Chapped lips?

[jcm1983]

Hello everyone! Im a new guy here, just got my first set of alligners 4-13. I have a question. Do many people experience chapped lips? If so, why is this? Can I prevent it? Or should i just deal with it + use chapstick.

[Sunny]

Hi and welcome jcm!

Dry lips are a normal part of orthodontic treatment and are best treated with a lip balm of your choice. Keep it in your pocket, so you can use it regularly. The reason why, seems to be connected to a couple of things. One is that our mouths produce more saliva to 'fight' the invaders in our mouths. That settles after a while, when our body realises these invaders are going to be a regular 'thing' in our mouth. Another reason is that often our lips are pushed out a little when having orthodontic treatment, which means more area is exposed and therefore more drying of the surface can occur.

Also make sure you drink extra water, as keeping well hydrated during ortho treatment will make your mouth and body feel better.

Good luck!