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anyone having trouble with dry mouth and tooth decay?

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Posted 1/18/2009 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
I was just wondering if anyone else with dry mouth form meds had problems with tooth decay?  I normally never get a cavity and thats a specially good thing cause I cant stand goint to the dentist and I have been pretty lucky theres past 8 years ya thats right no dentist for 8 years thats how much they freak me out.  But now since I have been on the ambian cr and the Lyrica my mouth is bone dry most of the time.  During the day I can drink extra but at night I wake up with my mouth so dry I cant even swallow and I have noriced 3 new cavities and so back to the dentist I must go.
Posted 1/18/2009 1:51 PM (GMT 0)

Between having anxiety, fibro and Lexapro my mouth is so dry my lips stick to my gums.  I have vaseline with me at all times, or chapstick.  Most of my teeth are either capped or bridges and I have had to have a couple of root canals done under them because of my receding gums and the decay.  When I wake up in the night my mouth is so dry I about choke so I keep a glass of water by the bed.  The dentist gave me a sample of a rinse called Oasis that was supposed to help...it's mostly glycerine and it works for maybe an hour.  You can buy it in the drug store...might work for you.  Yes...I do have unusual decay!

Huggies

donna

Posted 1/18/2009 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
yeah, dry mouth and tooth decay here, then again I do have tmj so it could be from that too.
Posted 1/18/2009 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
I had very bad dry mouth from Elavil which caused tooth decay. I too had not had decay for most of my adult years until I began Elavil. The cure is simple...keeping your mouth well rinsed with water, having water by your side constantly, which I did not realize or do and ended up losing several teeth, in addition to a couple of root canals. The dentist explained to me that the saliva in your mouth rinses the bacteria away. If you mouth is dry, the bacteria sticks to your teeth and gums, causing the decay. Chewing sugar free gum can help to some extent. I chose to get off the Elavil and my dry mouth improved, even though I'm on a lot of other medications. For me, it was the Elavil.
Posted 1/18/2009 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have an extremely dry mouth and TMJ.  I've had lots of dental work as an adult (root canals, crowns, etc.).  I use biotene products for dry mouth, but they only help a little.
Posted 1/18/2009 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have the dry mouth syndrome also. I'm always chewing gum (sugar free). My dentist recommended Biotene toothpaste to protect against bacterial caused decay and plaque. It seems to work well for me:
http://www.shopinprivate.com/biotdrymoutt.html
Posted 1/18/2009 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, I have dry mouth all the time and my teeth have beennothering me for about a month, especially bad when my back and shoulders are at their worst... It was so dry last week that I couldnt swallow food without holding water in my mouth first and my nose has been bleeding in my sleep from the dryness.... had no idea that this could all be connected - I just learned something new!
Posted 1/18/2009 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
I just had 3 crowns replaced, a root canal and several cavities, all because of dry mouth. It cost me a fortune. Dentist gave me a fluoride gel to use at night. I also use Biotene toothpast and mouthwash. I have to drink lots of water also. Its just another part of this fibro, and it makes me furious that this condition can be so costly, as well as the pain we all suffer. See your dentist often, if your insurance covers it. It only took me 6 months to develop cavities. I also clench my teeth and this did not help also.
Good luck
Posted 1/18/2009 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
I have very bad dry mouth and decay problems.  I have a cleaning scheduled for Tuesday and I'm actually afraid to hear how bad the decay is getting.  I have followed all of the dentist recommendations of drinking a lot of water, chewing gum with xylitol, rinsing with biotine mouth wash, and brushing with a prescription toothpaste (it's strong floride).

I know that I cannot be without the medicines so I'm not sure what to do.  I cannot function without my medicine; I guess dentures will be in my future.

I just had a thought for the night time dryness.  Maybe keep a vaporizer next to the bed.  I also have a spray (biotine or oasis) that I spray in my mouth if I wake up at night.  It's kind of thick and I'm not fond of the flavor but it does help a little.  I also keep a bottle in my purse so if I'm out shopping and my mouth feels dry I spray a few times and it gets me through until I can find some water.

It's just another reason for us fibromites not to smile!

 

Posted 1/18/2009 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Certainly. I have been taking elavil since 1990. The dry mouth is horrid. Sometimes I cannot talk because my mouth is so dry, everything sticks together. It can be very embarassing b/c I feel people are noticing, and I think, they think, I'm drunk or something like that. The dry sinus problem I have solved by placing an electric kettle, full of water, near my bed. It heats up and releases vapor, and once it reaches the boiling point twice, it shuts itself off. This is good because sometimes I fall asleep so the auto shut off is VIP. That gets me through the night. I paid $10.00 for the kettle at Walmart. My teeth are literally crumbling in my mouth. I've had two major extractions in the past two months. I have hugh cavities in the bottom front which I cannot afford to fix right now, as the dentist estimates it will cost $800, or more. So I look like a meth addict with no teeth, bottom front, but i assure you, I am not. This disease brings lots of unexpected goodies with it.

