Hope everyone is well, especially living with this worrying pandemic we find all ourselves in. I've had rheumatoid arthritis for 6yrs now. I am doing quite well at the moment on Benepali injections. Can rheumatoid arthritis affect your mouth ie gums, teeth ect. I had to have 4 back teeth removed 8 months ago. The dentist transferred me to a specialist for gum disease which he said could be related to having rheumatoid arthritis. £1200 of treatment later it is still no better. I am worried sick I will have to have all my teeth out. I have bleeding gums and my teeth actually hurt even though i have no cavities or sensitivity. The taste in my mouth on a morning makes me feel sick, I can taste disease if that makes any sense. I use a top of the range electric toothbrush which the specialist recommended, it has improved slightly but the pain in my jaw and teeth is still worrying me. I would love to hear anyone's thoughts on this or if anyone has had the same problem. Thanks and take care
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Kazwilks
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Yes, I had 2 perfectly healthy teeth removed before realising that RA in the joint just under my ear was the cause of the pain. The facial nerves run nearby and were getting squished by the swelling.
Crucially, the dentist knew nothing about RA.. he does now.
Yes I found that also, the dentist did not associate my symptoms with rheumatoid arthritis it was the specialist who said dental problems occur quite frequently with this disease. I honestly dont think it's going to get any better I've tried everything I can think of to try to help but at the moment nothing is working. Thanks for your reply
Yes absolutely, dental issues can be another issue with RD. I am having a run of oral issues at the moment.
My GP contacted the rheumatology department on my behalf regarding my oral issues and I've received some treatment, all is not well yet, but an improvement on what it was. It might be worthwhile contacting your GP for advice.
Thanks for your reply. Yes I'm definitely going to see my GP when I'm able to. Problem also I dont work anymore and can ill afford any more dental treatment
I have no tooth issues but do have taste issues its not the disease but the medications. I'm seeing an ENT consultant in Sept (put back due to Covid) as it could be Benapli has done my sinuses in. Or affected to cause Polyps either way thats what they think, so I wait to find out. A lot of meds. can do this so look up yours to see if what you take could be affecting the taste receptors or nasal cavity.
Thanks for your reply. Yes I'm also suffering with blocked sinuses but to be truthful never related it to meds. I went to see my GP before the pandemic but he was not helpful at all, he told me to wash my nose out, yes you heard me correctly, he said while I was sat in the bath to swish the soapy water up my nose. I tried it and nearly choked myself lol. I sometimes think the GPs are not interested because they have little knowledge of our condition
No you've just got a bad GP and Neti pots do help. But I also had a nasal spray called Memotose I think It was called and antibiotics. So I'd suggest go back and ask about getting medications to help resolve the problem.
Speak to your pharmacist for advice ...I had sinus problems for years & pharmacists get many enquiries re nasal drops, sprays etc.
I found they often despaired of the meds GP’s prescribed & were much more likely to know what suited each condition best.
PS I am elderly & still have all my own teeth..but I often had what I thought was tooth ache in my upper molars which always turned out to be nerve pain from a sinus infection.
I've only just started suffering with sinus problems, I initially put it down to having a really bad cold over Christmas which left me with a permanently blocked nose. My GP prescribed otrivine which to be honest has not really helped, not once did he say it could be related to having rheumatoid arthritis which judging by some of the replies it seems to be the case. I am going to make an appointment with him once the pandemic eases up just to see what is the cause, as there is also blood on the tissue when im blowing my nose. Thanks and take care
Tbh..if I were you, if it hasn’t got any better, I’d just ask for a referral to an ENT surgeon.
You say your GP recommended you wash out your nose .... well in fact I used to inhale salt water-okay yes it does come out of your mouth and really isn’t very pleasant but sometimes it did clear the problem.
I always remember Maureen Lipman the actress talking about treatment for sinusitis ....somebody told her to boil raw beetroots, let the water cool and then sniff that water up your nose...she did advise that you lock the bathroom door...or anyone coming in would call an ambulance!
Thanks I might try that. I do like beetroot lol. Thanks again for some good advice stay safe and stay well.
