Mouth and Dental Issues with Lupus

By Charlotte Barnett

2 min read

I’ve always looked after my oral hygiene by brushing my teeth twice a day and practicing regular flossing. Up until recently, I’ve never had many issues - apart from a couple of cavities. However, I’ve noticed a real decline in how my teeth are doing.

The previous two years seem like I’ve suffered from crumbling teeth. I’ve needed several cavities fixed, and a crown, with talk of a possible root canal. I feel so deflated each time I feel part of a tooth break off, not to mention the costs involved in having to visit the dentist.

On top of these issues, I’ve also experienced awful pain in my teeth. The pain feels like the nerves are irritated and I was convinced it was decay related. However, my dentist performed all the usual diagnostics, such as an X-ray and oral examination, and he could find no source of why I was experiencing the pain.

It got me thinking that perhaps some of these issues could somehow be related to lupus.

Lupus and dental issues

Dry mouth

I spoke with both my dentist and my rheumatologist, who confirmed that issues such as these can be attributed to the fact that lupus patients often have dry mouth. That lack of moisture causes acid levels to build, and this then causes tooth decay. This is certainly something that I can relate to.

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Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Another condition that has affected me for the last few years is temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). I’ve experienced pain, stiffness and clicking in the joints in my jaw. It seems to affect mainly my right side, and it can be incredibly painful. Especially when I’m eating and it just suddenly clicks and locks. It also causes me to grind my teeth which is affecting my dental health.

I’ve looked at ways to reduce the symptoms associated with TMJ, such as relaxing my jaw as much as possible. And I’ve invested in a bruxism mouth guard to help relax my jaw when I’m sleeping at night. This has slightly helped, although my rheumatologist informed me that the condition is often associated with lupus, so it’s unlikely to just disappear completely.

Mouth ulcers

One final issue I experience regularly is mouth ulcers. I would say this is a pretty common symptom amongst us lupus warriors from others that I’ve spoken to, and they can be very painful.

Sadly, I haven’t found anything that helps my mouth ulcers. I was prescribed a medication for them (which I cannot remember the name of) and unfortunately one of the main side effects was gout. That possibility put me off, so I didn’t try it. I figured I’ve got enough going on in my body so I didn’t want to chance a new issue like gout arising.

Does anyone else experience dental and/or mouth issues connected to lupus? Have you been able to find relief or get help? Share with others in the comments below!

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Lupus.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Christopher Reed Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="Charlotte Barnett" user-id="2036786"/> Great article. I do remember my dentist telling me that chemotherapy can affect the teeth. Cytoxan left my feet in awful shape. Three of my teeth had to be pulled. Christopher Reed Team Member
trinag Member
I will say for a period of 2-3 years I spent so much time at the dentist, dental surgeon, etc, to try to figure out where the jaw pain / tingling was coming from. I had teeth removed thinking something was there that they could not find. I actually thought i was imagining it after being told they can't find anything on the many xrays/scans i had done. My doctor then told me the tingling pain through the cheekbone / jaw line could be nerve related, another symptom of lupus. Unfortunately i feel like it will never be gone. I am glad to know it is a real thing and I am not imagining this.
1. trinag Member
 <inline-mention username="Erin Rush" user-id="8414420"/> Thanks. It is come and go now but I always have a weird sensation in my jaw. I feel like it is part of my new normal so I mostly ignore it or take Tylenol occasionally if needed. I see the dentist regularly so he keeps an eye on it but nothing ever shows up. It could be so much worse so i am thankful it is just this for now.
2. Erin Rush Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="trinag" user-id="8376028"/>, I'm glad you and your dentist are on top of it. And I hope the sensation goes away or, at the very least, lessens noticeably. Best, Erin, <a href='http://Lupus.net' target='_blank'>Lupus.net</a> Team Member.
Jocelyne71 Member
I go for a cleaning every three months. I am so, so, so very lucky to have work benefits that covers the cost. I have had 3 cavities and 1 crown in the last 15 months. Dry mouth and close teeth are my problem. I have been blessed with straight teeth, but they are so close together that the little saliva I do have does not circulate around my mouth properly and cavities form easily. I also have mouth ulcers - I have had some success with rinsing my mouth with salt water. I keep a bottle of Colgate Peroxyl mouth rinse at work, it's easier to use and it has a touch of mint as well. I read somewhere that maple syrup helps as well, but I have yet to try it. It would probably lead me to eat pancakes at every meal... well... I guess I could also have waffles! Yummy! Well it is Fat Tuesday after all 😀!!
1. Erin Rush Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="Jocelyne71" user-id="4526010"/>, well, thanks to your comment, now I'm craving waffles! 😁 I am so glad you have good dental coverage and can stay on top of your dental health with regular cleanings. And it sounds like you have a good system going to do what you can do keep your mouth biome healthy and avoid ulcers as much as possible. Thanks for sharing. Now off to make some waffles . . . . Best, Erin, <a href='http://Lupus.net' target='_blank'>Lupus.net</a> Team Member.
julie123 Member
Yes, me too! Every time I go to the dentist anymore they always find a cavity. The newest one they found, the dentist said it is my tooth eating itself! The cavity is on the inside. I had not heard of this before. I'm also having pain in a different area that they couldn't find a reason for. Also, for the mouth sores one of the hygienists suggested using SLS-(sodium laurel sulfate)-free Sensodyne. It seemed to help me even though my rheumatologist didn't think it would make a difference. 
1. Erin Rush Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="julie123" user-id="2224422"/>, ugh. I'm sorry your dental appointments have turned into a 'bad news' event each time. I hate when that happens (and, the older I get, the more it's been happening to me). I hope your teeth decide to not attack themselves anymore. And, I am glad a simple switch of toothpastes has helped you. It's always nice when a relatively cheap and easy change can make a big difference. Thanks for sharing your dental trials with the group. As you can see, you're not alone! Best, Erin, <a href='http://Lupus.net' target='_blank'>Lupus.net</a> Team Member.
CommunityMember47560c Member
I’m having the same problem with my teeth between the medicine and 2 different types of lupus is a lot. 
1. Doreen H Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember47560c" user-id="6905229"/>, Teeth pain can be quite bothersome. Have you brought this to your rheumatologist or dentist's attention? May it provide a small bit of comfort to know you are not alone. ~Doreen (Team Member)

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