I'm hoping Bryanna isn't sick of me yet and wants to answer.

I'm on a new medication for Lupus, Cellcept. Normally, when my lupus is flaring my bottom gums are more swollen and recede a little. I noticed my top gums (front teeth) are red and swollen, and bleeding as well. My gums had been doing super well, in fact my last cleaning the person cleaning them commented that I had virtually no bleeding and to keep up whatever I'm doing. I called the pharmacist and swollen, bleeding gums are a side effect of cellcept.

Going off the medicine isn't currently an option. It's protecting my kidneys, and those are harder to replace than teeth/gums.

Do you have any suggestions on what might help? Obviously, I can do salt water rinses, but anything else? Oddly enough brushing doesn't appear to irritate them further.

Socasusie,

Don't be silly..... I am here to help if I can!

Bleeding gums are a nasty side effect of many medications. The best thing to do is to continue to brush and floss thoroughly to keep the bacteria down. Avoid mouthwash because the alcohol and chemicals in these products will worsen the problem in that they reduce the salivary flow and pre dispose you to tooth decay.

There is really nothing you can do to eliminate it because the medication is what is causing it. Your gum tissue can also become enlarged and start to grow over your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing may help prevent that from happening.

Bryanna





QUOTE=socasusie;1018530]I'm hoping Bryanna isn't sick of me yet and wants to answer.

I'm on a new medication for Lupus, Cellcept. Normally, when my lupus is flaring my bottom gums are more swollen and recede a little. I noticed my top gums (front teeth) are red and swollen, and bleeding as well. My gums had been doing super well, in fact my last cleaning the person cleaning them commented that I had virtually no bleeding and to keep up whatever I'm doing. I called the pharmacist and swollen, bleeding gums are a side effect of cellcept.

Going off the medicine isn't currently an option. It's protecting my kidneys, and those are harder to replace than teeth/gums.

Do you have any suggestions on what might help? Obviously, I can do salt water rinses, but anything else? Oddly enough brushing doesn't appear to irritate them further.[/QUOTE]

I feel like I keep taking advantage of your generosity-I know you of this all on your own time, and I really do appreciate it!

Is it ok to still use my waterpik, or is that too harsh? I will stayed way from mouthwash, but I'm assuming that if I want salt water rinses are still ok? Also, I sometimes use something called OraMD. It's a few essential oils in almond oil-I used a drop or two if I want to freshen my mouth, or in water as a rinse (it's supposed to replace toothpaste but I don't use it that way). I don't want to make it worse, but oil is naturally antibacterial.

Thank you again for all your help and support, I appreciate it!

Hi socasusie,

Yes, I volunteer on this site. But I do that willingly

You can use a water pik on the light setting. Salt water rinses are always okay.

I am not familiar with OraMD. Their website lists 3 ingredients but that does not mean that is all that is in it. You can call the company and ask for the inert ingredients.. tell them you have allergies and need to know ALL of the ingredients.

Essential Oils can be therapeutic to the oral tissue. However, if too potent they can irritate the oral tissue if it is irritated to begin with.

Have you ever tried organic coconut oil? There is no risk of irritation and you could add a drop of peppermint oil to it if you wanted to.

What toothpaste are you using to brush your teeth?

Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna!

When I think about it, I do oil pulling with organic coconut oil. I love it! That a great idea on calling them, I will do so.

I use plain, old fashioned Crest. The old school formula-it doesn't make my mouth peel like most products do.

My goal is to keep my mouth as health as possible, and try not to irritate. I know it's the medicine, but it feels like I'm neglecting gums with how they're acting (I know I'm being just as good as I was before, but the fact they're bleeding is making mad because I'm putting forth the effort). The other weird part is that there bleeding in weird spots. Like I've never had the gums in front of my front teeth bleed, and yet they are.

I would like to chime in here too....

The symptom of bleeding gums should be reported to your doctor, because low platelets will also cause it.

Many many drugs can cause low platelets in the blood, including
genetic errors you may have inherited.

All warnings to patients, who take certain drugs (even Calan for blood pressure!), may develop bleeding gums. It is a serious side effect and should be reported to the doctor.
more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombocytopenia

I know a young woman with NO medication or lupus history who just started to hemorrhage in the dentist's chair suddenly... she had ITP and was hosptialized!

So please discuss this with your doctor and have some blood work done to verify your platelets are okay. They can tend to go down in lupus patients, anyway... It might not be just the new Cellcept.