Posted 1/18/2009 5:49 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Karen-

I don't have dry mouth that I know of, only after taking anti-histamines- but I do have tons of bad teeth that I have had to take care of over the past 5 years. Two root canals over the holidays!! I too hate going to the dentist. I get anticipatory anxiety so bad. With everyone's encouragement here and my wonderful dentist I can now go in with just a minimal amount of anxiety.

GamJill

Posted 1/18/2009 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have dry mouth from meds and from Sjogren's. If I make it until March it will be the first time in years that I haven't had to see the dentist between cleanings. My teeth keep breaking off and I have lots of crowns. Diane
Posted 2/13/2009 7:06 AM (GMT 0)
I m 30 and am suffering from Burning Mouth Syndrome. It is a condition that causes pain in the mouth, lips or tongue without any clear reason. BMS afflicts seven times more women than men, affecting between 1.5% and 5.5% of middle-aged to elderly women. The patients generally loss weight because they are unable to eat anything. Anything they are able to eat seems to be tasteless. I came across a site http://burningmouthsyndrome.boomja.com/ which provided me all the information on BMS. It also gives details of causes, treatments and treatment centers. It is like an encyclopedia of BMS.
Posted 2/14/2009 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
I have some serious anxiety about going to the dentist. I know I have some dental work that needs to be done: when we moved here 5 years ago, I went a dentist that told me it was going to cost $8000 over a period of 2-3 years to do all the work I need done - I ran from his office and haven't gone back to a dentist since. I've been fortunate that none of my teeth have been bothering me so far. It's on my to do list in 2009...sometime...
Posted 2/14/2009 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
I just went to the dentist this past Wednesday and the estimated cost to repair the damage is over $12,000.00.
Posted 2/14/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I posted a while back asking the same question, because I went to the dentist and he could not believe the amount of cavities that I got over a short period of time. He kept asking me what sweets I was eating and I dont eat sweets at all, I am a health nut and I dont even eat fast food!  I have dry mouth, and I was wondering if it was sjrodrens syndrome. The only meds I am on is vicodin. I have Lyrica but have not taken it. I am not convinced it works for fibro, or its just a marketing ploy to make money for the pharmeceutical co.

Posted 2/14/2009 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Im the same, had part of a tooth break off only a couple months ago. Mouth always dry but I dont if anyone else suffers this I have really dry skin now all over, cracks all over lips, feet , elbows and knees.  Lipstick is hard to wear now because I am always peeling the skin off, yuk.       sue2z

Posted 4/4/2009 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
Just want to let you want know that the enzymes in Biotene are from cow's milk. This may be a problem if you have an allergy to cow's milk.
Posted 4/4/2009 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
OMG! I'm so glad I clicked on this thread! Almost every tooth in my head is filled - we had no fluoride when I was a kid. By I'm 50 now and haven't had a cavity for over 25 years. My mouth IS dry - but not as bad as some of you report. It's at night that it's worse...but I almost always brush and floss well before going to bed. I also keep a bottle of water by the bed - the kind with the top you have to sort of "suck" on...so it won't spill when you tip it upside down. That's helpful.

Thanks for the warning though, everyone.

Oh, and for those of you afraid of the dentist...ATIVAN....it's a wonder-tranquilizer! I waltz into the dentist like it's nothing as long as I'm doped up on it.
Posted 4/4/2009 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Karen, Yes, I have very dry mouth & the dentist is my next big expense after I finish up with the Doctors. I always have something I am sipping on & can't stand to go somewhere & need a drink of water and have nothing. Drives me crazy.
Sue2z, my lips are always dry & I am constantly pealing off layers. I hate that because it has become a habit & I do it unconsciously. Not a good habit to have. LOL

Hugs, Denise
Posted 4/4/2009 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have receding gums, and tooth decay, and sensitive teeth. I have a lot of work needing to be done.
Vickie
Posted 4/4/2009 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
I also have really bad dry mouth and tooth decay had to have root canal in September.I always have a bottle of water with me. I have one beside my bed at all times.
Posted 4/5/2009 6:33 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad I read this post, I've been embarrassed for a long time because of my teeth, I don't know if it's the meds or maybe a side effect of FM, but my teeth are decaying, quickly. Until March of last yr, I didn't have any decay, now... I can't chew on the right side because my teeth will break, the right side molars have all broken well below the gum line, meaning if I want them fixed it'll take surgery. I have dry mouth a lot too, I think that's part of the reason for my teeth, I keep water with me and sugar free gum. I don't know of anything else to do 'side from stop taking the meds, and that's a definite NO.
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