How Lupus Affects Your Oral Health

While they may not appear to be related on the surface, lupus, a condition that results because of abnormal functioning in the immune system, can greatly affect one’s oral health through the onset of certain symptoms, including chronic or acute soft tissue lesions. What makes lupus so different from other diseases is that it’s an autoimmune disease, and it causes the body to identify parts of itself as foreign and the antibodies in the immune system to attack different cells within the internal organs. Rather than attack infectious agents, the antibodies begin attacking the cells’ nuclei, causing the onset of symptoms.

Types of Lupus

Lupus has two different forms—cutaneous (skin) and systemic (organs)—and symptoms can overlap with those of similar autoimmune diseases, including butterfly rashes, which are skin rashes on the cheeks and nose. Areas on the skin that see consistent sun exposure can develop rashes as well. Additional symptoms include swollen joints, fatigue, hair loss, fever, and inflammation of the organs, such as the kidneys and heart.

Diagnosing Lupus

This condition typically affects women more than men, with women often developing lupus between the ages of 20 and 45 and those of African-American, Asian, and Hispanic descent having a greater risk. With roughly 16,000 lupus cases identified every year and around five million people worldwide suffering from it, no one single test diagnoses the condition. A diagnosis is often confirmed by ruling other immune conditions out and by patients displaying various symptoms associated with lupus, including butterfly rashes, heart inflammation, arthritis, kidney issues, immune system issues, and oral ulcers.

Changes in Oral Health

Fortunately, lupus is not known to contribute to periodontal disease or tooth decay, but oral lesions or oral ulcers do appear in 9-45 percent of lupus cases. These lesions or ulcers can be chronic or acute in nature while also looking like other kinds of oral lesions. An initial diagnosis could call for a biopsy as well as a rheumatologist to verify if lupus caused the lesions. If the salivary glands are affected, patients could develop dry mouth and need fluoride treatments. For oral lesions, the treatments are palliative and usually involve topical steroids.


Available Treatments

There is, at this point, no cure for lupus, meaning that current treatment is largely about long-term management, which can vary based on the disease’s severity as well as which organs are affected. Treatment may include antimalarial drugs, pain medications, and steroids, and stress management and lifestyle changes are necessary as well. A few experimental drugs are also available, including Rituximab, which alters one’s immune system to try and reduce the disease’s effects. For those who suffer from lupus or suspect they do, inform your dental professional at your next appointment.

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