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Humira causing abscessd teeth?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/9/2021 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
I just had my first very painful abscessed tooth since I started Humira for UC. I’m concerned continued use of Humira will lead to more dental infections. I would appreciate anyone’s thoughts (as opposed to horror stories). 😄
Posted 11/9/2021 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there,

Those of us on immunosuppressives don't really know what to expect except, well, that our immune systems are lowered. When I started Inflectra, I had a lot of skin issues, one of them being an abscess on my arm. No more abscesses though after that one. I did have a strange mouth and gum issue that lasted a couple weeks AND a common fungus on my back. It's like who knows what could happen when our immune systems are lowered. We are just more susceptible to infection. It's definitely a struggle, especially when you just want to live a healthy life. The thing is, though, for me, none of those side effects were necessarily "horror stories," if the Humira or Inflectra or Remicade or whatever is working. Again, in my own personal experience, a flare is a horror story, an absolute horror movie, a bloody mess. I'll take the skin issues or mouth issues or fungus any day over crapting blood 25x a day. It's like this annoying trade-off we have to make. Those are just my thoughts.
Posted 11/10/2021 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on both Remicade & Humira in the past & it never affected my teeth. Neither drug caused me to be prone to other infections & in reality I was healthier because the medication did it's job.

I hope you get to feeling better soon.
Posted 11/10/2021 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
More mouth ulcers. Teeth unaffected. - Humira

Edit: one thing I’ve learned on this drug, it’s not always easy to tell if it’s the drug, the UC, or just pure coincidence that’s causing any given health issue.

.

Post Edited (island time) : 11/9/2021 9:05:07 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/11/2021 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry about your tooth-- that's really a bummer. My advice to all UCers: be concerned to practice good dental hygiene! Brush & floss faithfully, but also get your gums debrided at the dentist's office 2-3 times a year. I've had periodontal issues from steroid meds for UC and later on from IV contrast dyes during CT-scans, not fun. Periodontitus can sneak up on a person and cause tooth infection/loss. Also, having to take antibiotics for dental infections can adversely affect our gut. Hopefully, you have a caring dentist who can help you to minimize problems with teeth & gums. / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)
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