CARE OF THE BODY’S INDIVIDUAL PARTS: LIPS, MOUTH, AND TONGUE
Most diseases and sores of the lips, tongue, and mouth are either very minor or very serious. The slight cracks from dried-out lips heal readily, and the irritating lumpy spots in the mouth called cankers disappear quickly. But other whitish spots, lumps, or sores may indicate early stages of cancer, or they may be signs of syphilis or some other serious disease. You can usually tell the mild from the serious conditions by the rapidity with which they heal. Any canker or fever sore or a lump that does not heal readily should be seen by a doctor—or by a dentist, if it appears to be due to a rough spot on a tooth that is irritating the lining of the mouth.
Trench mouth (Vincent’s angina) is a common infection characterized by sores and ulcers on the lining of the cheeks, the gums, and the back of the throat.
Most lipsticks are harmless unless you happen to be allergic to something in them. They have no value except for their appearance. Cracked, chapped lips, from which you may suffer during cold, or dry and hot weather, will usually get better if you apply a soothing preparation such as boric acid ointment, petroleum jelly, or cold cream.
Your mouth does not need, and may actually be harmed by, so-called medication that claims to cure bad breath.
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