The lips and gums are just as important to your mouth as your teeth. In fact, without healthy lips and gums, your teeth most certainly won’t be healthy either. Your lips and gums are especially in need of some care when you go outside.
You probably take plenty of caution with respect to your skin and your eyes when you go outside to make sure that these organs do not get overexposed to sunlight and damaged. You will wear Polaroids and apply sunscreen on your skin, but did you know that your lips and gums can get sunburned too?
Lips And Gums Need Protection Too
The lips can be affected by overexposure to the sun. They can get dry and chapped, and the skin can break and open up into sores. At the very extreme, continued overexposure to the sun can lead to lip cancer. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, then you stand at a higher risk of this.
As for the gums, they can also get sunburned. They can especially dry up and shrivel, causing them to weaken and hold the teeth more weakly. This can directly impact the health of your teeth. Overexposure to the sun can also lead to a reduction in the production of saliva, which can cause bad breath, gum disease, and potential tooth decay.
How To Protect Your Lips And Gums
To protect your lips, start by applying UV-blocking lip balm. This is to the lips what sunscreen is to the skin. Make sure the lip balm has an SPF of at least 15 so as to keep your lips well protected. Just like with sunscreen, you’ll have to reapply it regularly.
To protect your lips and gums, make sure you stay hydrated. Drink as much water as you can to keep your mouth hydrated and your saliva production high. This will protect your gums from getting burned and will also benefit your mouth.
Apart from the measures mentioned above, you should also take care to not stay out in the sun too long. It is just as bad for your mouth as it is for your eyes and skin. By protecting your lips and gums, you are also protecting your teeth and your overall wellbeing. In case you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to contact us.