Guest guest Posted October 17, 2002 Report Share Posted October 17, 2002 Just wanted to add to this that sometimes, lupus patients also have Sjogren's syndrome, which causes severely dry mouth and can promote tooth decay and gum disease. It's VERY important to have your doctor and dentist examine you for possible Sjogren's syndrome; there are some things you can do to help fight its effects if that's what you have. Maureen www.maureepratt.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2002 Report Share Posted October 17, 2002 Just wanted to add to this that sometimes, lupus patients also have Sjogren's syndrome, which causes severely dry mouth and can promote tooth decay and gum disease. It's VERY important to have your doctor and dentist examine you for possible Sjogren's syndrome; there are some things you can do to help fight its effects if that's what you have. Maureen www.maureepratt.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2002 Report Share Posted October 17, 2002 Lupus patients have specific dental problems because of the disease process and the medications needed to control lupus symptoms. Your dentist needs to know what medications you are taking before he treats you. Most lupus patients take prednisone, a corticosteroid, which over time causes bones to become less dense and brittle. This process includes the jaw bone and how the teeth are held in place. Periodontitis, a form of dental disease, is marked by bone loss and will eventually lead to loosening or loss of teeth. It is usually painless and may have the same signs and symptoms as gingivitis. If any signs or symptoms of gingivitis or periodontitis are noted, you should tell your dentist. Your dentist can accurately diagnose and treat periodontal disease. Everyone with lupus should check the inside of their mouths regularly for any red or irritated areas. If such areas are noticed, these should be brought to the attention of the physician and dentist. Approximately 25% of lupus patients have these kinds of oral problems, which are usually accompanied by a skin irritation or facial rash. Oral problems in lupus are also found on the lips and on the tissue inside the cheeks. Some lupus patients are on blood thinners to avoid clots in their blood vessels. This makes them prone to bleeding. A dentist needs to know what medications you are taking, so in case of any oral surgery needed, he will be prepared for extra bleeding. What he may think is a case of gingivitis may be only the effects of blood thinners on the sensitive blood vessels in the gums. When Lupus patients are having a flare of mouth ulcers, toothpaste should be avoided and a mixture of baking soda and water should be used to brush the teeth. Warm salt water rinses and dipping the toothbrush in peroxide to brush the teeth is another way of cleansing the teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2002 Report Share Posted October 18, 2002 That's a good point. I wish someone had told me, but I don't think it would have helped. I tried to take care of my teeth, Maureen, but I still lost all of them! I think it was mostly from bone loss. They got so loose! Of course, that was several years ago and not much of anything was known about lupus. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2002 Report Share Posted October 18, 2002 That's a good point. I wish someone had told me, but I don't think it would have helped. I tried to take care of my teeth, Maureen, but I still lost all of them! I think it was mostly from bone loss. They got so loose! Of course, that was several years ago and not much of anything was known about lupus. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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