corners–
- Antifungal and/or antibacterial creams for infection–
- Correcting nutritional deficiencies–
- Addressing dentures or saliva-pooling contributors–
Worth knowing
- Recurrent cases may signal deficiency or diabetes.
- Lip-licking prevents healing.
- Infection may need specific treatment.
👍/👎 shares whether a treatment helped you — community experience, not medical advice. For full professional details, see the sources under “Learn more” below.
📜 A note from history
Long noted alongside nutritional deficiencies, cracked mouth corners helped reveal the role of B vitamins and iron in skin health.
📚 Learn more
Sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.
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