Photo: Brunswick News Archives
It’s been over a month since I had two teeth extracted; the healing process is slow going and I now understand why. Living with hypothyroidism impacts oral/dental health with regard to wound healing and wound care. Armed with that knowledge, I stepped up cleansing protocols with a few extra daily salt water swishes and added an extra round of vitamins and minerals to improve mouth and gum health. Given my age, my gums are in good shape; I wasn’t advised of any concerns by my dentist.
Thyroid problems interfere with the body’s capacity to heal wounds and fight off infection so those with thyroid conditions are often higher risk for gum disease. Given my since-childhood aversion to dentists, I am almost OCD about oral health care with the brushing, dental rinse, and soap not toothpaste. I wasn’t able to easily floss because of the exaggerated gag reflex but a nifty gadget I got years ago, the Oral-B Hummingbird, now off market helped me a lot. I could put one hand on the sink counter and use the flosser with the other; no gag-choke reflex triggered. Knowing at the time, I’d love it, I got a bunch of the toothpicks and flosser heads. I’m all set for a few years until they decide to re-introduce the product, though Water-Pik does have have something comparable.
So concerned was I that I was drifting into an infection with my recent dentist visit that I consulted with my doctor who provided a script to address the issue. Living on my own, I didn’t want to find myself in a medical crisis when it could be avoided with intervention. Thankfully, my stepped up proactivity precluded the need to start the course of antibiotics. I panicked prematurely. Since they’re broad spectrum, the prescribed antibiotics are also indicated for lung infections, so if I find myself feeling ‘chesty’, I able to treat immediately.
These COVID times alter how we who live with disability must function in order to maintain a level of quality health care, either self-driven or with supports from doctors and other clinicians. I’ve spent decades making my way around growing up with and growing old with CP, and how I function when invaded by infection. I’m fortunate to have had and continue to have a doctor who allows himself to learn from me. Very often, the bodies of persons with CP respond differently to infections; some don’t fare well unless aggressive treatment protocols are introduced early. Sometimes, hospitalizations are indicated, but the best course is to stay the heck away from those ‘germ factories’; we’re at great risk with each admission. Doctors must pay attention when a patient presenting with situations that would be ‘simple’ for everyone else, but significantly debilitating for someone already compromised by deficiencies in how the body functions generally. A tooth issue may be more than just an aching pearly white. It might be a matter of the heart.
Those with an underactive thyroid tend to experience a greater occurrence of dental cavities, tooth sensitivity, bleeding gums, and even decaying molars. I had no sensitive teeth, no bleeding gums, but I did have decaying molars. Over decades, the fillings simply fell apart and the tooth structure degraded to the point where extraction was the only viable solution. Through it all, I never had a single moment of pain. I was so fortunate in that regard.
Thyroid disease, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, are often hereditary, so if you have a family member who is being treated with medication to manage hormone imbalance, it would be prudent for you to ask your doctor about blood work. One family member might have a thyroid disorder and diabetes, while another may have only diabetes. That’s why it’s so importance to seek proper medical advice if you are presenting with symptoms often associated with thyroid disease. Notable among them: elevated heart rate, tiredness, anxiety, weight gain or loss, tremors, running hot or cold, difficulty concentrating, hair loss, digestive issues, muscle aches, sleep issues, dry or oily skin, changes in vision (blurry, gritty feeling).
Keeping up with routine tests and discussions with your physician can potentially save you from serious crises. Make sure to have a conversation with your physician if you’re concerned about inherited conditions and diseases to get ahead of them. Sometimes, ‘doctor drugs’ may not be necessary and an adjustment in diet is all you need. So, have a salad. A glass of water on the side!
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese and Mr. Malcolm, the boisterous Havanese. She can be reached via email at Carla MacInnis Rockwell
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