Oh yes. I have always had great teeth and am meticulous abut cleaning them. I was diagnosed 4 years ago and pretty much had problems since then. Roots canals , fillings caps scale and polish every 3 months yet I still have problems with my gums. I was referred to a dental hospital 18 months ago . I have had my gums sliced open and the roots cleaned . Still having problems. My specialist dental nurse works along side a rheumatologist and there is definitely a link. When my RD is uncontrolled or having flares my gums are at their worst.
Thanks for your reply. Oh god it's scary isn't it. I knew deep down it was connected. I am also like you meticulous about my teeth, the 4 I had removed were literally dropping out due to weakened bones. I only have 10 top teeth remaining and some feel slack and hurt. I possibly can't have anymore removed, my face looks quite sunken and hollow on my cheekbones. I will go and see my GP when I'm able to, I'm frightened I am poisoning my system the way I am at the moment, hence why I feel sick all the time. Thanks and take care
Glad you found it.....Pre- Covid I printed that article & took it in & gave it to my dentist.
I haven’t been with her long & didn’t really know how she would react, but she was most receptive,& said she would copy it to her husband who is a dentist at another practice.
I think that helped recently when I was trying to get a dental appointment to exclude any oral problems before I paid to see an ENT Surgeon. She saw me within 24hrs.....on the NHS, altho I had said I would go Privately to hurry things up ....she Xrayed my teeth & assured me I had no dental probs.All for £22.60....
Have you thought of changing dentists? I think we sometimes remain loyal to a practice for too long.....a lot of the Nationwide practices like “My Dentist” are actually advertising appointments....but I don’t know if that includes NHS.
Good Luck....nothing worse than not being able to get your teeth fixed.
I have RA in my right jaw, and it plays up now and again, not so much pain in it anymore down to the meds but it does get stuck -stiff and makes a horrible crack sound
I use to get awful pain in it.
plus I get blocked sinuses and my teeth are awful, having to have constant work on them, they bleed now and again too usally when in a flare up
Thx for the reply Veronica. Judging by all the replies I now know this is related to having rheumatoid arthritis. It is getting really worrying now, I only have 10 top teeth and they are becoming slack and hurt like hell because they have dropped down so they are catching on my back bottom teeth. I dont think theres anyway forward I really feel I would be better off getting them all taken out. Thx anyway and take care
Having read all the posts/replies on teeth & RA nobody apart from ML mentions being referred to an ENT consultant.
Thankfully I was referred & one of the first Qs was about tooth ache in upper jaw......I was only in my 30’s then & had no RA symptoms for another 30 years,
That said..I did end up having many sinus surgeries......which solved the problem & I still have all my own relatively healthy teeth.
you could get a wire fitted to keep them in, my botton teeth are on a wire, I know how you feel, try to take one step at a time, don't look to far forward.xx
Hi All, I have had RA for almost 3 yrs, and I also have Hypothyroidism for 13yrs. I have had loads of problems with my gums, not teeth. My gums gradually receded so I have lost the back 4 wisdoms. My dentist did her best with scale n polish every 3 mths but no real improvement. I decided unless I wanted false teeth I would have to try alternative measures. I went to see a private dentist that specialised in deep cleaning & laser treatment. It's Not cheap and I only got part way through the treatment, but my gums are loads better. They showed me, after a scan where the bone loss was and just how bad my gum recession was and how bad the bacteria was. I used to have the horrible taste and bleeding gums like everyone has described and I have to say not anymore. I hope to finish the course of treatment after lockdown. I believe the years on medication has poisoned my bloodstream thus causing more issues than preventing in regards to my mouth anyway, but it is what it is now. I also have had a blocked nose snce Christmas and I take a biological {barcitinib, I think), so I will mention the nasal issues when I return to hospital sometime in the future after this pandemic is over. Stay safe everyone 😊.
