I have crohn's disease and have just gone into a full flare. i have also had extreme pain from my gums sweeling to the point my jaw is swollen. Has anyone experienced this and if so what do you do about it? How often has it happened once it happens the first time?
Gum Swelling
- Thread starter angeliamy
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David
Co-Founder
Hi there,
That must be terrible
Have you called your doctor about it? If so, what did they say?
Are your gums bleeding as well or just real swollen?
That must be terrible
Have you called your doctor about it? If so, what did they say?Are your gums bleeding as well or just real swollen?
Hi, I went to a dentist who knew nothing nor what to do. He put me on antibiotics and pain killers. It has been a very hard week. However, the gum swelling is much better, no gum bleeding by the way, so it on the up hill at least. I'm just curious if anyone else has experienced it. It seems to effect very few patients.
David
Co-Founder
I'm glad you're feeling better! Hopefully someone will come along who has shared your experience.
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My son has experienced the gum swelling. It started 7 weeks out from his Remi infusion and subsided after the next infusion. He was also starting to have D, urgency and slight lower back pain all of which went away with the infusion. He has his next GI appt in a week and a half...wondering if he might tighten the schedule since symptoms start at 7th week. Glad your gums are feeling better.
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Gum bleeding is usually caused by nutritional deficiencies which makes sense why you are now experiancing this, during a flare. I have immediate family members who are dental hygentists & they have told me to use sensodyne toothpaste and to make sure the bleeding isn't being caused from me not brushing my gums good enough/not flossing(usually isn't). Usually the swelling is accompaied by muth ulcers/ulcers on the gum. At least, for me it is.
Also, Crohn's can affect you from mouth to anus so it is possible that the Crohn's is now affecting your mouth(although VERY unlikely).
Also, Crohn's can affect you from mouth to anus so it is possible that the Crohn's is now affecting your mouth(although VERY unlikely).
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I was just stating I had bleeding with my swelling. angliemay didn't state he/she had gum bleeding. I know when my inflammation is bad enough, my gums bleed so I was just giving a well rounded answer like the considerate person I am
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So is yours due to crohns flaring in your mouth or the nutrient deficiencies? And how wouldthat be determined? Just wondering f there is any thing I should ask if it were to happen again. And Keepingfaith you give way more than well rounded answers you are so informative when it comes to aspects of cd. I hate that your knowledge has to come from experience but I am so thankful for your willingness to share it!
I really doubt I am having nutriet deficiencies. I just began the flare although there were signs of it coming on. It is just gum swelling, no gum bleeding. It's also not from brushing my gums...etc. I started having symptoms of a flare and this was one of them. Now I know I'm in a full flare. I was diagnosed in 2001 but had crohns much longer than that. I've been in remissison for 4 yrs. This is the first time I was fully aware of the symptoms and knew as they progressed what was going to happen next. All but the gum swelling...that was a new one! From what I've read, only 1% of crohns patients have this symptom but it does happen. I was wanting to know how many others have had it, how long it lasted for you and how often it returns. And I'm a she.... LOL...
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Mine is caused by both-at the moment the gum inflammation is mimicing my gut inflammation. I can tell when my TI is getting irritated/more inflamed by 2 things(other than pain and weight loss):
1) My JRA gets worse
2) Gum inflammation
The reason CD patients get the mouth ulcers is usually because their intestines are inflamed, hence the inflammation in the mouth. The inflammation from your gut circulates through your blood and that inflammation can attack anything. For me, It's my joints and Gums. For others, it's the eyes and skin. More than half of your immune system is in your gut. When the intestines are inflamed, your immune system is lowered. Add to that bacteria, antibiotics, immunosupressants, poor absorption of minerals/vitamins and you can BET that your immune system is lowered. When your immune system is lowered, it can't prevent that inflammation in the blood from circulating. This is why people with Rhuematoid arthritis RARELY get infections on Remicade. Their joints are the first thing being attacked and since your immune system isn't in your joints, you probably won't have much of an issue with an increased infection risk.
You can get bloodwork done to check for the nutritional deficiencies. I haven't had NEARLY as many mouth sores/inflammation since I've been put on Folic Acid & Vitamin B12. When my gut is inflamed and I'm not absorbing as much nutrients, the mouth sores get worse/come back.
A biopsy can determine if you have any granulomas which will confirm CD but the chance of the granulomas showing up is 50/50. It can take years for them to show up and when biopsied, it needs to be done in the inflamed area. Once you get CD, usually your CD STAYS in the same place where you had inflammation in your first flare. It doesn't spread(unless you have a resection). You may say "Well my Crohn's didn't show granulomas in my colon with my first flare and now, 5 years later, there are granulomas." The logic there is wrong. It's more than possible the GI didn't biopsy the right part of the intestine to show CD in the colon when you were first diagnosed with your first flare. There is a insanely high chance you've had colon inflammation the whole time but the inflammation was worse in another area so that's where your GI focused on the treatment of the disease rather than the mildly inflamed colon.
