Also known as an underactive thyroid, hypothyroidism can lead to a number of dental issues. These problems may manifest as irregular dental development in children or increased cavities in both children and adults. This type of medical condition can also increase the risk of gum swelling and bleeding.
Thyroid dysfunctions are heavily linked to a wide range of dental ailments like gum disease and tooth decay. If you've been diagnosed with thyroid hormone imbalance and are currently grappling with gum disease, you might need to tackle the ailments on both the thyroid gland and dental fronts.
Dental professionals are often the first to suspect a thyroid disorder that is uncontrolled and aid in early diagnosis or intervention for treatment. Dental complications can arise from uncontrolled or undiagnosed thyroid disease.
Oral manifestations of hypothyroidism
The common oral findings in hypothyroidism include the characteristic macroglossia, dysgeusia, delayed eruption, poor periodontal health, altered tooth morphology and delayed wound healing.
[9] Long-term treatment with levothyroxine in dentate patients may result in more periodontal destruction because of the persistent subclinical infection at the gingival crevice.
Yes, it's safe to take levothyroxine for a long time, even many years. However, high doses of levothyroxine over a long time can sometimes cause weakening of the bones (osteoporosis). This should not happen if you are on the right dose. It's important to have regular blood tests to make sure your dose is not too high.
Macroglossia, dysguesia, poor periodontal health, aberrant tooth morphology, delayed wound healing, delayed eruption of teeth, burning mouth syndrome, and dry mouth are all common oral manifestations of hypothyroidism.
However, changes in the facial expressions can also be a tell-tale sign of hypothyroidism. “Facial expressions become dull, the voice is hoarse, speech is slow, eyelids droop and the eyes and face become puffy,” the MSD Manuals explains.
Hypothyroidism can affect the heart and circulatory system in several ways. Lower production of thyroid hormone slows your heart rate. Hypothyroidism also makes the arteries less elastic, and blood pressure rises in order to circulate blood around the body.
We recommend choosing a toothpaste with nano-hydroxyapatite, as it is the only scientifically proven fluoride comparable that can improve the oral representation of hypothyroidism.
But, there are also some secret signs to watch out for. Mood changes, like depression or anxiety, can sometimes be the first sign of a thyroid problem. Brain fog or trouble remembering things may signal hypothyroidism. In women, periods that are light, heavy, or irregular can all be symptoms of a thyroid disorder.
Hypothyroidism tends to get worse over time and even mild cases should be regularly monitored. Individuals taking small amounts of thyroid hormones may need to have their doses increased with time. People with hypothyroidism usually need to increase their doses during pregnancy.
Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid condition in patients over 60 years of age and steadily increases with age.
In very rare cases, a severe underactive thyroid may lead to a life-threatening condition called myxoedema coma. This is where the thyroid hormone levels become very low, causing symptoms such as confusion, hypothermia and drowsiness. Myxoedema coma requires emergency treatment in hospital.
Common side effects of levothyroxine include heat intolerance, a fast heart rate, and diarrhea. More serious levothyroxine side effects are also possible.
Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed. An underactive thyroid can often be successfully treated by taking daily hormone tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid is not making. There's no way of preventing an underactive thyroid.
Hypothyroidism usually isn't linked to eye disease. In severe cases, however, hypothyroidism may cause swelling around the eyes. It also may cause a loss of hair in the outer part of the eyebrows.
The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism in adults are fatigue, lethargy, cold intolerance, weight gain, constipation, change in voice, and dry skin, but the clinical presentation can include a wide variety of symptoms that differ with age, sex, and time between onset and diagnosis (table 1).
Fatty foods – Fats are known to upset your body's ability to absorb thyroid replacement hormones. Fats can also prevent the thyroid's natural ability to produce hormones. Physicians recommend that you cut out all fried foods and limit your intake of fats from butter, mayonnaise and fatty meats.
Symptoms may include bleeding gums (especially with brushing or flossing), puffy gums, receding gums, plaque buildup on teeth, loose teeth, bone loss in the jaw, and bad breath.
Fatigue, cold intolerance, slow speech, weight gain, delayed deep tendon reflexes, and bradycardia are all symptoms that result from a slowing of metabolic processes.
In acute form it causes hypocalcemia with consequent paresthesia, muscular spasm and seizures. Long-standing cases manifest with visual impairment from cataracts. Dental manifestations are enamel hypoplasia, widened pulp chambers, pulp stones, shortened roots, delayed eruption and hypodontia.