Dry Mouth

[vonni]

My mouth is always dry, absolutely moistureless (is that even a word).I get really concious of it and am scared stiff that my breath will smell, Im forever chewing gum to make sure there is no smell. I just wondered if it was part of the SLE and does anyone else get it.

vonni x

[Danielle2419]

do you get dry eyes, it could be sjogrens syndrome it can cause dry mouth just a thought.

[ceceliac10]

You know I think it could be symptons of Sjogren's sympton. I too am begining to sufer from dry eyes in my case.

[Melinda]

It's most likely sjorgrens vonny. Sjorgrens is a halfway house to Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis. Sjorgrens syndrome is one of the symptoms i had when they diagnosed me with lupus. It affects the mucus membranes of the body. Sipping water helps.

[fabwheelie]

Ask your GP about dry mouth products - Biotene did a range of gel, toothpaste, and mouthwash, however there was a problem with biotene manufacture this summer and I'm not sure if that is resolved yet

[megs_tom]

I get this. I find it has gotten worse since taking amitriptyline but it was very much present before. It is a nightmare when I am on placement as a trainee teacher as I can't speak for more than a couple of minutes without getting a mouth so dry I can't speak! Dentist was not helpful at all and said there was nothing they could do apart from artificial saliva but she didnt want to go down that root! Think I will ask my gp on thursday if they can help. Will let you know if some miracle happens and they give me something that works! Xxx

[Alex97 in reply to megs_tom]

I have UCTD and have recently started to get a dry mouth night and day but I also take amitriptyline to help with sleeping and I thought it was this medication causing the dry mouth.

[Sher78]

As everybody else has already said, if u can't attribute it 2 a side effect of 1 of u're meds, it's quite possible it could b Sjogrens. Go c u're GP 2 b checked.

[chrisj]

I have an overlap of SLE and Sjogrens Vonni, I'm told the two often go hand in hand.

The rheumatology dep sent me to a dental hospital where they did a biopsy and it came back positive. I tried the one pill available and it made me ill, had to come off it. I get moisturising mouthwash and toothpaste on prescription, gums as well plus an excellent antiseptic mouthwash that really cleans your mouth. You can buy over the counter help for dry mouth...sprays and such...

Diet helps as well, cucumber is sound for refreshing your mouth, in fact most salad stuff is, I'd recommend it. I know my breath was stinky but since treatment its been much better and the ulcers dont appear so often. I've already had 2 broken teeth out, a third still to go thanks to this wretched disease...see your gp or a dentist, ask for help

[artgirl]

I have a dry mouth, dry nose, and dry eyes. I have Lupus, rhumatoid arthritis and sjogrens, to name but a few. I recently visited a dentist a new one, my last dentist left. So my new dentist mentioned that my mouth looked sore and dry. I explained the problem and she has given me a prescription for A. S. Saliva Orthana which is a spray for the mouth, this contains certain enzymes for the gums and tongue It comes in a spray and you use it all over the mouth, once washed around your mouth you swallow it. Have had this about 3 weeks and my mouth feels more moisterised and not so sore. My nose I use Sterimar Isotonic Nasal Hygiene which helps lubricate my nasal passages and my stuffy sinese,s I get. This was from Tesco the pharmacy. For my eyes I get a gel tears from tesco's as the drops from doctors, did not suit me. I hope this helps, none of them get rid of anything but just makes it more livable.

[Hidden]

I have sjogrens and get very dry< certain meds aggravate it. Lots of good advice above- I also swear by sugar free chewing gum- not very ladylike, but hey!!

[charheath in reply to Hidden]

Chewing sugar free gum (ideally with xylitol) is good advice. For 15 minutes if you can manage it.

Get advice from your dentist about your risk of disease for gum disease and decay and recall intervals. You may need 3 month recall.

Ask about high fluoride toothpaste, saliva substitutes which are available on prescription (from your gp or dentist) and tooth mousse(costly) and xylitol which aren't.

[Callingjen27]

Yes,constantly but i have Sjögren's.drives me nuts