I know that's a lot of information but in conclusion: If your GI hasn't already diagnosed oral Crohn's and you didn't have any mouth inflammation with your very first flare, but you are now having inflammation in your mouth with another flare, you don't have oral Crohn's. Your body is just reacting to the inflammation in the gut and the gum inflammation is your body's way of saying "HEY! I'M INFLAMED IN THE GUT! FIX ME!" Just like how menstural cramps is the body's way of saying "I'm about to lay a egg"
1) My JRA gets worse
2) Gum inflammation
The reason CD patients get the mouth ulcers is usually because their intestines are inflamed, hence the inflammation in the mouth. The inflammation from your gut circulates through your blood and that inflammation can attack anything. For me, It's my joints and Gums. For others, it's the eyes and skin. More than half of your immune system is in your gut. When the intestines are inflamed, your immune system is lowered. Add to that bacteria, antibiotics, immunosupressants, poor absorption of minerals/vitamins and you can BET that your immune system is lowered. When your immune system is lowered, it can't prevent that inflammation in the blood from circulating. This is why people with Rhuematoid arthritis RARELY get infections on Remicade. Their joints are the first thing being attacked and since your immune system isn't in your joints, you probably won't have much of an issue with an increased infection risk.
You can get bloodwork done to check for the nutritional deficiencies. I haven't had NEARLY as many mouth sores/inflammation since I've been put on Folic Acid & Vitamin B12. When my gut is inflamed and I'm not absorbing as much nutrients, the mouth sores get worse/come back.
A biopsy can determine if you have any granulomas which will confirm CD but the chance of the granulomas showing up is 50/50. It can take years for them to show up and when biopsied, it needs to be done in the inflamed area. Once you get CD, usually your CD STAYS in the same place where you had inflammation in your first flare. It doesn't spread(unless you have a resection). You may say "Well my Crohn's didn't show granulomas in my colon with my first flare and now, 5 years later, there are granulomas." The logic there is wrong. It's more than possible the GI didn't biopsy the right part of the intestine to show CD in the colon when you were first diagnosed with your first flare. There is a insanely high chance you've had colon inflammation the whole time but the inflammation was worse in another area so that's where your GI focused on the treatment of the disease rather than the mildly inflamed colon.
I know that's a lot of information but in conclusion: If your GI hasn't already diagnosed oral Crohn's and you didn't have any mouth inflammation with your very first flare, but you are now having inflammation in your mouth with another flare, you don't have oral Crohn's. Your body is just reacting to the inflammation in the gut and the gum inflammation is your body's way of saying "HEY! I'M INFLAMED IN THE GUT! FIX ME!" Just like how menstural cramps is the body's way of saying "I'm about to lay a egg"
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LOL...lay an egg good analogy! C had mouth ulcers when all this started, all over inside his mouth. As soon as we started the Remi those went away and haven't returned just the gum swelling 7 weeks out from infusion so maybe his is just the gut inflammation starting up since it is far out from his Remi and the GI I guess could possibly tighten the schedule.
Very interesting keepignfaith! I think I get what you are saying. However, when I was in the flare 5 years ago, I would get occaisional mouth sores but very few and my entire lower intestines were bleeding. The doc said I didn't have even one clean area. If Humira didn't work he wanted to take it out, but I refused! Since it cleared and I went into remission I've had a few mouth sores, issues when my gut is screaming but not bleeding. Now it's bleeding, I'm losing weight, and have the gum swelling but no mouth sores. It's amazing how many different things can happen. Seems I learn something new all the time! Thanks!
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I have swelling in my upper palate before a crohn's episode. It's just part of the inflamatory response of the immune system. You have to reduce the triggers and your symptoms will gradually get better. I had very serious crohns and regularly take no drugs whatsoever. It's been a long road and very difficult but can be done. Triggers are food sensitivities, airborne sensitivities and fear/stress, anything which our overly sensitive immune system tries to protect us from. Good luck.
Anna's Bandit
Member
I am having gum inflammation, gum pain, swollen glands, film on my tongue, and more.
I made an immediate appointment to see my dentist on Monday. He can evaluate the situation.
I am concerned that I may need antibiotics.
I have my regular dental cleaning on Wednesday.
I made an immediate appointment to see my dentist on Monday. He can evaluate the situation.
I am concerned that I may need antibiotics.
I have my regular dental cleaning on Wednesday.
Last edited:
Anna's Bandit
Member
Had my teeth cleaned today.
All is well.
But I must step up my daily dental routine at home.
Waterpik every day.
Take Care.
All is well.
But I must step up my daily dental routine at home.
Waterpik every day.
Take Care.
