Labial frenulum
The labial frenulum is called frenulum labii in the technical language and is located on the inside of the upper lip. It is located in the middle of the upper incisors. It is a connective tissue structure, but it does not perform any important function.
The labial frenulum is merely a remnant. A too pronounced lip frenulum can cause problems in the mouth. For example, it often results in a gap between the teeth, which can be accompanied by speech defects, such as lisping.
In this case, a surgical cutting of the frenulum is usually performed in childhood. If there are no teeth left in the jaw, the frenulum can have a negative effect on the fit of the prosthesis. It should also be removed if it is anchored very high in the gums and causes an unpleasant pull when moving the lip.
Diseases of the lip
One of the most common diseases of the lips is an infection with the herpes simplex virus. After the initial infection, the virus migrates along the nerve fibers to an accumulation of nerve cell bodies, the so-called ganglia, which are located deeper in the head. The virus can be reactivated during menstruation or as a result of stress and migrates along the nerve fibres to the lip, where it triggers an inflammatory reaction in the form of burning and itching blisters.
Anyone who has ever had such an infection can get it more often. On the other hand, many people carry the virus inside themselves without the infection breaking out. They can still carry the virus through contact, which can then trigger a reaction in the newly infected person in the form of the symptoms described above.
The cleft lip, jaw and palate is a malformation of the lip and philtrum, the region between the upper lip and nose, which has existed since birth. The cleft palate develops during the development of the embryo between the 5th and 7th week of pregnancy. A right and left nasal bulge develops from the embryonic structures, which merge into the upper lip during growth.
This can lead to disturbances which can affect the upper lip alone or simultaneously with the upper jaw and the palate. Depending on how severe the malformation is, the malformation can be corrected after birth with very good cosmetic success. Another possible disease of the lips is malignancy, a malignant change mostly on the lower lip.
It initially manifests itself as a precancerous stage (precancerosis) and is called leukoplakia, a whitish, non-wipeable change in the mucous membrane of the lips, which can develop into an ulcer or even a carcinoma. Other symptoms are swelling and pain in the lip area. It is recommended that a comprehensive examination of the surrounding lymph nodes, the tongue and the adjacent throat area, and possibly also of the oesophagus, is performed.
Common causes are excessive consumption of tobacco and alcohol. Poor oral hygiene or high exposure to sunlight can also promote the development of an ulcer. Depending on the severity and stage of the disease, an adapted therapy is chosen, which includes treatment with cytostatic drugs and/or surgery.
In most cases, the change on the lips is noticed very early by the patients, so that there is a good chance of healing. Swelling of the lip can have different causes and can also vary in its treatment.
