Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that affects the glands that produce and control moisture throughout the body. The most common symptom is chronic dryness in the eyes and mouth. If you have Sjögren’s syndrome, your health care providers will be able to recommend a combination of treatments to manage symptoms.
Symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome
The glands throughout her body that control moisture production in and around your nose, throat, and mouth, your digestive system, and tears. Patient experience chronic dryness throughout their entire body which may be accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Xerostomia (dry mouth) and trouble swallowing
- Loss of taste
- Tooth decay
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Neuropathy
- Rashes on the skin
- Fatigue or brain fog
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Sensitivity to light
Causes of Sjögren’s Syndrome
An autoimmune disease is when the immune system which is designed to protect the body instead, attacks it. Unfortunately, there is no known direct cause of Sjögren's syndrome but there are factors that may trigger Sjögren's syndrome including other autoimmune disorders and some viral infections. Other medical problems that can trigger Sjögren’s syndrome include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Lupus
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1
- Hepatitis C
- COVID-19
Patients that have been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome are at an increased risk of oral and ocular infections, abnormal liver or kidney function, lymphomas, neurological problems, or even lung problems.
Treatment for Xerostomia with Sjögren’s Syndrome
While there is no cure for Sjögren's syndrome, your doctors can help find a combination of treatments that reduce the impact it has on your quality of life. Depending on where in your body Sjögren syndrome affects you, common treatments for patients who experience xerostomia may be advised to up their water intake, sipping throughout the day or sucking (not chewing!) on ice chips. There are also chewing gums with properties that help stimulate saliva production.
People with Sjögren's syndrome have a higher risk of oral issues and may benefit from more frequent cleanings. The standard twice a year is suitable for patients who do not have a history of oral health issues or underlying medical problems. Those with periodontal disease or who are at risk of developing periodontal issues might be advised to have three or four cleanings per year to keep everything healthy.
Your dentist can also provide a list of oral care products containing fluoride and xylitol to help manage your dry mouth. Xylitol melts are a little disc that you stick to your gums before you go to sleep and they are incredibly helpful in keeping your mouth moist during the night.
If you begin to notice symptoms of dry mouth, it is important to see your dentist as soon as possible to determine the cause and begin treatment before it gets worse and causes irreparable damage to your teeth.