Metal Mouth Message Board

I'm on medicine that makes my lips chap pretty badly, and since getting braced, it's gotten a lot worse.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what chap stick to buy, or ways to prevent my lips from becoming this way?

Thanks!

-Peter

I would love to get some tips for this since I too have really dry lips, and I don't even have braces yet!
One thing I have heard is to try and keep toothpaste off of your lips as it is extremely drying. Easier said than done.

Never heard that one, but it makes sense!

Thanks for the input.

I can't live without lip balm from My Lip Stuff
(link to their balms> http://www.mylipstuff.com/naturallipbalm.html)

You can choose from hundreds of scents/flavors. The balm leaves an ever so light glossy sheen. The flavors are really subtle so that you never get the urge to lick your lips. The texture is great, they last long and do their job - no chapped lips in 3 years.

From the list of flavors ( http://www.mylipstuff.com/flavordescriptions.html )
I really like Apple Cider, Cosmopolitan, Dr. Pepper, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and ... I'll stop there.

And for the guys, they even have "manly" flavors, like beer.

CARMEX! I love the stuff, its really cheap, and comes in all kinds... the round stick kind, the squeeze tube, and a round container with a screw top lid (in two sizes). I love Carmex and it always makes my lips feel so much better since its mentholated! Works very well!

I use plain old chapstick in the blue tube with SPF 15...I used to love Burt's Bees chapstick, but it has peppermint oil in it which feels nice and minty usually, but with my lips/cheeks all sore and scraped from getting my braces last week, lets just say the peppermint was a little painful! I'm sure I'll be back to that once my mouth heals up. Living in Florida though, the SPF is crucial!

Lisa

NinjaNoodles, all the above advice is good. My only addition is that be sure you aren't allergic to whatever you are using. If your lips don't get better in a few days or are worse, try something else.

I have found out the hard way that I am allergic to Carmex, Blistex, and the lip balm from Bath & Body Works. The more fragrances or 'flavors' they have the more chances I have of being allergic to them. The culprit allergy trigger ingredient in the Bath & Body works lip balm I think is Shea Butter.

I know not everyone is allergic to stuff like I am, but I just wanted to warn you. I had no idea I was allergic to Blistex and I kept using it and the worse my lips got the more I would slather the stuff on, for like 2 weeks. Finally I got out my good old Chapstick and they started getting better almost instantly.

Thanks, everyone!

And I don't think I'm allergic to anything, but I certainly don't want to find out.

i also love carmex for me the squeeze tube works great

Carmex and straight old fashioned vasoline are all I use and swear by them. I used them even before I got braces because my skin is very dry. Chapstick has never worked for me.

I can't use the medicated varieties (they dry me out too much) but ever since I got my braces, I have been looooooooving the Chapstick Moisturizing formula w/ aloe (in the yellow tube). I picked it up on a whim the day I got braced and it has been a lifesaver. Also if you have flakes, the Blistex renewal something-or-another in a pink squeeze-tube is great.

As a side note, (this is kinda TMI, just to forwarn you), if you do get some big flakes, taking a cuticle nipper to them really helps keep them from getting out of control and starting to bleed--almost as with a hangnail.

Yesterday I bought a tube of C.O. Bigelow lip balm with shea butter and sweet almond oil at Bath & Body Works. I like it so far, more than everything else I've tried -- and in the two weeks I have been braced I have tried a bunch of products!

Still trying to adjust ...

Elle

A few of my favorites, for what it's worth:

-- ChapStick All Natural, it smells nice and isn't as intense as the others on this list
-- Burt's Bees (normal variety) stays on much longer, but some people find it overwhelmingly pepperminty. They make a honey version which is less powerful.
-- Medicated Blistex (dark blue-green tube) for the times when the cracking gets so bad it bleeds

Yup! Here's a description of the honey one. Also there is a Lifeguard's Choice variety which I've never tried, better for protection from the sun if that's an issue

Hi, my name is TuZZi and I'm a lip balm connoisseur. I am hardly ever without at least 3 tubes within easy reach. If one day I have a brain fart, and forget one, I end up at the store within hours, no matter how many I tell myself I already have.

The one thing that puts me off of a balm, or gloss, or stick, is the nasty aftertaste some leave in your mouth when using them. Some of the nastiest after tastes have some of the yummiest starting tastes. So because of that, I would say I throw at least 30 tubes away after maybe 3 tries each.

The best I've found so far, have been Aveeno "somethin or other - super moisture, minty feeling" (I can't find it right now and it's stressing me out,) Chapstick Vanilla Mint, Blistex Mint, Labello Orange, Softlips Strawberry, and eventhough I hate the aftertaste of it, The Body Shop Vitamin E stick works well in the winter.

So you may ask why I mention all this? Well, because of my "problem" I just ordered $50 worth from mylipstuff.com. Thanks Eleni!