Sjogren’s syndrome has different remedies that include medical intervention and lifestyle changes. The treatment options your doctor recommends is mainly focused on alleviating the symptoms that you have and not with necessarily curing the disease. With proper care, your dental health does not have to suffer from the disease.

What Is Sjogren’s Syndrome?

Sjogren’s syndrome is an immune system disease that affects the mouth and eyes. The disease results in a reduction of the production of saliva and tears. Although this may not sound that serious, it can be.

Dry mouth can lead to a host of problems including the development of dental cavities. Saliva helps to reduce the presence of bacteria and acids in your mouth that can erode at the teeth. When your saliva production is limited, dental cavities can form and can even lead to even bigger problems such as loss of teeth.

What Are the Available Medical Treatments?

The medications that your dentist prescribes are designed to alleviate the dryness that you are experiencing. The medications recommended might include:

Pilocarpine and cevimeline. Both drugs help to increase saliva production. They can also lead to an increase in tear production which is helpful if your eyes have been impacted.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The medications help if you are experiencing problems with your jaw muscles as a result of the disease. Since the disease occurs with common autoimmune disorders such as arthritis, treating the symptoms of arthritis sometimes helps with the symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome.

Hydroxychloroquine. The drug works to suppress the immune system which alleviates the symptoms.

What Options Are Available at Home?

You might find relief from the symptoms of Sjogren’s disease at home using certain remedies. Some of the steps you can take include:

[tie_list type=”checklist”]

• Drink more fluids. Fluids such as water can help to alleviate the dry mouth symptoms. The relief may be temporary, but well worth it for most.
• Use artificial tears and saliva. Both products contain lubricants that can keep your eyes and mouth moist longer.
• Use topical fluoride treatments. While dealing with the symptoms of dry mouth, your dental hygiene needs special care. Topical fluoride treatments help to strengthen your enamel which protects your teeth from dental cavities.

[/tie_list]

The most important thing you can do while dealing with Sjogren’s disease is to keep your dentist aware of any changes to your mouth, teeth, and gums. You can ask dentists like those at MJ Mylne Dental for knowing how to take care of this disease. The dentist can work with your general care doctor to reduce the disease’s impact on your dental health.