Thanks for your reply. Everything you have said is what I'm going through at the moment. I to feel like my insides are poisoned with the build up of bacteria in my mouth. I no sooner clean my teeth in the morning, an hour later I can feel the build up of plaque on my teeth, it physically makes me feel sick. My sinuses have been blocked for well over 2 months now. My tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth every morning as I cant breathe out of my nose. I will make an appointment with my GP when things with this pandemic eases up. Take care
I had early stage gum disease and that awful taste in my mouth in the mornings. I was on Enbrel at the time. But had to stop the drug in October of last year due to serious heath issues. And my gums improved and the awful taste went from my mouth, So 6 months down the line started a new medication I am keeping an eye on my gums but still taking care with them using pegs and good quality toothpaste. With me I think it was my lowered immune system causing the problems.Hope all goes well for you..
At the moment I dont want to rock the boat with regards to my medication, I honestly feel the best I've felt for a long time pain wise. I do have an appointment with the rheumatologist nurse June 10th so I will discuss it with her to see if she can recommend anything that could help. I am going to make an appointment with my Doctor when things ease up just to if he can give me any advice. Take care
Aw I really hope so to. Been almost pain free is the best feeling ever, it took me nearly 3 years to qualify for biological treatment and can honestly say i could feel it working after the first injection. I have been on it now just over a year, I have not had one flare at all. Take care and keep in touch to see how you get on with your new treatment.
It seems so. My dentist is awesome and liaised with rheumatology as I decided to go down a drastic route in the end. Implants. Yes, it did cost the equivalent of a house deposit and it was over a three month period. Last appointment was beginning of March this year.
Am I glad I did? Absolutely! My confidence has all returned and I'm the person I was years ago now.
I've heard from alot of people that dental issues are a problem.
Your information has given me hope that I can fix this. I am so worried at the moment the constant feeling sick, I feel like my insides are being poisoned. If thats what it takes I will have to seriously think about going down this route. Thanks and take care
It is a common problem I have three gold teeth that cost a fortune and the dentist wont agree with rheumatologist that it's related to RA or my osteoporosis good luck with further treatments 😁
Yes my dentist also was reluctant to agree that it was related to having rheumatoid arthritis, it was the specialist he sent me to that told me a lot of people who have rheumatoid arthritis also suffer with dental problems. I know this could also be linked with certain types of medication, as I worked with adults who were high dependent. Unfortunately a lot of my clients suffered terrible dental issues, in some cases the teeth were all removed. Thanks and take care
As I said to somebody else...there was a good article in the British Dental Journal a few months ago ....I think it was before Christmas .... might be worth finding it to refer your dentist to it.
As a young adult, I had a lot of fillings due to not looking after my teeth when I was younger. Hardly any problems from my mid-twenties until I was diagnosed with RA when I was 54. I have had gum problems ever since. Now at 64, my teeth have moved forward, turning some teeth sideways and pushing some forward. I have had 1 taken out as it was lying across the front of one of my front teeth, another 2 are very loose and the gums have come away from the teeth. Food gets trapped causing infection. X-Rays show the bones of my jaw are disintegrating. My dentist has referred me to our local university dental students to have my teeth laser-cleaned every 3 months. Their tutor has asked them to research the link between gum disease and RA, although my own dentist doesn't think there is a connection.
Yes my exray also showed that my gums were receding, hence the reason I had to have 4 back teeth removed. They had dropped down so much they were catching on my bottom back teeth causing a lot of pain. Thanks and take care
I was diagnosed 9 years ago with RA and was told to get a check up with my dentist at the time, she put me on Colgate Duraphat 5000 and Colgate Flouiguard mouth rinse, the dentist knew about RA and gave me these two items as a defence against mouth teeth/mouth problems. I've also got Sjornen's Syndrome so need to keep my mouth moist at all times. I think that maybe the problem out med's dry up our silva and our teeth suffer for it.
Thanks for that information, can you buy this toothpaste and rinse or do you get it prescribed, if prescribed is it the doctor or dentist who prescribe it, I will try anything that will help. Thanks and take care
Sorry for the delay in replying I've been outside all day painting a garden fence! As Juliea793 say's you get on prescription. The Colgate flouriguard I buy in Sainsburys. I clean my teeth with this paste but I also rub it into my gums for extra protection and leave it for 15/20 mins before eating or drinking.
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Oh my days I do not feel well (moaning myrtle alert)
Gums & teeth 😩
RHEUMATIOD DISEASE......
Metallic taste in mouth after rituximab 
