Trouble with teeth.

[abannister]

I am on mtx, Sulphasalazine and Hydroxychloroquin have been for the last three years, but an unknown side effect started on me this year, I don't know if it's happened to you.

I have always had good teeth and I attend the same dentist I have always done since I was 11, they all know me at my 6 month check ups, most of the time nothing but a wee clean and polish. I only ever had 3 fillings and this was when I was about 18.

This year was a different story, I have had to get 3 emergency appointments as my teeth are just breaking apart, one was a wisdom tooth which I had to be referred to an oral surgeon. On Saturday another molar decided it could survive with only 3/4 of it original size, so dentist called on Monday morning a quick filling at lunchtime and a follow up visit on Friday. So a 100% increase in fillings and more dentist appointments than I have ever had in one year.

Do you know what's causing it, has it happened to you. I will be phoning my RA nurse but I thought I would ask you lot first.

Yours

Toothless

[Simone_Holly]

Hello, sorry to hear about your teeth that must be so frustrating having looked after them and now having problems that aren't your fault. I'm on hydro too and a mix of other meds (different to yours) but I know that some side effects of the meds can cause problems with teeth. I've noticed mine are really sensitive and feel thinner (if that makes sense!). Hope your nurse can help, I'm due to see my consultant in jan x

[Hidden]

Part of ageing? They say, decay starts from within as we grow old. Esp, with the major rheumatic condition like RA, everything is going haywire, not just joints. Acceptance would be the key...

[earthwitch]

My teeth got very crumbly quite suddenly (from only ever having one filling every couple of years, so needing 20 teeth worked on after a two year break from the dentist. The more my teeth got worked on, the more they broke. I finally realised that I had had malabsorption problems for many years from undiagnosed coeliac disease, but unfortunately by the time I got diagnosed with coeliac it was too late, and I needed partial dentures. A few years of intermittent steroids have also contributed to weakened teeth (and bones), and so I have recently lost the last of my natural teeth.

If this is a new thing for you, then ask if you can get checked for malabsorption problems like coeliac disease, and ask if you can get your bones checked for osteoporosis. Be aware that dry mouth (from either secondary sjogrens or from meds) can also contribute very quickly to tooth decay, and that steroids aren't good for bones or teeth (they muck around with your mineral balance).

[dickfend]

Hi I understood from my dentist that Methotrexate is very toxic to teeth and he has warned me that it can destroy them. I like you do take extra care with brushing and flossing regularly and that's all one can do. Without Methotrexate and my 6 weekly infusion of Infliximab, I would be in serious trouble. It is difficult to know what is best to do as one form of help is another problem!

[helixhelix]

I don't know whether it's age or MTX, but I've had more trouble with my teeth in past few years than ever before. I've always had good teeth (my mother was a dentist) but since the RA diagnosis I've had fillings, root canals and things going wonky. But since it also coincides with a certain 'maturity' I can't e sure it's not a natural process.

I inject MTX, so hopefully that is less aggressive to my mouth as with tablets I had dreadful mouth ulcers which have now gone.

[Shelley1701]

I had 2 bottom teeth fall out and had to have 3 more removed. Dentist said the bone holding them was gone and probably caused by methotrexate. lost some top ones due to tooth infections. Got partial dentures in now.