wisdom teeth infections and RA

[WozzaM]

hi all

I have been having many infections in my impacted wisdom teeth since oct. I have had one removed under GA and am due to have the other one done in fortnight as no amount of antibiotics is clearing it.

I just wondered if anyone else has had this or had to go through it? I was on mtx for RA but have since come off it, hoping to help recover from infections but it seems to have got worse.

if anyone has any clue as to why this is happening I would be grateful as the max fax surgeon has not experienced this before.

I have had a lot of antibiotics.

Thanks you

Emma

[Mmrr]

I've not had infected wisdom teeth, but have recently gone through a spell of having abscesses in my groin area, one which I was hospitalised for, it burst before I got to the operating theatre and hence saved me a GA. I've had innumerable other smaller ones, which I now manage with poultices (old ex nurse style).

No one in the medical profession will offer a guess as to why I'm having these repeated abscesses. I do wonder if it is just being immunocompromised and we all experience different areas of infection ?

Except when I had the large abscess I haven't stopped my meds as I tend to flare very quickly.

[KittyJ]

I think there have been some posts before about RA and teeth, you could try using the search box and filter for NRAS. It might not have anything to do with RA though as my daughter is waiting for hospital appointments for her last two to be removed due to numerous infections/antibiotics and my husband was the same ( neither have RA) whereas I have had no problems with any of my teeth at all. I hope you get it sorted soon.

[Jackie1947]

It's known that RA and gum disease are associated but further than that I don't know. Good luck

[Chrt]

Hi W/M many yrs ago I had impacted wisdom teeth causing lots of infections & was referred to dental hospital. It was explained the very nature of them being impacted minute amounts of food would get trapped causing infection & lots of pain which is why they needed removal. I was only in my 20,s no sign of RA then. I had them removed 2 at a time & no problems since. I hope you find once removed infection will stop & all be back to normal good luck

[Hidden]

I have bad periodontal disease and see a dental hygienist every 3 months. I have also had deep cleaning under the gum line. However I still get inflamed sore gums. If my gums are bad I get bowel inflammation and a RA flare. Some people with RA get this . It is a chicken and egg situation and if they could treat the bad mouth bacteria our RA would improve too.I keep telling my dentist and rheumatologist. I sympathize with you.

[WozzaM in reply to Hidden]

thanks Annie. Can I ask what you use to sooth your inflamed gums? I have had one of the teeth out. Couldn’t have them together as both in difficult place near nerves. Having the other one done in a fortnight. But still getting pain in all my teeth late in the day. It’s really odd. As the day goes on, they get sorer and sorer. Salt water soothes for about 2 minutes!

[Hidden in reply to WozzaM]

So sorry to hear this. I try a rinse made from a pinch of bicarb in water, or oraldine. They are the most soothing.The other mouth rinses I have tried are corsodyl and a hydrogen peroxide rinse called curaset which I get from the dentist which focuses more on removing bacteria. Good luck.

[Leics]

Impacted wisdom teeth and lots of infections is no joke. I had to have mine removed under GA but for me that was pre RA. Hopefully once the teeth are removed and healed you’ll get no further infections. Nothing worse than constant infections I know how you feel. My daughter who doesn’t have RA had similar problems with her wisdom teeth and constant infections but once they were out infections stopped.

[WozzaM in reply to Leics]

I’m having my second out under general too, it’s right on the nerve. But am having issues as clench my jaw at night, think that’s why I’m getting pain in other teeth and around the one they took out. They have put me on an anti anxiety Med but it’s not working yet

[Hidden]

My oral health deteriorated when I was first diagnosed. I increased folic, but had to have a tooth removed (in retrospect this could have probably been a root canal but he didn’t know anything about my meds and I was screaming in agony).

Last week one of my wisdom teeth fell out. It had ‘fallen’ some years ago, but it had recently got to the wobbly stage. I have yet to put it under my pillow for the tooth fairy..

Have a google re oral health and see if you can take some supplements…