A visit to the dentist in these unprecedented times 😷🦷😁

[Moomin8]

Morning peeps😎

Hope this finds you safe and happy; a sunny start to the day for me! 🔆

I just thought I would share my antics yesterday...

During this time, I have been flaring, but have been lucky enough to be at home from work; I've managed to rest and move as and when I'm able, which has been great. Unfortunately, my old fillings (from childhood) in one part of my mouth have become painfully sensitive. I had a regular 6 monthly check-up with the dentist planned in early July, so I thought I could simply wait for that. I was called last week to say that all check-ups were postponed for now, so I explained my dilemma and thankfully, they fitted me in yesterday. I was worried about going along, but I needn't have been because it was all very safely organised. After a fair amount of poking, prodding and questioning, he took an xray. The xray confirmed that my teeth were fine, but he could feel that my jaw was flaring in the area. He advised heat (or cold - whatever worked best for me) and gentle massaging with my fingertips. I was pleased that I didn't have to have my fillings replaced yesterday - result!

I just thought I'd put this on here, incase anyone else might experience this pain and sensitivity. I would still definitely recommend that you visit your dentist though as we are all different and it is very important to get professional advise.

Has anyone experienced sore teeth when flaring?

[Hidden]

Bet you are relieved. Dentists are only allowed to do limited work not allowed to have a clean and polish... 😱😱

When I flare my gums become inflamed and one of my capped teeth is sensitive.. the disease just keeps on giving

[Moomin8 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I am relieved. Not keen on dentist work!😖

[Hessie5]

Hi - I visited my dentist yesterday as was experiencing a very sore sensitive tooth that was so painful to brush - it was an old one that the crown fell off years ago! Also, my back tooth had crumbled. RA had caused not the tooth I had the sensitivity which I deemed the culprit but the tooth in front - it has eroded at the base into the gum line annoyingly. He said he may need to take it out doing a root canal procedure. It is so very odd as I am not in pain with this tooth he wants to remove. He said it is an emergency. He is shocked I am not in pain either.

He claimed this is caused by an underlying systemic condition or people who smoke (well I don't smoke) so RA the disease that keeps giving ☹️. Back to dentist in 2 weeks, or hospital if pain ensues!

Thanks for sharing your story. Take care. Hessie

[Moomin8 in reply to Hessie5]

Sounds like you might have referred pain maybe? I'm a woos so it would be the hospital for me 😊 Let us know how you get on - wishing you less pain x

[Monkeysmum]

Thanks for posting this Moomin8. I had a bad flare up about 2 months ago (still rumbling on now really) and my teeth felt so sore for a couple of weeks, gums became super sensitive almost overnight, and in one area even swelled up quite considerably (and painfully). I was only able to eat soft foods which didn’t need chewing. Dentists were closed at that point, but I spoke to the dentist over the phone, sent photos etc just to put my mind at rest that it wasn’t an infection. As the flare calmed down, the gums did too. Is there no area that RD doesn’t attack?!

For me personally, I found heat seemed to make the pain worse, and cold drinks etc eased it a bit, but then cold therapy always seems to work better for me when I get pains elsewhere with my RD. Hope your pain subsides soon. X

[Moomin8 in reply to Monkeysmum]

Thanks for your reply and great advise! RA works in mysterious way he? Or should I say she🤷🏻‍♀️?

[Pippy25 in reply to Monkeysmum]

Glad to hear things have settled down now. It feels like RD likes to challenge parts of us we never consider it would. Although I wished it wouldn't!

[Monkeysmum in reply to Pippy25]

Yes it was a weird one, and at first I didn’t connect what was going on in my mouth with my flare at all. But then when the dentist ruled out infection, I thought to myself well I usually get weird swellings in all sorts of places during a flare, why not in my mouth?!

[Pippy25 in reply to Monkeysmum]

It's strange because up until this lock down I've never suffered with my teeth or gums, but have noticed my gums have been sore and as you say a sensitivity which I've never known. I started about 12 months ago or so with mouth ulcers which have been put down to my RD/ Lupus and have managed to keep them at bay. So thanks for mentioning it as I wonder if RD is playing it's part in this too.

[Blueskysunshine]

I went to the hygienist yesterday for a manual scale (the old fashioned pick-axe way) - she did polish the teeth as well. It was all well organised, I was the only patient in the practice and they rang to say I could enter the building. I was relieved to hear that all looked well with my gums 😬 having missed an appointment in March for obvious reasons.

[Boxerlady in reply to Blueskysunshine]

Lucky you. My July checkup (already a postponement) has just been cancelled. I usually have a manual clean as I have sensitive gums (always have) but dentist said last time that plaque build up was worse than usual which he put down to RA and said that I might need to consider more frequent appointments - I wish!

I might give them a ring as the postponement might just be automatic...

[Moomin8]

You were lucky to have a clean up. My dentist has put those aside too for now. My dentist did the minimum of physically touching my teeth and then said I had had a check-up today....really?

[charisma]

Thank you! I have sensitivity in several teeth and know RA is I adequately controlled at present. I usually have joint pain in the jaw too, so this post is reassuring since I’m shielding till at least 31st July, in Scotland.

[Moomin8 in reply to charisma]

Please don't take my post as a diagnosis. Best to check with the professionals 😁xx

[charisma in reply to Moomin8]

No appointments yet up here in Scotland. Shielding till 31st July too. If it gets worse, I will mention it but it usually just goes away when RA is better controlled. x

[Moomin8]

This crazy world is making us have to do, or not do many things out if synch.🤷🏻‍♀️ We have all learned to be very patient x

[Fra22-57]

I use sensitive sensitive toothpaste.Before lockdown I had a filling break so got it refilled but twice I had to return.One filed it down a bit and another time given antibiotics and assured me all would be ok but had to make a repeat appointment as couldn't eat on that back tooth as too painful.Then we got lockdown so had to cancel appointment. Now shielding nearly finished thought I would make appointment but told they are only permitted to do x ray's,dressings and give antibiotics but cant use the drill til given the ok .hope do other people cope. Glad you got yours sorted

[Moomin8 in reply to Fra22-57]

That's a shame🙁To be honest, they didn't do anything because the filling didn't need doing. Hope you get sorted soon x

[Sops]

That is very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

Sopsx