Absolutely does prednisone mess with the teeth.  I causes lot of dental
problems. HOW much are you on and what other drugs are you on?

There is a good mouth wash to help with bacteria, you buy it at the Wally
mart or Kmart or any pharmacy . Right now at Rite Aid, you buy one get one
free.  I jumped on that one LOL.
It is a must to have good oral care when you have lupus and the meds you are
on.  YOU need to see a Dentist to have a good check up and keep good care of
your teeth. you are young and want to keep them a long time right :)  I am
61 and still got mine but lots of fillings from the younger days.  hehe.

I use biotene oral mouth wash, biotene toothpaste when I have mouth sores
but otherwise any good floride tooth paste is good.
But first see your dentist for ideas on how to prevent problems ok?

good luck
and keep in touch
sorry you have to be here but need help, let me know. I am support for the
NOrthwest ohio lupus foundation, so email me privately if you want

janers
NWO lupus foundation

hellow my name is jannette sometimes my gums and teath heart. but
everything hirts  the most important if you have to know is you do get
moody that is what happened to me alot. but no matter what you have got
to have a good attutide that all ways helps me. also it helps me with
my pain. i dont have as much with it. when im happy. but if you would
like to email some more you can.

Hi Nikki

I'm a Nikki/Nicole too.  Where are you from?  I'm in Central/Southern CA.

Here's an article one of the lupus groups had on their site.  I use Biotene
also but still have problems.   I get cotton mouth *alot*... after I go thru
all my water, I use the biotene gum.  Never could handle the "gel
moisturizer".

Find a dentist who really understands lupus.  My last dentist told me lupus
was caused in women who couldn't handle the stresses of everyday life....
and he had only been out of school for a couple years.  Nice to know what
they're teaching, huh?

Your dentist can prescribe something better than Biotene or any other OTC
product.

I've also been using a water pik that's helped stimulate my gums.  With
floss, if I have a sore, the floss opens it even more.

Another thing... make sure you can breathe thru your nose.  I had
uncontrolled allergies for year (had no idea since I didn't have the watery
eyes, runny nose, etc) which caused me to "mouth breathe" which in turn,
dried my teeth out.  Made several adjustments and I can breathe thru my nose
again.

Hope this helps

Nicole

Lupus Patient's Guide to Dental Care
by Heather Galusha-Phillips

In the haste of our busy everyday lives when we always seem to be on yet
another trip to a medical professional, it is far too easy to let our daily
dental care and periodic checkups slip through the cracks. Approximately 95%
of lupus patients suffer from some form of oral involvement. Disregarding
the importance of proper dental care can be a painful and costly error that
in some cases may actually be dangerous.

The mouth is a virtual hotbed for various forms of bacteria so good dental
hygiene is crucial. Lupus patients should floss and brush their teeth at
least twice a day with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste. Mentadent, Arm
and Hammer, and other baking soda based toothpastes with fluoride are also
highly recommended to help keep the mouth clean and bacteria free. Dental
checkups should be scheduled every 3-4 months or at the very least every 6
months. Lupus patients may also need more specialized care than the average
dental patient so it is important to find a dentist who has experience with
patients with special needs. The oral complications that face lupus patients
are either directly related to the disease or come about as a side effect of
medical treatment.

Special problems require individualized care from specialists in the
practice of dentistry. Dental specialists that you might want to look at are
those who practice Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery, and
Periodontics. Tips for picking a good dentist include 1) making sure that
your dentist has experience with or knowledge of lupus or autoimmune
diseases. and 2) that your dentist not only takes a full medical history but
also has an updated list of all your medications.

Lupus patients suffer from the following mouth symptoms: dry mouth, cracked
lips, bleeding gums, sore jaws, gingivitis (gum disease), cracked tongue,
oral lesions, lichen planus, ulcers (tongue, mouth, gums and cheeks), and
candidias thrush infections (yeast infections). Those patients also
suffering from TMJ or oral scleroderma can have tightening of the mouth and
jaw which can result in more abscesses and cavities. Patients with Sjogren's
Syndrome usually have severe dry mouth which results in massive decay,
dental infections, thrush (yeast infections), and gum disease. Patients with
Mitrovalve Prolapse (MVP) and Antiphospolipid Antibody Syndrome require
antibiotics before dental procedures to protect against life threatening
infections.

Certain forms of SLE organ involvement also carry dental care warnings and
every procedure and medication must be carefully evaluated. Some areas of
note are:

* Kidney Involvement: Prescriptions for certain antibiotics (e.g.
Tetracycline) or analgesics (e.g. Aspirin, NSAIDS) by a dentist can
adversely affect kidney function.

