Slowly loosing all of my teeth

I am new to Forums, so hope this works!

I have had RA for 18 years now, and am only 43!

Over the last year I have noticed that my teeth, especialy around the gum line are really decaying!  I am loosing all the enamel and in the last month have had two teeth chip, like big hunks!   I hate going to the dentist and confess I dont have the best dental hygeen, but really!?

Anyone else experienced this?

******************************************************************************

Arava (leflunomide) 20mg, Imuran (Azathioprine) 50mg, Celebrea 200mg...daily! 

Oh Yes i have now had all my teeth removed believe it was from Prednisone they just rotted away i got ulcers and all sorts before i had them out couldn't eat solids for over a year, now i'm on a waiting list for help to get dentures so still eating mush but at least not in pain - from teeth anyway 

I am very new to RA, was just diagnosed with it last month. I believe I may also have sjogrens but won't have biopsy to be 100%sure - treatment is the same anyway. I just use lots of eye drops and sip all day. I also have had the diagnosis of fibro this past 5 years. During all this time I have not had any issues with my teeth until about 8 months ago. And boy when these issues hit me, they hit hard.

I had a tooth go bad almost over night. Had it removed. Then about 2 months later another tooth just broke apart. Had it removed. about a week later I noticed a lump along the chin line and went back to the dentist to tell him I thought maybe I had an infection. He did not see one and did not treat me for it. W/o going into the whole story just let me tell you that 4 months later I have gone thru 2 root canals (that are still incomplete) and surgery to clean up the infection that ate a hole in my jaw bone and had my face so swollen with infection that I had to miss almost a month of work till everything was cleared up. I know more of my teeth are being affected by this illness and can't do anything about it because this past horrific experience has me terrified to go to the dentist.

I was told by another doctor that it could be acid reflux that may be causing the tooth decay, which in itself is caused by all the meds we take. To help with this I am taking 300mg of zantac a day. I have noticed less stomach issues but no less tooth issues. I actually just recently had another tooth break and now am missing a whole quarter section of it.

The meds we take affect our eyes, our teeth, our stomachs, our liver.......I wonder if it is really worth it to take so many just to be pain free or to hopefully slow the progression. I guess this will be a question I will have to ask myself when I have been battling this disease a few more years.

I've got 9 teeth filled, 4 wisdom teeth pulled, one crown, and two cavities developing. Mine was from acid reflux issues.
I hate going to the dentist, but I make sure I see him twice a year.

I have RA and Sjoren's. I had a big tooth break in half a few months ago. Last night I noticed a chip in the back of my front tooth and today broke off half of another tooth. I have no dental insurance and no money for the DDS. The teeth are sharp when they break off and I have to file them myself just so I can stand it.