Sensitive teeth and scalloped tongue

[Mrsd12f]

Morning, all! Hope you are all well(ish!)

Since just before Christmas, I've been suffering with sensitive teeth - one, in particular. My dentist has examined and done X-rays and can find nothing wrong and has prescribed Duraphat, initially 2800 and now, 5000.

I've searched the forum and have come across several posts about this, over the years, which seem to suggest that this is yet another joy of PMR and/or Pred. My symptoms seem to have coincided with my finally managing to get to 5.5.

I'm also having problems with a sore mouth and swollen/scalloped tongue and during investigations for this (bloods to rule out B12 deficiency), it looks as though I have an underactive thyroid, though this has yet to be confirmed.

I'm wondering if anyone else had experience of this occurring on recent reduction of Pred, which is what seems to have sparked this, though this could be a totally spurious link.

Any comments/experiences gratefully received. Thanks.

[SheffieldJane]

I am not sure what you mean by a scalloped tongue. I have had a very dry mouth this past year and this has led to tooth sensitivity and a tongue that sticks to the roof of my mouth. This only occurs in bed at night and is eased by careful brushing and flossing and various dry mouth products like pastilles. I have wondered about Sjogren’s, a lot of symptoms are shared with PMR.

[Rosbud in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi , I've been suffering the same sore dry mouth especially in the night and first thing in the morning , have been investigated for Sjorgrens but all test are negative , dentist says all ok and GP just says to drink frequently, so I'm open to ant suggestions for some relief x

[SheffieldJane in reply to Rosbud]

I have found Salivix, salivary stimulant pastilles give me the most lasting relief. I drink lots of water, it’s not thirst and only happens in bed at night. Could it be to do with lying down? I also get a completely blocked nose some nights. This makes breathing really fun. 😝

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

healthline.com/health/dry-m...

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the link, very useful.

[Rosbud in reply to SheffieldJane]

Will try the pastille, thanks for the info x

[Blearyeyed in reply to SheffieldJane]

I have those too , before meals if my mouth is very dry.

[Marijo1951]

About 5 of my teeth have been sensitive for a couple of months now. I did remark on a previous post on this topic that I was surprised as at least two of the teeth are crowned. However PMRpro remarked that there can still be a nerve in a crowned tooth unless it had had root canal treatment. Evidently it's yet another side effect of pred. I haven't reduced recently - have been on 10 mg for a while and at least until the end of February when I see my rheumy. I also have a dental appointment in February so will discuss it with the dentist then. I haven't had the other symptoms that you mention and I hope you gain relief from them soon.

[Mrsd12f in reply to Marijo1951]

Thanks, Mario. No crowns and no fillings for me, just the ache.

Hope yours improves.

[Mrsd12f]

Thanks Jane. The tongue is swollen and scalloped around the edges and Dr. Google assured me it can be one of the signs of hypothyroidism, which I seem to have tested posted for, though they want to wait 3 months, before testing again.

I already have Sjögren’s and I’m sure it plays a part; I may have had it for years, but it was only discovered when they did the bloods to diagnose the PMR. I’m sure the Velcro mouth is a contributing factor, and this has got worse, recently, but the tooth sensitivity is a new phenomenon.

Still, this new pain takes my mind off all the others!

Thanks for your input.

[Meggsy in reply to Mrsd12f]

Hello Mrsd12f, I can’t comment on your other symptoms but I think the sensitive teeth is a side effect of pred, which I have found is greatly relieved by using Sensodyne toothpaste. You can also pop some on your finger and rub it over your teeth.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Mrsd12f]

It's definitely a symptom of Dry Mouth Syndrome and Sjorgrens but can also be from dehydration caused by drug use.

The answer is the same , fluids , mineral water and green tea and stimulating your saliva with the pastilles , a sharp boiled sweet or a piece of pineapple when about to eat or when you palate is dry.

[Alchemy8 in reply to Mrsd12f]

Scalloped tongue in Chinese Medicine means the Spleen is not functioning to par.

[Hidden]

Yup... I can relate! I have been to dentist twice in past 8-9 months insisting that something is wrong, yet he finds NOTHING wrong! He takes x-rays, bangs on them with the metal thingy, looks around... nothing! 🤯

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Thyroid problems can be autoimmune - and once you have autoimmune problems you are more likely to develop others, In fact, thyroid probems should be checked for in making a PMR diagnosis as they can cause similar symptoms.

I had sensitive teeth with PMR - definitely PMR not pred, I wasn't taking it for that 5 years - couldn't drink anything colder than tap water that hadn't been run for long (OH always runs the tap for ages! yuk!). Sensodyne toothpaste helped a lot and it improved once I was on pred.

[Mrsd12f]

Thank you all. Yet another weird delight to contend with. Keep well.

[MamaBeagle]

A non PMR friend of mine had a scalloped tongue - and yes she discovered she is hypothyroid......

[Rose54]

Hi

I have underactive thyroid for over 15 years really well controlled ,however on higher doses of Pred I had a scalloped tongue on waking in the morning I believe this was to do with the extra puffiness in my face at the time.

Same with face pain for me its a sign of being on a too low dose One thing that always starts it off is being near a fan ,Strange I know but that has been going on for many years ,

[Mrsd12f]

To Mamabeagle and Rose54

Thanks to you both. I have to say I can tick many of the boxes for Hashimoto’s disease and we are big on autoimmune in my family: Dad and brother had pernicious anaemia, sister had PBC and my niece is very definitely hypothyroidic (might have just made that word up!) so I won’t be at all surprised if it turns out to be the case. We shall see ...

[CT-5012]

PMR & GCA for three years, autoimmune hypothyroidism for 15 years, have been on 100mcg for most of that time but after my last bloods this has been increased to 125mcg I too have always had a dry mouth at night and have a pack of pastilles to hand, only thing that works for me and my Velcro tongue. 😁

[Footfairy-1]

I too am expecting tooth sensitivity to hot, col, sweet and sour. Try to bypass front teeth when eating. My dentist aldi gave Duraphat 2800 and 5000 but these gave me a very sort, cracked and scalloped tongue so I had to stop using it. 😬

Sorry I can't suggest anything else.

[Mrsd12f in reply to Footfairy-1]

Thank you, Footfairy. My tongue has been sore and scalloped long before the Duraphat, which seems to be working, so far. The number of replies to my post seems to suggest there may be a link between the sensitivity and PMR/Pred, so will mention in to the rheumatologist, who will, no doubt, give me another quizzical look, before changing the subject! 🙃

[CT-5012 in reply to Mrsd12f]

I am sure most of the docs who treat PMR people think we are slightly unhinged with all our weird symptoms and that’s why they just give us a funny look and push us out of the door. 🤪😂