* Liebman-Sacks Endocarditis (a form of heart involvement): Approximately
50% of patients with SLE suffer from this condition, yet many don't even
know it. The majority of cases are not detected until an autopsy is
preformed. Antibiotics need to be given before any invasive dental
procedures, not just surgery, are preformed. These antibiotics help prevent
the bacteria from the mouth from entering the bloodstream and infecting the
vegetations from this disease that are imbedded in and around the heart.
Antibiotics will help reduce the risks if not eliminate them completely.
Infections, from dental care, can cause life threatening complications that
are too often a reality not just a vague possibility.

* Lung Involvement: Laughing Gas (also known as Nitrous Oxide) may be
problematic in those suffering from Lupus related lung problems because of
it's tendency to depress breathing.

* Lupus Anticoagulant or ITP: Periodontal surgery or extraction of teeth can
be complicated in those patients suffering from these conditions due to
abnormal bleeding. Any invasive dental work or surgery needs to be evaluated
fully and then undergone with caution.

Medications taken for Systemic and Discoid Lupus can also affect our mouths
and require special dental care. Some oral related side effects from these
medications are:

* Anti-Convulsants: Many of these seizure and neuropathy medications can
cause gum atrophy and bleeding which can lead to infection and decay.

* Anti-Malarials: Plaquenil can cause a rash in the mouth or an oral lichen
planus type reaction.

* Immunosuppressive agents: Cytoxan, Immuran, Methotrexate, etc. act by
suppressing the immune system and therefore may result in bacterial, fungal
and other infections that can effect dental implants, teeth, gums, and the
mouth.

* NSAIDS: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatories (Advil, Motrin, Feldene, Daypro,
etc.) can cause oral ulcers and canker sores.

* Steroids: Prednisone and other corticosteroids increase the likelihood of
bacterial and oral fungal infections such as thrush/candidias (yeast).

Here are some helpful hints at combating these often painful mouth symptoms
and the problems they cause:

* Dry Mouth: Salagen, Artificial Saliva Sprays, Sugar Free candies, ice
chips, non-alcohol dental rinse/mouthwash, and drinking plenty of water and
fluids throughout the day.

* Oral Sores: Orabase ointment (numbs the area and promotes healing) or
Oragel (if you just want an anesthetic), a paste made up of Mylanta and
baking soda, ice chips, baking soda rinse (1 tsp. baking soda per 8 oz.
water), nutritional drinks such as Ensure and Boost to provide you with the
nutrition you are missing from not eating due to discomfort, cool drinks and
plenty of fluids to rinse out bacteria, and a hydrogen peroxide rinse (50
/50 mix) to prevent infection.

* Canker Sores: Orabase Ointment (numbs the area and promotes healing), over
the counter canker sore remedies such as Zilactin HP, keeping the area
clean, applying protective ointment such as Vaseline, and avoiding
irritating foods/beverages/makeup.

*Frequent Decay and Infections: Baking soda rinses (1 tsp baking soda per 8
oz. of water), various dental floss tools, electrical toothbrushes,
artificial saliva substitutes (sprays and medications), non-alcohol
rinse/mouthwash, night guards, hydrogen peroxide rinse (50/50 mix) and
WaterPik tools.

Foods and substances that you should avoid while experiencing oral sores and
other dental problems include citrus fruits, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine,
carbonated beverages, and foods/drinks that are acidic. These items will
exacerbate your oral discomfort and can irritate already inflamed areas of
the mouth.

My name is Linda. I am 54 and nearly died of SLE complications in 2003.
I am doing very well now.

Lupus itself can cause mouth problems. Like many others, I use Biotene
on a regular basis. ALL of my teeth are crowned or have permanent
bridges. Meticulous flossing and brushing are a must! Remember lupus is
also a mixed connective tissue disease, and your gums are connective
tissue.

It is helpful to eat yogurt or drink kefir regularly, especially if you
are on antibiotics. When we take antibiotics to kill bacteria we are
more susceptible to thrush and vaginal infections caused by yeast. The
probiotics in those foods help fight the yeast.

Lupus patients can also get lesions (sores) in the mouth. If that
happens call your doctors immediately.

You might ask your dentist about Prevident. It is a topical flouride
that you rub into the gums where they meet the teeth, just before going
to bed. It strengthens the bone and slows decay in the teeth until they
can be fixed. I know that some people are very opposed to flouride.
Personally, I have decided that I will use the flouride and hopefully
keep the teeth..

As with all medical issues, the best thing you can do is careful
research and brutally honest discussions with your medical
practitioners. It is your right as a patient to get good care. Part of
good care means having your questions answered. Write down your most
troubling questions before you see the doctor or dentist. Have a copy
for you and a copy for them. Coping successfully with lupus means that
you have to be a very proactive patient. Take charge of your medical
care first by educating yourself and second by establishing good
communication with your medical practitioners.

Remember, we may have lupus but lupus does not have us!!!!!