MS and tooth and gum health
When inflammation occurs due to the nature of gingivitis, a flare up of MS symptoms manifest. These MS symptoms in turn release chemicals that penetrate the gum membrane and cause more inflammation. It is a never ending cycle, that without dental intervention, will deteriorate a patient’s health

Steroids, which are often used to treat MS relapses, suppress the immune system, which can make gum disease worse. “The body needs to be able to deal with gum disease properly,” says Kashani. “In immuno-suppressed patients, gum disease progresses faster. They tend to lose teeth more quickly.

There is a high prevalence of temporo mandibular joint (TMJ) disorders in MS, such as pain and difficulty opening the mouth and TMJ sounds, which can be attributed to myofascial and neck pain. Some studies also report teeth grinding, dental hypersensitivity, and xerostomia

Can MS cause tooth and gum pain?
Oral health concerns – Researchers report that people with MS have higher incidences of tooth decay and gum disease. Many medications prescribed for MS can reduce saliva, which is necessary for rinsing and removing food particles and bacteria from teeth and gums. Lack of saliva also causes dry mouth.

The following MS symptoms might cause you to shorten brushing your teeth routine or give flossing a miss.
• Fatigue- brushing your teeth twice a day can be a big drain on precious energy
• Weak grip- making it hard to brush for very long or hold the brush the right way.
• Problems with coordination, sensation, tremors make it hard to brush effectively.
• Mood changes, including depression – effecting the motivation to keep teeth clean.
• Trigeminal neuralgia- brushing can trigger that pain in your facial nerve.

Tips for looking after your mouth and teeth
To save energy, try an electric toothbrush. They can also make things easier if someone else carefully helps you brush.

If you find it hard to grip, try a brush with a longer, wider or angled handle – it might help you brush more effectively. Electric toothbrushes often have chunkier grips.

If cleaning between teeth is difficult, small interdental brushes might be easier than flossing. Or you could try flossers with different shape handles.

Don’t rely on just mouthwash all the time. It doesn’t remove food and plaque in the same way.

Give up smoking – it makes you more likely to get a dry mouth, stained teeth, gum disease and oral cancer. Stopping could also help your MS.

Regular appointments with a dental hygienist can help prevent problems with teeth and gums.

And you could try:
– chewing sugar-free gum
– frequent sips of water
– sucking sugar-free pastilles
– using a humidifier at night
– avoiding mouthwashes which contain alcohol
If you’ve got a dry mouth, you’re more likely to get tooth decay, infection and gum disease.

A study by Spanish researchers showed that people who have MS have high rates of dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal (gum) disease.