Mouth problems

[1223rylan]

For 8 months i have been dealing with thickened cheeks,small welt type places that burn all the time on the inside ,yellow tint to them also my jaws and muscles from under cheek bones all the way down jaw are inflamed and painful.anyone else out there experience this?

[pigsty]

Hi

As well as lupus and fibro I have lichen planus an interconnective auto immune condition that causes white line swellings in my mouth and can have crimped swollen younger and very painful patches when I am run down and heading for a flare....

Gentle hugs

[Serser]

Hi 1223rylan,

Sorry for my long reply, this is a debilitating problem that I have found drs don’t seem to bother to help much with sadly...

I’ve suffered with mouth ulcers and recurring thrust in my mouth for years. I was finally diagnosed with lupus about 2 weeks ago which confirmed the reason for my painful mouth.

As I write my tongue is scalloped around the edges, I have ulcers on my tongue and cheeks, my cheeks and gums are swollen. It’s almost like teething pain, you feel the need to bite down and wriggle your teeth if you understand what I mean?! Itchy, inflamed gums. Sometimes my ulcers travel down my throat, that’s pretty grim! And I have a constant ‘burning’ sensation on my tongue. Due to my swollen cheeks I can sometimes but my own cheeks and cause trauma which can lead to ulcers

My teeth and gums from a dentist perspective are actually in good nick-I make sure I have regular check ups.

I use chlorhexitine (I think that’s how you spell it) mouth numbing spray which you can buy from chemists. It stings to start but then relieves for a short while-can give you time to eat!

I also use Corsadyl mouthwash and use a soft bristled toothbrush. I avoid sharp foods such as crisps that could cause mouth trauma, I also found that peanuts seemed to exacerbate my mouth problems so I avoid these too! Tomatoes and anything acidic are also a no no-too painful!

I try to keep my mouth as hydrated as I can, so lots of water.

Antibiotics can make oral thrush more prevalent so drs are more savvy about prescribing antibiotic tablets if I get an ear infection (I get these often). They usually prescribe antibiotic ear drops instead which treat the infection locally.

I use ice, ice lollies, ice cream (good excuse for a bit of Ben and Jerry’s!) to relieve swelling for a while. But I choose ice cream without chocolate in as chocolate also makes my mouth sore!

When things are really bad with my mouth during a flare, sometimes I can even speak and I have to exist on porridge (bland), until everything has calmed down.

I have also gargled with salt water in the past in an attempt to speed healing process up.

Even when my mouth isn’t really bad it never feels normal. I always have a burning tongue and there is usually at least some swelling. Sometimes my teeth don’t line up properly due to swelling.

I also avoid alcohol (not that I drink much anyway) when my mouth is bad as this seems to make things worse. I also think caffeinated drinks don’t help so illimitable these (tea is one of my few genuine pleasures-hard to give up!).

Also when I’m more stressed my mouth is worse! So easier said than done but I try to get enough sleep and reduce stress as much as I can, which unfortunately iften means family have to take over and help.

I’d check with your dr before trying anything first.

These are just things that I have found may make the mouth situation worse!

I hope some of this helps!

[Serser in reply to Serser]

Just found this link too that should help

healthunlocked.com/lupusuk/...

[Serser]

This might help too

healthunlocked.com/lupusuk/...

[DJK99]

Hi there - I suffer with some of these symptoms too, but I can't figure out the trigger. It could be the sun, being run down, methotrexate (although I've had these symptoms all my life). I do empathise. I have the scalloped tongue right now as Serser mentioned, and rashes and ulcers all around my mouth and gums and also down my throat and sores into my tongue - I and wondered what the white line swellings were that Pigsty mentions. I'm even more thirsty in the last couple of days.. an no amount of water helps. As soon as I've drunk some water I need to drink again. It won't last I don't think... is this part of lupus though (which I currently have a diagnosis of) and a flare? I had a biopsy of my mouth last year as I had suspected Sjogrens but it came out as sicca and sialadenitis - have you been tested for the latter? All the best, D