Does fibromyalgia effect the teeth

Answer 1

The basic answer would be 'yes'. The more detailed answer follows :

With fibromyalgia there are symptoms such as pain (including 18 points used in diagnosis), that all with fibromyalgia experience, there are other symptoms that most, though not all experience, and there are other symptoms I expect that some, though not many experience.

While I personally experience widespread pain almost everywhere, the teeth is somewhere it hasn't spread to, except when there is a tooth problem. However, I found the article online 'What Dentists Should Know about FMS/CMPS' which suggests that tooth pain does often happen (it can be found on a number various sites), and this suggests that it is common.

Damage to teeth from teeth grinding (as mentioned in the article) is understandable, as high pain I have found can contribute to this (and some relief from pain can be gained from noticing when tensing such as this happens and using relaxing exercises).

Also if people are in too much pain to clean their teeth, problems can happen.

I have experienced teeth problems of enamel coming from the base of the teeth, a cracked tooth, and more problems besides, and I have found that there are many cases of other people with fibromyalgia who have started experiencing bad teeth, for example at : http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/coping_fibromyalgia/73290

The author Barb Briley has found that 'many' ('though not all')people in his group have had teeth problems.

I suspected, as the above author does in another article, the build up of calcium phosphates found in the body of many (at least) people with fibromyalgia (and wondered if possibly these are the strange bumps and lumps found in my body.....it was confirmed by an osteopath that I had blockages in the lymphatic nodes but am not sure if they could be phosphates). Some authors agree with this theory such as : http://www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com/Research_Urico.htm

"For several reasons we suspect a partial role for inorganic phosphate (Pi). This is supported by some observations. Patients note cyclic chipping or peeling fingernails (calcium phosphate). Dental calculus (calcium phosphate) often breaks off, and sometimes no longer forms, during treatment. Calcium added to meals allows lower dosages of medication, probably because calcium binds to phosphate as calcium phosphate and increases faecal elimination"

And write that they found that:

"Examination of 24-hour urine samples of patients who had begun guaifenesin show large increases in the excretion of phosphate and, in lesser amounts, calcium and oxalate. Though other anions might be involved, the preceding suggest a primary defect in phosphate (and possibly pyrophosphate) metabolism. If so, the following formula would account for depressed mitochondrial ATP generation".

However, sites like : http://www.fmnetnews.com/resources-alert-product6.php suggest that this is not the case :

"Dr. Bennett provided six scientifically based reasons to toss out this claim:

Both the serum and urinary levels of uric acid and phosphate were all in the normal range and no change was noted over time...6. Lastly, guaifenesin was not found to increase uric acid or phosphate excretions. Thus the postulated action of guaifenesin-the reason cited for its effectiveness-could not be demonstrated."

Personally, I did have a marked improvement when taking guaifenesin that I can't put down to placebo affect (but can't definitely put down to the use of the guaifenesin either, but it 'coincidentally health improved somewhat while using it, and declined around the time I stopped taking it') and 'guaiacum', (the herbal medicine from which it is derived) Bartram's encyclopaedia of herbal medicine cites as a medicine for similar/same symptoms/ conditions to fibromyalgia. I haven't taken it for a while as it is difficult to get hold of, and am finding other ways to get to the route of the problem, such as paqo/altomesaoq healing from the 'Four Winds' 'Healing the Light Body' course and practitioners.

(Regarding this healing, as written about by Alberto Villoldo, I have found excellent for me at getting to the source of the symptoms rather than just keeping treating them, though it, for me, has been a gradual process with layers upon layers to be healed, with this healing helping more each time….I am yet to see if/when a healing of all parts of it happens long term).

Regarding the lymphatic system, the site " http://www.ei-resource.org/expert-columns/dr.-gloria-gilberes-column/the-lymphatic-system:-ignored,-misunderstood-and-neglected/ " does state that the lymphatic system is the 'inner excretory mechanism of the body', and provides the means for each cell to eliminate waste'. It also 'describes processes to help with this. I do not however, know for sure whether this could cause the teeth problems.

I also found this at http://www.squidoo.com/glutensensitivity (some people, like myself have this with the fibromyalgia, but this could possibly apply to fibromyalgia too, as it can affect so mant parts of the body, including nutrient absorption etc) :

"The loss of dental enamel nearly always indicates problems with the way your carbohydrates are processed. Several factors play a role in this. The natural acidity level of your stomach is of utmost importance. Excessive tissue acidity quickly erodes your tooth enamel by a process that is looking to neutralize your acid-alkaline blood balance. For this purpose calcium, along with several other essential minerals, is leached from your bones and teeth"

More research and answers, and advice on what to do about the teeth problems themselves would be useful. As one author wrote, so much focus is put on the pain side of it (understandably so), that other symptoms are less, or not looked into. I use an oral irrigator now, as well as normal tooth routine.....am not sure if that has helped though. As Barb Riley writes :

'What causes good teeth? We all know that we have to have plenty of calcium, good brushing and less sweets.

This is not a hard principal to follow, brush, eat healthy, and you have good teeth. Right? Wrong! At least for me. So what did I do wrong? I decided to check out one of my life's greatest influences, Fibromyalgia".

Good luck!

Answer 2

Fibromyalgia can affect all areas of your body. It can cause pain, even in your teeth. However, it is not likely to cause other issues with your teeth. A common co-existing condition with Fibromyalgia is Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) which can cause extreme pain in your jaw and teeth. It is important that if you have any new or worsened pain that you have it checked out to ensure that the pain is not caused by a co-existing condition.