If you've recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) -- an autoimmune disorder that can cause pain and inflammation in your joints -- you may be evaluating various medications and therapies that can help you manage the symptoms of your illness and live a pain-free life. While there are now a number of treatments that will help you stave off severe RA symptoms for decades, these medications (as well as RA itself) can significantly affect your oral health. It's important to be proactive in protecting your teeth to avoid permanent and painful damage. Read on to learn more about the effect RA can have on your teeth and gums, as well as what you can do to maintain good dental health after an RA diagnosis.
How does RA affect your teeth?
RA is different from osteoarthritis in that it is not caused by a weakening of the joints over time, but by the inflammation caused by the body's own immune response. Rather than attacking intruding bacteria and viruses that could cause illness, your immune system is instead attacking your joints and tissues. This misdirected immune response extends to your mouth, where your RA can cause your gums to become inflamed and make it harder for regular brushing and flossing to remove all the bacteria that develop from eating and drinking.
To treat RA, many doctors will prescribe medications that help suppress the immune system, thereby minimizing the body's response to its joints and reducing the pain and inflammation you feel. While these drugs can help you lead a more pain-free life, they can also make you more susceptible to gum disease and bone loss, so it's important to take extra care to keep up good dental habits while taking RA medication (even if your other RA symptoms are minimal).
How can you keep your mouth in good shape after being diagnosed with RA?
If you've already been practicing good habits prior to your diagnosis, you should be able to avoid any damage to your oral health from RA. Brushing and flossing multiple times per day and avoiding acidic or high-sugar foods will go a long way toward reducing bacteria counts in your mouth and preventing any tartar buildup. Maintaining these good habits should even be able to stave off any potential damage from the side effects of your RA medication.
However, if your existing dental habits could use some improvement, now is the time. Failing to do so could lead to stubborn infections that can be hard for someone with RA to fight. You'll want to schedule a dental checkup to have your teeth thoroughly cleaned, which will reduce any existing gum inflammation and help you maintain tartar-free teeth going forward.
Depending upon the progression of your RA and the daily symptoms you're facing, you might find it difficult to floss or brush your teeth for as long as you optimally should. If this is the case, you may want to invest in a water flosser or electric toothbrush to help you remove all tartar or plaque buildup on your teeth without causing you additional pain or stiffness. Both these devices can easily be operated with a single hand, allowing you to use the other hand for support or to switch off the tool when you become tired.
Even with improved oral habits, you'll want to visit your dentist more often than traditionally recommended -- some physicians recommend that anyone who suffers from a chronic condition like RA visit their dentist for a quick checkup every 3 months. This can help you quickly identify any problems or potential problems and ensure that your teeth are thoroughly cleaned multiple times each year.
Talk with a dentist from a clinic like Alpen Dental family dentistry if you have specific questions about your oral hygiene routine.
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