The Connection Between Thyroid Problems & Oral Health

When there is insufficient saliva, the risk of tooth decay and oral infections increases. This patient is also being managed primarily by conservative non-surgical periodontal therapy at one- to three-month intervals because of her increased tendency of bleeding and heavy plaque deposition. A 22-year-old female patient reported to the department of periodontologywith chief complaints of bleeding on the slightest provocation from gums and halitosis for the past six months.

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It has an important role in regulating the T-lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells’ function. If you have hypothyroidism, increasing your vitamin D intake according to your doctor’s advice could help regulate your condition. The more gum tissue and bone structure that is lost, the greater the complications, which can include tooth loss, infected abscesses, and other serious health problems such as heart disease and gastrointestinal issues. Try flossing a few times daily if you’re battling periodontal issues or gingivitis, and at least once before bed if you’re trying to maintain good oral health. Panoramic radiography was carried out using a Planmeca Proline, etc., (Helsinki Finland) operating at 70–78 KVp and 190 mAs with a magnification factor of 1.2.

She was trained to use an ultra-soft toothbrush with the Charters toothbrushing technique. This study highlights the need for increased awareness of oral side effects amongst healthcare providers. Future research should explore the mechanisms of drug-induced gingival disorders and develop interdisciplinary management strategies to enhance oral health in patients on long-term medications. Hypothyroidism can cause reduced saliva production, leading to a dry and uncomfortable mouth. Saliva plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health by neutralizing acids, washing away food particles, and preventing tooth decay.

The patient first started noticing mild bleeding while brushing around two years ago, which had aggravated in the past six months. She had multiple visits to the local dental practitioners for similar complaints but got relief briefly after scaling. Due to spontaneous bleeding from gums, she was scared to brush her teeth, leading to inadequate cleaning as well as plaque and calculus deposition, further aggravating her periodontal condition. Her decayed mandibular molar (tooth number 46) was treated endodontically four years ago. The patient was diagnosed with hypothyroidism two years ago and was taking a tablet of thyroxine sodium at 50 mg/day under the supervision of a general physician.

Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, is characterized by an overactive thyroid gland that produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormones, causing an accelerated metabolic rate. Patients with this condition are more susceptible to a wide range of dental problems from cavities and dry mouth to osteoporosis. Although periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that develops in response to the biofilm in the subgingival area, it is modified by a number of risk factors. While osteoporosis is considered as a risk factor for periodontitis, others have suggested that periodontitis may be an early manifestation of generalized osteopenia and osteoporosis. Hidden infections in any part of the body can lead to gut dysfunction and trigger autoimmune disease — and any time there is an imbalance of bacteria in the mouth, there is the possibility of infection.

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While that phrase is true, it’s also true that the mouth is often the window to the entire body. Meaning that if something isn’t right in your system, it’ll show signs in your mouth. While treating your thyroid hormonal imbalance can help heal these dental ailments, treating the dental problems separately can help you remedy them much faster. If you’re currently experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to book frequent follow-up appointments with our dentists to monitor and treat the development of these symptoms. We’ll recommend lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medication that’ll help you overcome your symptoms.

Don’t Skip Your Dentist Appointment: How Thyroid Issues Can Wreck Your Gums and Teeth

• Take a tablespoon of coconut oil and swish in your mouth for two minutes, eventually working your way up to 10 or even 20 minutes.
• Dr. Wentz has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease, after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in 2009.
• Finasteride, by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a hormone known to promote fibroblast activity during gingival inflammation—may disrupt normal gingival homeostasis 32.
• Additionally, choosing more whole foods and eating an abundance of veggies (instead of sweets, soda, tea, and coffee), can help to create a more alkaline (vs. acidic) environment in the mouth.
• This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

All courses are peer-reviewed and non-sponsored to focus solely on high-quality education. Dr. Skrobanek and his team at GPS Dental are accepting new patients and look forward to meeting you and your family. If you liked that article, you’ll absolutely LOVE our daily newsletter — with more recipes, workouts, and tips and tricks to be the healthiest version of yourself. Instead, you can DIY most of your own dental products and keep costs down while protecting your shiny, white smile. Take a tablespoon of coconut oil and swish in your mouth for two minutes, eventually working your way up to 10 or even 20 minutes. Be sure to spit in a paper towel or right into the trash, as oil in plumbing is not a good combination.

Prevalence of periodontitis according to TSH tertiles

The Information Component (IC) from BCPNN was employed as a measure for signal detection, defined as the logarithmic ratio of the joint probability of the drug-gum disorder pair to the product of their individual probabilities in the database. An IC-based signal was present when the lower bound of the IC’s 95% CI (IC025) exceeded zero. In the MGPS method, the Empirical Bayes Geometric Mean (EBGM) was used, with signal detection criteria met if the lower 95% CI bound (EBGM05) exceeded 2. We considered only generic drug names, and drugs were categorized using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system at the first hierarchical level, as specified by the World Health Organization 18.

• The participants completed a questionnaire on demographic factors, medical and dental history, and thyroxine use (dosage and duration).
• 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.
• Of course, one of the most vital factors in maintaining healthy gums, teeth, and mouths is our own self-care practices.
• You can get the same whitening and antibacterial results by brushing with charcoal (not the kind you grill with – the kind that comes in a supplement capsule).
• The more gum tissue and bone structure that is lost, the greater the complications, which can include tooth loss, infected abscesses, and other serious health problems such as heart disease and gastrointestinal issues.
• Hypothyroid patients on thyroxine replacement therapy may be at increased risk for periodontal destruction.

• She was advised to visit the periodontology clinic every one to three months for recall evaluations and supportive periodontal treatment.
• Bayesian methods included the Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN) and the Multi-Item Gamma Poisson Shrinker (MGPS).
• Imbalances between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines have deleterious effects on tissue destruction in chronic periodontitis33,34.
• An abscess usually looks like a boil on the surface of the gums and is very painful.

Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene practices are essential for individuals with thyroid conditions to minimize the risk of oral health problems and maintain a healthy smile. First, the major limitation lies on the cross-sectional design, and the observed association does not necessarily represent a causal relationship. Longitudinal studies evaluating the temporal association between periodontitis and thyroid function are necessary.

All measurements were made by an examiner who was blinded about the groups to bioidentical synthroid prevent bias. This comparative cross-sectional study with purposive sampling was conducted in accordance with the applicable ethical principles, independently reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee of the Institution. The patients, attending the Department of Periodontics and the General Medicine Department of the Institution, were screened for suitability for the study and written informed consent was obtained from those who agreed to participate voluntarily in this study.