Not only I hear this question from my patients, but I also see it and people everywhere I go: the cashier at checkout counter, my friend’s two-year-old baby, my neighbors 80-year-old mom. It can affect everyone. But what does it really mean?

Your mouth tells us the story of what’s going on inside of you. When redness pops up at the corners of the mouth, there is an imbalance, either bacterial or nutritional.

“You have a yeast infection in your mouth”, some dentists will tell you, and they will prescribe an anti-fungal cream or lozenge. Although this is the correct diagnosis and treatment most of the time, we have to get to the cause of the infection. Why has the yeast overgrown in the first place? Well, this is usually due to a higher intake of sugars, in the form of refined sugars or carbohydrates such as cookies and crackers. So even though you may take the medication, if we don’t correct the diet, the problem will return. If you wear dentures, it is more common for the yeast to hide in the porosity of the plastic, so make sure you clean these appropriately. Taking probiotics, such as liquid Bio-K or yogurt, helps restore the bacterial flora in your body. If you have redness in the mouth, also check your fingernails for fungus. This is an indication that there is an overall yeast overgrowth systemically, not just in the mouth. This will require a stricter low-sugar diet and possibly a rigorous cleanse.

Another reason why redness occurs at the corners of the mouth is due to nutritional imbalances. The only way to find out which specific imbalance is the cause, a urine or blood test must be done with your nutritionist or integrative doctor. Some of the common nutritional deficiencies causing redness at the corners of the mouth are: vitamins A, B2, C, iron, and even protein deficiencies. In adults, often times A well-balanced diet and a good whole-food multivitamin can solve the problem and restore health.

In great health,
Dr. Sanda

To get to the cause of your specific symptoms contact Dr. Sanda Moldovan to schedule a consultation.