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.
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. Signs of periodontitis can include: Swollen or puffy gums. Bright red, dusky red, or purplish gums.
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.
Having an autoimmune condition can make you more susceptible to a number of oral health conditions, including: Tooth decay. Many autoimmune conditions result in a decrease in saliva if the immune system attacks the salivary glands.
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.
Cavities that develop quickly and unexpectedly may be the result of: Sudden Dietary Changes: You might have changed your diet in some way, including drinking more soda, adding more sugar to your coffee, eating more starchy or acidic foods, or consuming more sweets.
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.
With Lupus, it isn't uncommon for one to experience bone loss. It's more likely for bone loss to occur when you have a systemic disease. If there is enough bone, your dentist can proceed with dental implants without having to worry about an increased risk of failure.
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.
A newly published meta-analysis shows that lupus is significantly associated with periodontitis (gum disease). Periodontitis is a serious infection characterized by inflammation of the gums, which can ultimately lead to tooth loss.
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.
Some of the more common infections include: herpes zoster (virus) Staphylococcus aureus (bacterium) Escherichia coli (bacterium)
SLE can affect people of all ages, including children. However, women of childbearing ages—15 to 44 years—are at greatest risk of developing SLE. Women of all ages are affected far more than men (estimates range from 4 to 12 women for every 1 man).
Preventive dental care with antibiotic and antifungal prophylaxis should be considered early in the SLE disease process. Anticoagulants are recommended for dental treatment to reduce the high risk for thromboembolic events.
One of the main reasons why someone might not be a good candidate for dental implants is weak or insufficient jaw bone. To support dental implants, the jaw bone needs to be strong enough. If it is not, then there is a risk that the implants will not be able to fuse properly with the bone.
Can People With Autoimmune Diseases Get Dental Implants? The short answer to this question is yes. In many cases, patients with autoimmune diseases receive implants without experiencing any complications.
No one test can diagnose lupus. The combination of blood and urine tests, signs and symptoms, and physical examination findings leads to the diagnosis.
With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease. However, for the majority of people living with the disease today, it will not be fatal.
For some people, living with and managing lupus can cause weight gain. Weight gain may also lead to worsening lupus symptoms and complications associated with obesity. Some potential causes of weight gain that relate to lupus may include: being a side effect of medications such as corticosteroids.
Lack of a Nutritional Diet
Feeding the bacteria inside your mouth with their favorite foods will lead to multiplication, wreaking more havoc on your oral health. Bacteria feast off of sticky foods, which can stick to your teeth's surfaces and produce acid. Acidic pH can eventually deteriorate your teeth's enamel.
Tooth decay can occur when acid is produced from plaque, which builds up on your teeth. If plaque is allowed to build up, it can lead to further problems, such as dental caries (holes in the teeth), gum disease or dental abscesses, which are collections of pus at the end of the teeth or in the gums.
Though good oral hygiene that includes brushing and flossing helps in preventing cavities, you may still get cavities. The reasons can be many, like the spaces between teeth that easily trap food, consuming too much cavity-causing foods and beverages, avoiding regular professional-level cleanings and checkups, etc.
Gingivitis and Gum Disease
Inflammation in the gums is linked to several different autoimmune disorders, including lupus, Crohn's disease, and scleroderma, among others. Gingivitis is a condition in which gums are inflamed and red; it's a precursor to gum disease.