According to the National Institutes of Health, 5% - 8% of the US population has some type of an autoimmune disease. The exact cause of autoimmune disorders is unknown.
Our immune system is designed to fight off viruses and other organisms that can make us sick. When you have an autoimmune disease, the body's immune system attacks healthy cells, tissues, or organs. This can cause inflammation and affect many parts of the body, depending on the type of disease. In this article, we will focus on rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's disease.
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, SJÖGREN'S DISEASE AND ORAL HEALTH
Oral health can be affected by conditions that occur in other parts of the body, and vice-versa. In other words, inflammation in the body can affect the oral cavity – but inflammation in the oral cavity can also travel to other parts of your body, which can make the management of an autoimmune disease even more difficult.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues, which includes the temporomandibular joint – that is, the joint that opens and closes the mouth. In patients with Sjögren’s, the glands that produce tears and saliva are destroyed, which causes dry mouth and dry eyes. Although rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's disease are two separate conditions, they are often present together.
In patients with Sjögren's, salivary glands can become blocked, which can lead to infection.
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect the temporomandibular joint. Inflammation can form along the tendons which can cause damage to the joint, making it painful and/or difficult to open your mouth.
In both rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's, medications called immunosuppressants are often prescribed to help manage the symptoms, however, these can also cause side effects within the oral cavity, such as mouth sores/ulcers, bacterial and fungal infections.
Pain from autoimmune diseases can make it difficult for some people to brush or floss their teeth. This could be due to the presence of mouth sores, limited manual dexterity, and limited opening due to jaw discomfort. We can make recommendations based on your individual challenges. For example, using an electric toothbrush may be of assistance to patients who have issues with manual dexterity, wearing a night guard to reduce pressure on your temporomandibular joint, and using products to help stimulate salivary flow.
KEEP YOUR DENTIST INFORMED
Delivering great care to our patients starts before you even step into our office. Before your appointment, we send out a request to update your medical history. Please be sure to include all conditions and medications so we can review them prior to your visit. While it may seem like another chore added to your day, we promise it will just take a few minutes .
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