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Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

Joined: 06/15/2011

Expert Profile:

Dr. Gwen Cohen Brown is an Associate Professor in the department of Dental Hygiene at the New York City College of Technology, and is a Fellow in the Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Dr. Brown graduated with a Doctor in Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from The New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) in 1988 followed by an Advanced Education Program in General Practice Dentistry also at NYUCD. She completed a three-year residency program in Oral and Maxillo-Facial Pathology at the New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens and continued her education in a two-year sub-specialty fellowship in Oral and Maxillo-Facial Pathology at the Health Science Center S.U.N.Y. Brooklyn Downstate Medical College/Kings County Hospital Medical Facility.

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Reply: sharp pain

Hi An_246143, I am sorry you are having pain. Unfortunately I cannot...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:sharp pain Hi An_246143, I am sorry you are having pain. Unfortunately I cannot...

Reply: Angular Cheilitis (cracks on both corners of mouth...

Hi Anon_23520, Angular Cheilitis is NOT a sexually transmitted...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

Hi Anon_23520,

Angular Cheilitis is NOT a sexually transmitted disease. (I will get back to this later in my response).

Although I cannot diagnose you online what you have described does seem to fit into the clinical diagnosis of angular cheilitis.

Before I respond to your question you should be aware that candida is a normal part of your oral flora and is supposed to be in your mouth. It helps keep the bacteria and microorganisms that also live in your mouth in check. Therefore testing to see if you can grow candida on an agar plate is a waste of time and money, of course a culture will show growth of candida, as it is supposed to live in your mouth.

A very very (very) long time ago Angular Cheilitis was thought to be a vitamin deficiency specifically a vitamin b deficiency. However, unless you have a GI disease like Irritable bowel syndrome or an intrinsic factor disorder where you are not absorbing nutrients through your gut, it is virtually impossible to have a vitamin b deficiency in this country as everything is vitamin fortified or enriched.

Oral candidiasis, colloquially referred to as "thrush', is a common fungal infection that may present in both immunocompetent and immuno- compromised patients.

Oral candidiasis may result in pain on swallowing, oral discomfort, localized swelling, bitter or sour taste and loss of function in addition to angular cheilitis.

It is associated with numerous local and systemic conditions including decreased vertical dimension, dry mouth, braces, drooling during sleep, immunosuppression, HIV infection, chemotherapy, poorly controlled diabetes, xerostomia, and denture stomatitis. To name a few.

Chronic Angular Cheilitis: Presents as perioral erythema and/or cracking, fissuring and superficial ulceration at the corners/commissures of the mouth. It can be quite painful if left untreated.

What I can tell you is that regardless of why you have angular cheilitis, the clinical presentation of angular cheilitis is always due to a yeast infection.

Can you get it or give it to a partner during sex. Yes but the much more likely explanation is that you have an over growth of the fungal organisms that are supposed to live in your mouth.

My recommendation is to figure out first if you have an intra oral yeast infection. If you do, treat it with an OTC or prescription anti fungal preparation and most likely the corners of your mouth will improve.

The WORST possible thing to do is apply petroleum jelly to the affected area. Petroleum jelly is hydrophilic it will suck the moisture out of the thin skin of the lips and make the problem much worse and last longer. Vaseline is great for elbows but not the delicate skin of the lips.

So angular cheilitis is a chronic yeast infection. It will go away however dry mouth, dentures, medication, air conditioning, may all affect how quickly you will feel better.

If it continues to bother you I recommend seeing your dentist or physician for a prescription or checking with the pharmacist for an OTC remedy.

I hope this helps!

Dr. Gwen Cohen BrownView Thread

Posted byGwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

5 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Angular Cheilitis (cracks on both corners of mouth) - how/why/STD? Hi Anon_23520, Angular Cheilitis is NOT a sexually transmitted...

Reply: I need help

Hi Court_jester, I am sorry you are having a problem after your...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:I need help Hi Court_jester, I am sorry you are having a problem after your...

Reply: Soreness on Side of Tongue

Hi SmurfeeDoodle, Although I cannot diagnose you on line the most...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Soreness on Side of Tongue Hi SmurfeeDoodle, Although I cannot diagnose you on line the most...

Reply: Ostoporis & gum disease

Hi Marliss26, I am going to refer you to the position paper by the...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Ostoporis & gum disease Hi Marliss26, I am going to refer you to the position paper by the...

Reply: Small hard mass, interior lip

Hi BASAEL, Although i cannot diagnose you online, what you are...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Small hard mass, interior lip Hi BASAEL, Although i cannot diagnose you online, what you are...

Reply: craked tongue

Hi goresbridge, Geographic tongue is a variation of normal. It can...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:craked tongue Hi goresbridge, Geographic tongue is a variation of normal. It can...

Reply: Small white bump on lip

Hi MoonDog33, Although I cannot diagnose online what you have...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Small white bump on lip Hi MoonDog33, Although I cannot diagnose online what you have...

Reply: "Bulb" on tongue.

Hi Tom1a, Although I cannot diagnose on line what you are describing...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:"Bulb" on tongue. Hi Tom1a, Although I cannot diagnose on line what you are describing...

Reply: Gum Grafting Problem

Hi summer_cohen, It sounds as if some of the post surgical packing...

Posted by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS, FAAOMP

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Gum Grafting Problem Hi summer_cohen, It sounds as if some of the post surgical packing...

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