Dry mouth, aching joints, jaw soreness, dental and periodontal problems.
You may just think you’re getting older and that these issues come with the territory, while in reality, you may be one of the 53 million American adults living with some form of arthritis.
A common misconception is that arthritis is “an old person’s problem.” While many arthritic diseases tend to present in the 40-50 year age range, they can affect any age group. Arthritic disease is the No. 1 cause of disability in the U.S.
Arthritis is a generic term that means “inflammation of the joints.” It is an all-encompassing label that includes more than 100 diseases, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Many arthritic diseases have an autoimmune component, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy cells.
At times rheumatoid arthritis is associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as Sjögren’s Syndrome, a significant condition that can have drastic effects on the dentition. There are a number of remedies that can help you to reduce the impact that these common forms of arthritis and autoimmune disease can have on your dental health.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and almost everyone over age 60 develops some form of the disease. It is caused by mechanical wear and tear on the joints, making everyday movements more difficult and painful.
Proper oral hygiene may become more difficult as the ability to grip a toothbrush becomes hindered. Mechanical improvements can be made to your toothbrush by wrapping the handle with tape to improve grip, or by placing a rubber or tennis ball on the handle to give you something larger to hold on to. Regular visits to your dental hygienist for professional cleanings are very beneficial.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The exact cause of RA is unknown, however researchers do know that the body’s own immune system becomes overactive, causing significant joint inflammation. RA is significantly less common than osteoarthritis, affecting one-tenth as many people. Multiple joints are affected, in a symmetrical fashion, and over time, the cartilage the lines the joint spaces becomes destroyed, causing varying degrees of pain and immobility.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement can be found in patients with RA, at times leading to bite changes after years of joint destruction. Eating a softer diet, and limiting gum chewing can help to reduce symptoms of TMJ pain. Recent research has suggested an association between rheumatoid arthritis and gum disease, as both have similar inflammatory mechanisms.
One small study of 40 patients, at Case Western University’s School of Dental Medicine found that those patients who received treatment for their gum disease reported significantly more improvement in their RA symptoms than those who only received treatment for their RA. More studies are necessary to determine whether treating periodontal disease can help to prevent progression of RA, but overall, if you have a chronic inflammatory disease, improved oral hygiene is always a good idea.
Sjögren’s Syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease resulting from inflammation of the glands that produce saliva and tears, causing severe dry mouth and dry eye. Patients with this condition may also have rheumatoid arthritis. The disease primarily affects women over the age of 40, although younger age groups and men may also be affected.
Woes with dry mouth
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, can wreak havoc on the dentition and can also cause bad breath. Saliva has many natural protective properties for the mouth. It helps to wash away food and bacteria present on your teeth and also helps to neutralize acids in your diet that can cause cavities. When you lack adequate saliva, you will need to compensate for that in order to prevent dental decay.
Use of a power toothbrush is helpful, as is stronger fluoride toothpastes, such as Prevident 5000 or Clinpro, available by prescription at your dental office. The extra fluoride can help to strengthen susceptible root surfaces, a common area for cavities in patients suffering from dry mouth. Don’t forget to brush your tongue, or better yet, use a tongue scraper to remove the bacteria deep in the crevices of your tongue to help combat bad breath associated with dry mouth. Fluoride gel application in custom trays, made from molds of your teeth, is another great approach in cavity prevention.
Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine has recently developed a sugar-free chocolate chewable product called BasicBites. These soft chews are a way to improve the health of your teeth by helping to neutralize acids that can cause cavities. They also are an excellent way to add calcium to your diet. Alternatively, a simple baking soda mouth rinse can help to neutralize a harsh acidic environment in your mouth. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water and gargle. A drop of peppermint oil can be added to improve the taste if desired.
Over-the-counter sleep aids, such as Benadryl, can dry out your mouth. You may have a serious condition, such as sleep apnea or depression, if you consistently need a sleep aid, so speak to your medical doctor before self-medicating with over the counter medications, as long-term use may cause more harm than good. Anti-hypertensives, antidepressants, painkillers, water pills, antihistamines, rheumatoid arthritis medications and many others cause dry mouth, so if you are able to make lifestyle changes to avoid needing these medications, your mouth will thank you.
Jennifer Fields, DDS, is a general dentist at Simply Smiles in Auburn. She, Dr. Stuart Rich and their team treat patients of all ages. Should you have further questions about dentistry, you may visit them at www.SimplySmilesAuburn.com. You may also email them at info@SimplySmilesAuburn.com or call 253-939-6900.
