Question regarding dentures?

i got false dentures in july...8 months ago. im pretty much used to them now.In november i got a really bad case of chapped lips.I usually do get chapped lips around that time of year but not that bad...just minor chapped lips. well its march 21 now and my lips are still severely chapped and nothing helps. my hubby suggests maybe its something to do with dentures...like the first year of getting used to them...i dont know any more..what do you think.Ive never in my life ever had chapped lips like this like i do now.my lips are chapped and cracking.

Chapped lips usually have several causes: sun and/or wind exposure, dry climate (such as being in a heated home all winter), compulsive lip-licking (some folks don't even notice that they do it, ask your husband if you do), mouth breathing due to stuffy nose (usually happens alot at night and can cause snoring...again, ask hubby), aging causes a decrease in the oil glands near the lips which makes them drier and also some medications can cause a dry mouth which may include the lips. I don't think your new dentures can be directly linked to the chapped lips but if you are not completely used to them yet, you may be breathing through your mouth more, or leaving your mouth open slightly and that will cause more breath to pass over your lips, thus drying them out.
The best bet is to use plenty of good chapstick (not a cheapie one that drags across your lips, use something that will glide over them so as not to tear or rough up the already irritated skin). I like the Blistex Moisture Surge brand but also you can do just as well using generic petroleum jelly. Constantly keep your lips moisturized, drink plenty of fluid to be sure you are hydrated from the inside too. Try to modify your lifestyle if you've noticed that you have any of the situations I listed above (for example if your house is dry from the winter air, use a humidfier, etc). One other thought is that sometimes vitamin deficiencies can cause disturbances with oral tissues so it can't hurt to take a multi-vitamin that includes vitamins A and C. Good luck.

There may be several reasons why your lips are chapped so badly now. Some of it may be due to the dentures. You do not say what the condition of your mouth was prior to getting dentures- were you missing a lot of teeth, were your lips supported differently than they are now with dentures in place?

If you are spending a lot of time with them out of your mouth it might be possible that when they are in and you are outside in the cold air, you are moving your mouth in some way that is stretching your lips and exposing them more to the elements. As the previous poster said, you may also be licking your lips more than you used to. With dentures in your mouth you are often unaware of some small movements you are making and sometimes unconsciously using your tongue to make sure they are in their proper place.

If you feel the dentures might be part of the problem I suggest making an appointment with the dentist to ensure that they are fitting properly and your bite is correct. Explain the problem to him or her, this is not the first time they have encountered such a thing.

Sandy

yes, it's possible you are having a reaction to them, but first wait and see if it is simply the weather. if they are acrylic, good chance there is mercury in them to give them the pink color. if i knew what they were made of, i could answer this better. always go to a biologic dentist. you can get a biocompatibility test if you need to.

Definitely call your dentist and explain to him/her like you explained above. This is very uncomfortable for you.
I suppose glycerin and a little lemon juice might help, but I'd also ask at the Pharmacy, a qualified Pharmacist should also know.

I'm not sure if the dentures are causing you to have chapped lips because you said "November" usually your lips are chapped. See a doctor probably something else is going within your body. But in the mean time try lip balm with aloe.

Question: are the *corners* of your mouth dry & chapped as well? If so, this could very well be related to the dentures. The condition is called angular chelitis (keyLITEus) and can be related to how much your mouth has be open for the dentures to work properly.

Also, the answers about you likely licking your lips more (thus, making them more chapped) are also reasonable.

Consult your dentist.

Try cleaning them more often than you did the teeth that you didnt take care of.