Good Dental Care is Important for Those with Rheumatoid Arthritis

What are the Possible Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is caused by the attack of the body’s immune system on the body’s healthy tissues. The immune system can’t differentiate between your tissues and foreign tissues, mistakenly causing the body to attack normal tissues.

What are the known Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms?

Based on the research and study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. Following are a few known symptoms of RA:

- Pain or a feeling of aching in joints
- Stiffness in joints
- Stiff pain and swelling in joints
- Noticeable weight loss
- Fever
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Weakness in the ongoing daily life

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

Although there’s no definitive cure for this condition, treatments can reduce the stiffness and pains of your joints, eventually improving the condition’s impact. If left untreated, the state of Arthritis can reach an unmanageable level. Several medications available for the treatment are Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Why is Dental Care Important if you have RA?

People who have RA are at high risk for gum inflammation and disease. These conditions can aggravate and lead to gum damage and tooth loss. These are linked to worsening RA symptoms. Research suggests that good care of teeth and gums can improve oral hygiene and help ease the symptoms, such as joint stiffness and pain. Here are a few tips that those with Arthritis can use to stay on top of their oral hygiene and prevent gum disease –

Look for Swollen and Bleeding Gums

Make an appointment with your dentist when you notice swollen, red, and bleeding gums. It is not normal to have bleeding gum, and maybe it is a sign of gingivitis, which is curable with treatment.

Choose a Wide-handled Toothbrush

If you have Arthritis-issues in your hand joints, it would be difficult to brush your teeth, so look for a wide-handled toothbrush designed for people with hand arthritis.

Use Electric Toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes typically function on their own without moving the hands much. Using an electric toothbrush ensures that your hand arthritis doesn’t get worse.

Avoid Tobacco

Cigarettes, vaping cartridges, and other tobacco products are not good for your teeth hygiene and contain chemicals that could cause gum disease.

Pay Regular Visits to Your Dentist

Frequent visits to your dentist ensure that your teeth’s health is constantly checked, and it avoids any irregular tooth loss or gum diseases.

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Conclusion

It is important to have good teeth health for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis since they are at high risk of catching gum diseases. So, you should take good care of tooth hygiene, and we have compiled a few simple tips to help you on your journey.

FAQs

How is teeth health related to Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Those with the disease have a high risk of catching gum diseases, which could lead to tooth loss in severe cases.

What are a few tips on good teeth health?

For those with RA, regular check-up of teeth with your dentist is highly advisable. Use an electric toothbrush to avoid joint pains and stop consuming tobacco to maintain good teeth hygiene.