GUM DISEASE

I read this article in Health magazine titled, Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients May Have Higher Risk for Gum Disease.  It talked about how people with RA have a higher rate of gum disease than people who don't have RA.  "A small study suggests that gum disease is four times more common among people with rheumatoid arthritis than healthy people, and it also appears to be more severe."  

This brings up the point that those of us with RA should be careful to brush and floss our teeth everyday.  Good tooth care is very important.

Those of us with Sjogren's Disease need to be especially careful.  Since we have dry mouth and little to no saliva production, it makes for problems with tooth decay.  Saliva protects teeth against decay and from infection from bacteria, yeasts, and viruses.  Brushing teeth helps to protect against tooth decay.

It is important to ask your dentist how often to you need to be checked for early decay.  Also ask about specific instructions regarding your oral hygiene.  

Brush those teeth!!

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Until tomorrow...