Steroids and teeth: Hi all, Hope... - Lung Conditions C...

Lung Conditions Community Forum

55,196 members65,968 posts

Steroids and teeth

36 Replies

Hi all,

Hope everyone is well. Has anyone on oral steroids had any problem with their teeth? I've noticed a few starting to look dark/black and one broke today. Bloody nightmare!

Thanks, Niamh

Read more about...
36 Replies

I've been on them for years at doses ranging from 5mg to 60mg but that's never happened to me. Doesn't mean it's not causing your probs of course. I think some abs can cause dental problems too. Teeth can be such a nuisance, I sympathise!

Hi Niamh, I was thinking this morning of writing a post and asking the same question! I have had two broken teeth already this year and have now found two more! I am starting to think I need to go on a diet of soup! As much as I appreciate the skill of my dentist I would much rather not have to go, but come Monday I will make yet another appointment. Good luck with your dental problems. Xris

in reply to

Straws are our friend!

Teeth are composed of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. Bones contain calcium, phosphorus, sodium and other minerals, but mostly consist of the protein collagen. Collagen is a living, growing tissue that gives bones their a flexible framework that allows them to withstand pressure.

Long term steriode use will causes Osteoporosis I guess as teeth are made out of same stuff that's a first sign is when the disintegrating ... after all it's not like we can see our bones like we can our teeth

niams.nih.gov/health_info/b...

in reply to

Thanks a mil D3nis

in reply to

Am doing post on very subject .. You know much about TSH on blood test ﴾͡๏̯͡๏﴿

Sheilab123 profile image
Sheilab123

Thanks for that D3, that explains why I haven't got any teeth left lol! xx

in reply to Sheilab123

Hi Sheilab123

Cheers that be you and me both then lol

emphysema.net/tf.html# hi im reposting this link, I hope it helps a little,,

in reply to

Thanks a mil x

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60

The information given at our local hospital to patients by doctors would suggest that D3s theory is correct. Osteoporosis can effect teeth as well as other bone structures in the body, and steroids cause thinning of the bones (Osteoporosis ) if taken long term.

in reply to katieoxo60

I hate the bloody things, just want off them

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60 in reply to

Sorry for late reply have been away for a few days, steroids don't have to be permanent if tablets, but you have to come off them with help from your doctors. However inhaled steroids are usually for life and have lesser side effects, not sure which you are on. I have more teeth problems since taking inhalers, and very likely more to come, so understand what you mean a feeling shared by me too. Enjoy your weekend

hullrlfc profile image
hullrlfc

Hi nfanning I was told about the risk to teeth . Was told to rinse my mouth out after takeing my steroid inhailer and .as im on 7.5mlg predniselone steroids as well .dave

in reply to hullrlfc

It was never mentioned to me although I do rinse my mouth out after my inhalers too. Thanks Dave

in reply to

Teeth weren't mentioned to me but I was warned about Thrush and that's why I gargle. Fingers crossed been ok so far.

Thanks everyone. I've been on and off them for years but this time I've been on them since July. Would that be one enough to cause this?

in reply to

Things affect people differently l would ask your dentist steroids do cause osteoperosis cataracts and can take the enamel of your teeth and many other things I have been on steroids for the past 3years nearly every week and don't have black teeth that must be caused by something else x

Suzy6 profile image
Suzy6

I'm wondering now if my two broken teeth were caused by steroids or chemo. I took it to be chemo as I was undergoing chemo when they broke.

Maybe I will never know.

Suzyxxx

in reply to Suzy6

Jeez you've been through the mill. Hope you're doing well x

mmzetor profile image
mmzetor

I just been to see the consultant at addenbrooks he had a fit because gp been giving me steroids when I have chest infections at the rate of 8 for 5 days if that hasn't helped he then gave me 6for a week then 4 for a week then 2 plus im on seretide 500 , he reckons for my age and weight its way to much he said yes in an ideal world you would be on them for good because they do work wonders but he reckons good chance of giving me osteoporosis if I keep having steroids like that its not as if im on them too often I think in last year its been 4 times , so now took me off seretide onto fostair if I get more breath less I can have 4 extra puffs a day if breathing still worse steroids tablets but start at 6 for 5 days then drop down 1 tablet every three days , but they have upped the antibiotics to 625mg for 10 days , so I guessing if they worry about bones teeth will be the same ,

in reply to mmzetor

I've never heard of fostair - I'm on seretide 500 twice a day for a long time now. Oh to be able to breathe!

in reply to

Hello nfanning, I cannot find the original message that mentions Fostair but can honestly say that it has given me my life back - I inhale twice in the morning at 6.00 a.m. and immediately afterwards clean my teeth and gargle. I do mostly everything and anything I want including walking my dog and gardening and other normal stuff until I take another couple of inhales 6 00 pm. I am not saying I can run for a bus and not notice that I've done it but oh gosh to me this is a wonder drug. I use it with a spacer. I have a Salamol inhaler (the blue one) for a back up and carry it with me just in case I need a little extra help. Well worth making enquiries with your Nurse. Hope I have been helpful.

