The effect of thyroid medication on oral health

In addition to the burning sensation, it can also be accompanied by changes in taste and xerostomia (2-5). Symptoms must be present for at least 4 or 6 months continuously (2), but periods without pain during the day are also reported (4). In fact, many patients have no pain at night, but it progressively increases during the day (6). It can be concluded that thyroid hormone abnormalities are a factor in secondary burning mouth syndrome; specially in patients with hypothyroidism. The best Root Cause approach is to prevent periodontitis from developing in the first place.

Interestingly, a systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that circulating vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients with chronic periodontitis than in healthy controls52. These results suggest a possible pathophysiological role of vitamin D in linking thyroid dysfunction and periodontitis. Unfortunately, the present study could not analyze or adjust for vitamin D levels due to the lack of data in KNHANES VI. The thyroid is a typical organ within which organ-specific autoimmune disease and chronic inflammation occur frequently.

Can Hypothyroidism Be Cured?

The patient was initially informed and educated about the consequences of poor oral hygiene and the interrelationship of gingivitis with hypothyroidism, adenoid hypertrophy, and mouth breathing habits. The patient was primarily treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy, including oral hygiene instructions and full-mouth supragingival and subgingival scaling. She was asked to refrain from using herbal toothpaste during periodontal treatment, as sometimes patients can be allergic to ingredients of the same type 11.

Frequentist approaches included the Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) and the Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR). The ROR is estimated comparing the odds of specific gum disorder being reported for the drug of interest to the odds of the same event being reported for all other drugs in the database. The PRR is estimated as the ratio of proportion of specific gum disorder being reported with the drug of interest to the proportion of the same adverse event reported for all other drugs. Signal detection using frequentist methods adhered to Evan’s criteria, which require a minimum of three reports, a PRR of 2 or greater, and a chi-square (χ²) value of 4 or more per drug-gum disorder pair 17. ROR was calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and a signal was deemed significant if the lower CI limit exceeded one. PRR, analogous to relative risk, provided insight into the relative occurrence of events for the drug of interest compared to other drugs.

• In fact, fluoride was prescribed to treat hyperthyroidism up until the 1950s because of its thyroid-suppressing activity.
• Demographic details such as age, gender, report year, and reporting country were extracted for each adverse event of interest.
• Instead, it recommends using a combination of statistical approaches from both frequentist and Bayesian paradigms for more robust signal identification 16.

Table 1. Study characteristics, analytic and ecographic alterations.

Regular dental check-ups, good oral hygiene practices, and open communication with healthcare providers are key to preserving dental health. With the right approach, individuals can effectively manage their thyroid medication and enjoy a healthy and beautiful smile. By implementing these preventive measures and maintaining good oral hygiene practices, individuals on thyroid medication can effectively manage gum disease, alleviate dry mouth symptoms, and protect their teeth from decay.

Top 10 drugs associated with gum disorders based on volcano plots

Keep in mind certain things can affect your thyroid medication, which can make it less effective. An X-ray, or X-radiation, is a penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Research shows that radiation exposure may cause various thyroid problems, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid neoplasia. If dental x-rays are needed, ask the technician to use a thyroid synthroid bactrim shield or guard in addition to the chest guard. In the case of dental health, something like an infection, metal filling, dental x-ray, or fluoride could trigger an autoimmune response like Hashimoto’s.

• While that phrase is true, it’s also true that the mouth is often the window to the entire body.
• As the patient had a habit of mouth breathing, consultation from an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or otorhinolaryngologist was sought to rule out airway blockage before prescribing a habit-breaking appliance.
• Dr. Bonner’s approach is to treat the parasite – and he discovered that, when he does this, people feel better.
• We queried the USFDA AERS database for each PT independently, ensuring comprehensive retrieval of individual case safety reports without restrictions 14.
• Some composites contain BPA, a known thyroid toxin, which can be released from dental materials and potentially cause symptoms to develop.

Since parasites don’t like the oxygen in the hydrogen peroxide, this can be an effective gentle treatment. Afterwards, he might try an anti-parasitic medication, such as metronidazole (also known as Flagyl). Gingivialis was found in 69 percent of diseased gingival pockets, but not in healthy gum tissue. The amoeba is passed from person to person through kissing, contaminated water (typically from tropical places), and can even be transferred from pets. One member of the Thyroid Pharmacist community, who worked her way through my Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program, reached out when she got to Module 9, which focuses on dental triggers. A lightbulb went off in her mind, and she made the connection between the onset of her Hashimoto’s symptoms and some dental work she had done when she was younger.

Remember to communicate any concerns or changes in oral health with your healthcare providers for appropriate guidance and treatment. Certain groups of thyroid patients are more vulnerable to certain types of oral problems. For instance, middle-aged women and women in menopause often experience burning sensations on the tongue or lips – a condition known as burning mouth sensation. Patients with hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland underperforms, experience oral problems like tongue enlargement (macroglossia), gum disease, a long-winding recovery from mouth sores, tooth infection and gum disease. Those with hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid are more susceptible to dental problems like cavities, osteoporosis in the jaws, rapid tooth growth in children, and others. Based on findings from history taking, intraoral examination, extraoral examination, and investigations, the patient was diagnosed as having severe generalized chronic gingivitis, modified by hypothyroidism, adenoid hypertrophy, and a lousy mouth breathing habit.

Her oral and systemic health makes her susceptible for the development of periodontitis, thereby highlighting the need for a customized aggressive type of periodontal therapy measures. Oxidative stress is a pivotal mechanism underlying the process of inflammation, and a vicious cycle exists between oxidative stress and chronic inflammation28. Increased oxidative stress is a characteristic of hyperthyroidism44 and hypermetabolic states in hyperthyroidism can cause oxidative tissue injury45. Thyroid hormones have been shown to regulate the oxidative system by increasing reactive oxidative species and lowering antioxidant availability28,46. It can directly induce DNA damage or enhance nitric oxide synthase gene expression to overproduce nitric oxide45,47. Antioxidative status may also be regulated through an increase in the turnover of mitochondrial proteins and mitoptosis48.

A dental abscess is a collection of bacteria usually present in the gums (surrounding the teeth). An abscess usually looks like a boil on the surface of the gums and is very painful. The bacteria from the abscess can stimulate our immune systems and drain into the gut, leading to digestive symptoms. As we look at the gut as a key factor behind many autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s, we need to consider all parts of the gut — including the stomach, the intestines, and the mouth.