SORES AT THE CORNERS OF THE MOUTH

Teeth support the lips. When they come together for chewing, the teeth stop the person's chin from moving any closer to the nose.

A person without many teeth looks old. A person with a poor fitting denture also looks old.

• The distance from chin to nose is shorter than normal.
• Person must close jaw further to eat. That causes lines to form at the corners of his mouth.
• Poor health can make lines at the corners of the mouth crack and become sore.

A person with missing teeth needs dentures. Dentures will help them chew more food and make them look younger. They support the lips and open the mouth more.

Note: Making dentures is not easy. We hope to write a book in the future that will tell more about dentures.

A child who has had a fever or measles often has dry lips. The corners of the mouth can crack and become sore.

Cracks and sores appearing at the corners of a child's mouth are signs of dehydration and malnutrition.

The child needs to eat the kind of foods that give strength, energy, and protection. Feed with beans, milk, eggs, fish, oils, fruits, and green leafy vegetables.

TREATMENT (when sores occur):

1. Wash the sores with soap and hot water,

2.  Mix 1 part sulfur with 10 parts of petroleum jelly (Vaseline).

3.  Smear some on the sores 3-4 times a day.