In the middle of this particularly frigid winter, we at Dr. Joseph Dallessandro’s Upper East Side dental office want to ensure that our patients understand how to protect their lips from chapping. Cold air is unable to retain much moisture, making this a dangerous time of year for soft oral tissues even indoors.
The use of humidifiers can help to increase the air’s moisture content. It is a good idea to keep them in any closed room where people spend long periods of time. However, it is not a good idea to take long, hot showers. Evaporation causes the lips and the rest of the skin to be left with less moisture than they had previously. For the same reason, it is unwise to lick the lips as a way of rehydrating them. Even worse would be tucking them under the teeth, which bruises them and could cause swelling.
People often ask about products, and it is a good idea to use lip balm to seal moisture. The downside is that fragrances and ingredients such as menthol can cause some people’s lips to become inflamed, so it is better to use fragrance-free balm and to switch immediately to a menthol-free stick if any irritation occurs.
Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit Joseph Dallessandro and fill out a contact sheet.
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