Has anyone found that CLL complications or treatment affected their teeth?!
Following three months of intermittent neutropenia, steroids and 1 month of Obinutuzumab, just noticed some really marked yellow staining on my teeth, around the gums where you'd expect plaque/bacteria to pool. Slightly horrified as I've been going all out to keep them clean to prevent infection. Could it be the neutropenia, antibacterial mouthwash, something else ... ?
Any thoughts or experience?
hi! If you are using chlohidine mouthwash like corsodyl it can turn your teeth yellow. That particular one is only for short term use. I had infected gums with my cll and had the same kind of shock like you!
Stopping that mouthwash helped them return to normal but I have lots of problems with my teeth and gums since getting cll. However it was years before I was diagnosed, and so I had lots of dental infections without realising why.
I tried to get off mouthwash but found my gums getting inflamed. Weirdly, since starting treatment my gums have been a lot better.
Ah! That'll be the culprit then as I've probably been overdoing the mouthwash. I had a lot of mouth sores while I had raging infections before treatment. But they cleared up weeks ago so perhaps time to wean off mouthwash...
just to let you know - it’s only usually the ones with chlorhexidine that stain teeth. Better for bad infection, but only for short term use. Sorry didn’t realise autocorrect had changed the spelling!
Just checked and yes, the one I've been using recently has chlorhexidine. I didn't read the bit about short term use 🙁
I have not had teeth discoloring but I am having a sudden series of dental problems after not having any for 6-7 years. A 25 year old root canal became infected and is resisting clearing. It is normally a 2 step process of antibiotic treatment and closing the tooth back up (for healthy people). I am on Round #5 and still not clear of infection. Another root canal/ crown tooth - also decades old - is aching and a crack to the root is suspected. It also felt better on antibiotics. We are going to do exploratory dental work on that tooth (open a hole in the crown and check the root canals) to see what is happening. If it cannot be saved - I will need an extraction. Another crown is also a cause of concern and may need to be replaced. Is this age related and once teeth are compromised by treatment - other "bad" things can happen, or CLL related? Who can tell? I also had a Reclast infusion in August of 2022 for a osteopenia diagnosis. Reclast infusion is supposed to ward off osteopenia progressing to osteoporosis. Another bone density test a year from infusion will tell if it was successful. I will say I had a terrible reaction to the Reclast, and people are advised NOT TO HAVE TEETH EXTRACTED for one year after the Reclast infusion due to the possibility of necrosis of the jaw. So I am less than thrilled to have all this dental pain, work and processes before that year is up - but what can you do when you are in dental pain? Wishing you good luck in resolving your dental pain.
That sounds like quite the journey, DoriZett. Can I ask, have you been on steroids at all? I read long term steroids can cause dental issues. Good luck with the infection, let's hope it clears this time!
No long term steroids. I think I was on a short term steroid treatment decade or so ago - can't even remember for what so that's not the cause. Maybe just age! 😆
I'm slowly losing all of my teeth. I am not on treatment - just W & W - but I have wondered if my CLL has contributed to multiple infections over the years. Can't answer your question but maybe someone can.
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