Have you noticed a difference in your teeth and gums?
If you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, your body can be going through a variety of changes that fluctuate, including your oral health. Depending upon your diagnosis, your teeth and oral health may be impacted by your autoimmune disease as well as have an impact upon the autoimmune disease itself.
Two fairly common autoimmune diseases that come to mind that affect your oral health are Lupus and Sjören’s Syndrome.
Lupus causing oral health problems
Lupus can cause mouth sores, oral ulcers, and lesions. All of these can be similar and are relatable to lupus. The best thing you can do is see your doctor, get regular visits to the dentist to check your soft tissue, improve your diet, and use anti-inflammatories and steroids when needed.
Sjögren’s syndrome causing dry mouth
The most common symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome is dry mouth and dry eyes. Dry mouth leaves you open to bacteria and an even further weakened immune system. Your saliva is an important part of protecting your body from bacteria and microorganisms from entering your body.
Chewing sugar-free gum or getting a medication to promote saliva production are your best options typically in dealing with the dry mouth caused by Sjögren’s syndrome.
What to tell the dentist if you have an autoimmune disease
We always ask for a medical history for all our patients, but please make sure to bring up any autoimmune diseases you may have so we can be sure to be thorough in helping you make the best decisions regarding your oral healthcare.
