Circumoral dermatitis and cheilitis caused by tartar control dentifrices

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 1029 - 1032
• Main Authors: Beacham, Bruce E., Kurgansky, Dennis, Gould, William M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.06.1990
• Subjects: Adult; Cheilitis - chemically induced; Dental Calculus - prevention & control; Dentifrices - adverse effects; Diphosphates - adverse effects; Drug Eruptions - etiology; Facial Dermatoses - chemically induced; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Mouth
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/0190-9622(90)70146-9

Twenty women had similar symptoms and clinical findings related to the use of tartar control toothpaste. Each had burning and itching around the corners of the mouth, followed by pruritic perioral patches of erythema 4 to 14 days later. AU patients had begun using tartar control toothpaste 1 to 2 weeks before onset and had brushed their teeth at least three times per day. The typical findings included a moderately severe perioral erythema with Assuring of the angles of the mouth; scaling erythematous patches, separated by normal skin lateral to the initial erythema, were also present. No vesiculation or crusting was noted, and involvement of the gingiva and buccal mucosa was noted in only one case. On discontinuation of the tartar control toothpaste, marked improvement was seen within 1 to 6 weeks with, in most instances, either no treatment or 1% hydrocortisone cream.