mmzetor profile image
mmzetor in reply to

A1j1s I hope it works as well for me did it take long to see the differents and was you on any thing else before the fostair

in reply to mmzetor

Hello mmzetor,

I hope so too - no it all happened more or less within a day or so. I could have wept with joy after feeling so miserable and not sleeping for coughing. Since I was diagnosed I had been on Salbutamol - to be inhaled whenever, which was most of the time. I had to have a telephone consultation with a foreign doctor at one point and she prescribed something beginning with an r which made me very very poorly, but it was not an inhaler. The only thing I really really fear now is catching a cold, but I keep a rescue package - which I was not offered by the way - I found about about this on the internet and had to ask for it. A case of looking out for yourself if you have copd I think. It is bad enough to feel guilty about smoking for 50 years without getting much help from a family doctor. I never dreamed I would get anything like this. The best of luck with Fostair I hope it works fine.

mmzetor profile image
mmzetor in reply to

Thank you , take care

peege profile image
peege in reply to

Hi there, I realise this is an old post.....

I wonder if you're still on seretide 500 twice daily. That dose over 6 months completely wrecked my skin. So god only knows what they do to our teeth and bones. I rarely take prednisone so it's purely down to inhaling steroids grrrr.

I now take Fosair too. The beauty of it is that it's licensed to use how you need to IE minimal dose when you're fairly okay and increase it if you're feeling sob or unwell with your lungs. Right now I'm fighting some bugs which would normally have turned into an infection needing antibs. So far so good and you don't need ventolin so much either.

Now I'll go back to your post of 10.8.16 !

in reply to peege

Hey! I've been on it years but saw my resp doctor last week as I've been quite bad. To my surprised he put me on seretide 250 instead. I complained that when I take the inhaler all the powder ends up at the back of my mouth so now I'm on the 250 that's more gassy (I don't know the technical term!) and I use it with a spacer.

peege profile image
peege in reply to

Hey back!

So are you on 2 x 250 twice a day? If so, did they tell you you have to wait 30 seconds before administering the 2nd dose? Apparently it takes 30 seconds for the drug to release. If you don't wait then you're only getting the propellant on the 2nd suck 😬

I hated that powder too, it was sweet and yes, it coated your mouth and throat. When I was on that I got in to the habit of rinsing both before and after inhaling. I complained too and was put on seretide 250 2xdaily. It was when I was told to double it that my skin was wrecked. Like a 90 year olds on my arms mostly.

Propellant? CFCs? Might be the technical term.

Anyway, I like the Fostair (and it's pink)!

Oh BTW I asked my dentist about the darkening shade of my front tooth, she said it's either from antibiotics or tooth is dying from an old trauma to the tooth (plenty of those from the mad activities that were part of my life).

Hope you're improving on your recent azithromycin. I swear by it as a cure. X

in reply to peege

Hey Jesus sorry for the late reply. I have no time these days with my lunatic toddler. No for some reason he put me on 250 once a day and I can barely fecking breathe! Xxx

emmo profile image
emmo

Not happened to me - but I guess this is yet another reason why they are called the Devil's Smarties!

in reply to emmo

They're a curse

peege profile image
peege

YES. One of my teeth broke a couple of months ago and I can see from photographs that one of my two front teeth has gone grey.

I've avoided oral steroids but there have been enough in my inhalers & nasal spray to very much alter my skin so it stands to reason that teeth would be affected too.

Doh, I never thought of that so thanks for your post. Definitely worth doing something about before they get worse.

Thanks again. Peege xx

in reply to peege

No worries at all!! xx

nanooskar profile image
nanooskar

So sorry you are experiencing that terrible side effect. .I am having issues with sight. ..had to get new glasses sadly. I also am battling raging hunger. None of these are nice nor fair when all you want is to be well and breathe. .take care.

in reply to nanooskar

It's amazing isn't it how you take breathing for granted until you can't bloody breathe!

You may also like...

Steroids for COPD flare up

felt well all day. Lethargic and weak. Is this the flare up infection or the steroids ? Does anyone...

Steroid inhalers and oral thrush.

Have recently started Relvar Ellipta inhaler and would like to know how to treat oral thrush? With...

Steroids and Phlegm Samples

Hi, Does anyone know if it is ok to start a course of steroids, before giving a sample of phlegm....

steroid withdrawal again!

down one. I have been off of them a week today and feel SO drained and just not feeling good at...

Is steroid induced prediabetes harder to reverse?

thoughts welcome and hope everyone is doing well. :) :)