Tooth decay was present in 100% of people with active lupus disease and 85% of people with inactive lupus – possibly due to reduced salivary flow or dry mouth, a common development of lupus. People with lupus exhibit more
Dental Complications from Lupus
Inflammation can make your gums pull away from your teeth, leaving them vulnerable to plaque and the acid attacks that cause cavities.
Some people also feel like their mouth is tingling or burning. A 2016 study showed all people with active lupus had cavities. People with lupus also have more tooth loss compared to people without lupus. Pain from the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is common in the first few years of active lupus.
Lupus. While not as prevalent as it has been in previous generations, it is still possible to have Lupus. Lupus affects your dental health by creating lesions and ulcers in your mouth. While they are not always painful, they can be.
Saliva helps to rinse the teeth and control bacteria population in the mouth, so less of it means you're more prone to tooth decay. Gum disease. Autoimmune conditions can also lower your body's natural defenses against infection, making gums more susceptible to gingivitis and gum disease.
Tooth decay was present in 100% of people with active lupus disease and 85% of people with inactive lupus – possibly due to reduced salivary flow or dry mouth, a common development of lupus. People with lupus exhibit more tooth loss than healthy population.
Oral Complications
Lupus can affect your salivary glands and cause dry mouth. Dry mouth can increase the risk of developing cavities and other infections. If you have lupus, be sure to tell your dentist. Together, you can keep your mouth healthy.
Sjögren's Syndrome
This disease attacks the salivary glands, leading to extreme dry mouth. It also affects the tear glands and leads to extremely dry eyes. Patients with Sjögren's suffer from a drastically increased risk for cavities, gum disease, and ulcers.
Many studies have indicated lupus may lead to a higher risk of gum disease, and oral infection is also a common side effect of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants used in lupus treatment.
Oral Lichen Planus: This oral autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system attacks the mucous membranes inside your mouth, according to The Mayo Clinic. It will appear as lacy white patches, sometimes accompanied by painful sores on the lining of the cheeks, tongue, and gums.
Muscle and joint pain.
This affects most people with lupus. Common areas for muscle pain and swelling include the neck, thighs, shoulders, and upper arms.
You Have a Sinus Infection
A very common indication of a sinus infection is tooth pain in your back upper teeth. This makes sense because of the close proximity to your nasal passages. If you have tooth pain and are feeling stuffy, there's a good chance you may have a sinus infection.
Lupus often causes myalgia, or aches and pains in the muscles. Less often, lupus can cause myositis, or inflammation in the muscles — usually in the hips, thighs, shoulders, and upper arms. The most common symptom of myositis is muscle weakness.
It is common knowledge that many people with lupus start developing skin problems of many sorts. As mentioned above, some of these include lupus mouth sores, which could be either painful or entirely painless. The painless subtype of mouth sores is white with a red outline, which appears to be a raised bump.
People with lupus can develop red ulcers on the lips, the tongue, and the inside of the mouth. A white halo surrounds these ulcers, and they may or may not cause irritation. Those experiencing a “flare-up” can develop ulcers quite quickly.
The effects lupus may have in and around the eyes include: changes in the skin around the eyelids, dry eyes, inflammation of the white outer layer of the eyeball, blood vessel changes in the retina, and damage to nerves controlling eye movement and affecting vision.
Weight changes — Lupus can sometimes cause weight loss or weight gain. Weight loss may be unintentional and due to decreased appetite or problems with the digestive system (see 'Digestive system' below). It can also be a side effect of some medications used to treat lupus.
Research has linked oral health problems such as periodontal or gum disease to many health conditions, including diabetes, heart and kidney disease, Alzheimer's, asthma, osteoporosis, and cancer. Dr. Mariotti says there are more than 120 conditions that have been associated with dental problems.
Some of the most common diseases that impact our oral health include cavities (tooth decay), gum (periodontal) disease, and oral cancer. More than 40% of adults report having felt pain in their mouth within the last year, and more than 80% of people will have had at least one cavity by age 34.
Thyroid Disorders
The thyroid gland is responsible for producing the hormone thyroxine, which regulates metabolism. One of the symptoms of an over- or underactive thyroid is that it affects the body's systemic response to bacteria, which can manifest itself in gum inflammation and fast-moving tooth decay.
lupus psychosis. It is described as delusions or hallucinations. About 12 percent of lupus patients experience it. A few more little-known symptoms are vertigo, Raynaud's Syndrome, and oral health problems, like gum disease.
Common symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, sun sensitivity, painful and swollen joints, unexplained fever, skin rashes, and kidney problems. There is no one test for SLE. Usually, your doctor will ask you about your family and personal medical history and your symptoms. Your doctor will also do some laboratory tests.
Kidneys About one half of people with lupus experience kidney involvement, and the kidney has become the most extensively studied organ affected by lupus. Lungs About 50% of people with SLE will experience lung involvement during the course of their disease.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs are used to reduce inflammation, pain and fever associated with lupus. They include over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (for example, Nurofen®), or prescription medications such as Voltaren® Celebrex® and Orudis®.