What Causes Split In Lip Inside The Mouth?

Posted on Mon, 23 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 23 Jun 2014 Answered on

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I had a split in my lip inside my mouth on month ago. I noticed the skin around the area was red abou one inch in diameter. I went to the denist one week later. He said to come back after one week to see if it improved. I came back after a week and a half and he said it waa 40% improved and he told me to come back in one week. It seems to have gotten larger since then. He said it was probably viral but if it did not heal by the next visit i should get a biopsy. I just wanted a second opinion or wondering if there can be other causes or treatments. I smoke. I recently attempted to quit. I have been chewing nicorette for years and was wondering if that may have anything to do with the problem as well.

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your dentist was right

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

The split is an ulcer and these are common in people who smoke or have nutritional deficiency. If the ulcer does not improve over time suggested by your dentist, biopsy is the choice to understand its behaviour.

Nicorette is a nicotine gum it has its bad behavior on the mucus of the mouth. So whatever biopsy is the choice.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli