Re: gum disease too?

[Guest guest]

I can't prove any link and I have looked for articles about possible dental

problems and PA or methotrexate. I have had far worse problems after my

arthritis worsened and I went on methotrexate. I brush and floss well and I

wound up with a massive area of decay along my gun line and I can think of

no other plausible explanation for it.

Gareeth

[Guest guest]

Hey DJ,

<<Anyone else had trouble with gum disease and P.A.? >>

Yes! But I've been attributing it to dry mouth, especially at night. Rheumy gave

me some steroid dental paste that helps for awhile but not with the new

cavities. Folic acid helps some with the sore gums and mouth. Quite a trade-off,

isn't it?

<< My white blood cell count has been elevated for about 4-5 months too...

Anyone else have trouble with it?>>

Dunno about that one but it suggests an infection to my inexperienced noggin.

Keep us informed,

Patty in a cooling Pineywoods of East Texas

[Guest guest]

Are you on steroids? They can cause problems. Others have commented in the

past about dental problems so I would check the archives. Are you on folic acid

in an appropriate dose? I am on mtx and have not seen any increase in dental

problems. Hope you find some answers. Patty

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I've been on methotrexate for nearly three years and have recently had to switch

to injections.  About six months ago, I started getting a really sore mouth. 

Lots of skin peeling off, which isn't so bad, not painful anyway.  Then I

started getting mouth ulcers and sore gums in the front part of my mouth.  My

upper lip swells on the inside.  My doctor reduced my methotrexate from 20mg to

17.5mg and upped my folic acid.  Still the same problem.  I've had my third

injection of 20mg of methotrexate and as of this week, my mouth is getting sore

again...even though I'm taking 7 folic acid tablets a day, plus a multivitamin

and B12.  So......I don't know what to do....I'm going to switch to eating as

bland as possible in hopes that might alleviate some of the mouth pain.  I don't

see my rheumy for another four months.  Don't know if I can stick out the mouth

pain however, the alternative is to be nearly unable to move from the psoriatic

arthritis. 

Any suggestions anyone?

Thank you.

[Guest guest]

Both MTX and the biologics are immuno-suppressants, so they suppress the

ability of the body to fight off any attacks by bacteria, viruses,

fungi, etc. That includes the bacteria in your mouth. I am not

surprised to see an increase in incidence in gum disease (or tooth

decay) for anyone fighting PsA. If your body isn't dealing with the

inflammation that results directly from the disease itself (and can

cause gum disease directly), it's dealing with the immuno-suppressing

drugs that many of us are on.

All I can suggest (and I do this for myself also) is vigilant oral

hygiene. My last two visits to the dentist (I go every six months for a

cleaning) have shown up a minor cavity each time that had to get filled.

I'm not happy about this as I never had great teeth to start with (and

looking back, I wonder how much of that was due to inflammation from

just the psoriasis). Plus I'm being really diligent about my oral

hygiene.

Someone else mentioned heart problems and yes, gum disease (an indicator

of inflammation) is a risk factor for that also.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

Although I do not take metho - I was taking Humira for about 2 or 3 years when I

started having this pain in my neck, close to my ears. The skin was very

sensitive. I went to my family doc and she told me she thought it could be

shingles - wrote a rx for Valtrex.  The very next day tiny white bumps appeared

on my gums - then it proceeded to get worse. The Valtrex helped but 3 weeks

later, I got the shingles again. I took another 7 days of Valtrex.  By the way,

this was extremely painful. So I researched why this was happening. Mainly

because it was in my mouth, which I thought was quite unusual. So I read the

pamphlet on the Humira and right there in black & white it said that people

taking this drug are 80% more likely to contract shingles. So, when I got the

shingles (in my mouth again - and alot more progressive than the first outbreak)

I decided that it just wasn't worth it. I don't know if metho could cause the

same thing. All I

know is that because I am now prone to this, the vaccine would not benefit me

(I'm 59 and the vaccine is targeted to those 60 and over). With all the other

side effects - heart disease, cancer, etc. I don't want to find out down the

road this drug is killing me. Metho had an immediate adverse effect to my liver

so I wasn't able to take it. My mother, however, did take metho and she died of

heart failure at 71. This disease is frustrating as hell - I wish there was

something out there that didn't have so many adverse reactions. Next time you

get sores in your mouth - ask about shingles. Hope this helps a little.

Kathy