what is oral psoriasis

If you’re someone who knows about psoriasis, you already know the basics of this. This is an autoimmune condition and skin condition that causes thick, dry, and silvery scales along with sometimes itchy patches within the skin. This happens when the skin cells' life cycle is sped up, and this creates rough, dead and other problems with the skin cells. 

While it isn’t contagious and very common, it’s considered an immune disorder with a genetic focus. There are different triggers based on the person, but stress, dry weather, alcohol consumption, smoking, and existing infections put you at risk. Luckily, since it is so common, there are plenty of treatments which are available. 

Oral Psoriasis Vs. Regular Psoriasis 

Psoriasis is usually seen on the skin, but there are rare cases where it can happen in other places. If you already suffer from psoriasis, there’s a high chance that you may develop oral psoriasis. 

This occurs on the corners of the mouth, tongue, lips, and the like.  It doesn’t have regular triggers and patterns like others, so the outbreaks will happen without rhyme or reason. 

Psoriasis within the mouth is not common, but if you’ve got symptoms, talk to the dermatologist or dentist to make sure that it is psoriasis and not a cold sore. 

Diagnosis and Symptom Treatment 

If you do have psoriasis, you may wonder this. 

The two most common symptoms are: 

• Small, white bumps that bleed when you scrape them. 

• Red and white plagues on the mouth or other oral areas 

If you think that you have these symptoms, then you should talk to the dermatologist or dentist in order to figure out the best course of treatment. 

Ideally, you may get a biopsy in order to ensure that you get the correct diagnosis. 

If it is confirmed, there are certain treatments which get prescribed for your means. 

The most common treatments for those with psoriasis include: 

• Steroid creams 

• Anti-inflammatory oral medications 

The medications will reduce both inflammation and pain, so it will be easier for you to drink and eat.  It also may improve if you treat the symptoms in the skin, so yes, treating other areas can impact treating these areas. 

Prevention of Psoriasis 

While you can’t combat psoriasis, one way to do so is to know the triggers that co occur when you’re dealing with skin prosaic. 

Oral psoriasis is a little more complicated because they usually don’t have sudden symptoms that show up.  However, there are a few triggers that contribute to psoriasis in general, including the mouth. 

There are a few precautions here and there, and they include: 

• Limit the spicy foods that you have 

• Don’t smoke 

• Utilize mouth rinses, especially after eating 

• Practice good oral care, and see your dentist every six months 

Again, there’s a specific set pattern with oral psoriasis, but just like with regular psoriasis, if you know what triggers it, it will definitely benefit you. 

You can also talk to a dentist, doctor, or dermatologist to help you get on the right path. If they do prescribe medications, try to use one that fits your needs, and talk to them prior to treatment of this. 

Promises is not a comfortable disease, and in some cases, it can be downright painful. But, with the correct diagnosis, along with proper care, you’ll be able to control and manage your symptoms as well, treating them in an effective manner. You’ll be able to ensure that you’ve got the right preventative and diagnosis tips in order to best fit the needs that you have and treat the symptoms as well.

Climate and Geography’s Impact on dental health

 Where you live does have bearing on many things. Whether it’s the conditions of where you live, access to foods, or even your overall bodily health, it does play some role in this. 

Climates, especially those with more extreme circumstances, can impact oral health. We’ll dive into just how this works, and the way that you’re able to control this through additional steps you can take to make this better for yourself. 

Fluoride in Water 

Most places have fluoride in drinking water. Fluoride is a mineral that’s used to help improve your teeth’s health and strength. Mineralization utilizes fluoride in order to build up the enamel and make it strong.

By mandate, most places have drinking water which contains fluoride. This is a good thing, because it can keep your teeth strong, and prevent other oral health issues.

But, despite many people benefitting from fluoride, there are some risks that excessive fluoride have in certain circumstances. 

Dental fluorosis is one example. This is where white or brown areas of the teeth show up due to excessive fluoride. Again, it isn’t a serious condition, but it does make the aesthetics a bit of a downer in some cases. 

In rare circumstances, too much fluoride can cause bone pain, fractures, or stiffness, but again, this is something that involves large amounts of fluoride, so if your water contains such, take the time to make sure that your oral health is not compromised due to these concerns. 

Cold and hot Climates 

Obviously, climate change has started to impact the way oral health is treated. In cooler climates, people tend to have more sensitivity and dry mouth, as the air tends to be dry. This is in contrast to more humid climates, where it might be the opposite.

With dry mouth and sensitivity, it does put you at cavity risk, especially if you have a history of dental care. With that said, if you have issues with cavities, and live in a climate that is not conducive to such, then take it upon yourself to ensure that you are managing your oral health effectively. 

Urban Vs. Rural Hygiene 

Urban climates also may have some issues with oral hygiene. 

In rural climates, there is a chance that oral care might not be available, along with fluoride in the water.   If it is hard to get this type of assistance, then take it upon yourself to look into alternative means to get treatments. 

For those in urban areas, while fluoride might be in the water, air pollution is common, which might irritate the gums, leading to periodontal disease. 

Some vector borne illnesses in more rural areas might also lead to malaria and dengue in a person, if not properly treated. 

Some people also might experience changes in their oral health as well depending on the extreme circumstances of weather that they’re going through.

All in all, if you have some sense of concern for the weather, or for your oral health matters, talk to a doctor today. They’ll be able to point you in the correct direction, allowing you to have better oral health. 

Taking care of your teeth does matter, regardless  of the climate that you live in. if you are not doing such already, start to work on improving oral health by taking it upon yourself to brush your teeth and floss every single day. Make sure to stay hydrated, and if you are not getting enough fluoride already, make sure you work with your dentist to find the right alternatives for your oral health. 

Crohn’s disease, ulcerative Colitis, and Dental Health

 Colitis and Crohn’s disease are conditions that cause a bit of your digestive tract to become inflamed.  This is something that impacts not just the gut, but also the mouth and colon. 

It does make you susceptible to some diseases, including gum disease. This is because of the inflammation reduction the body does, and also the possible damage the antibodies can do to the teeth.

That’s why having good oral hygiene helps with reducing the symptoms that come with this disease. 

How Dentists Can Help 

You should always be mindful of your oral health, telling your dentist about this condition, along with medicines that are taken, and from there, you get specifically tailored advice.

You should still make sure to brush daily for up to two minutes, and also, you should use a fluoride type of toothpaste. 

You should also be mindful of the side effects of colitis and Crohn’s disease medicine, which is dry mouth. This is when the mouth is sore and dry, and it can irritate this as well. be mindful of acidic, or spicy foods, as this can further irritate it.  If you do have dry mouth, talk to the dentist to find out how you can get help to treat this.

Some toothpastes have Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, which is an agent that creates frothing in the mouth.  It might be astringent for those with colitis, so make sure that you’re using toothpaste that doesn’t have this. If necessary, you should also talk to a dentist or a hygienist to figure out the right toothpaste that you should use.  Get one that’s high in fluoride in order to control the oral health that you have, protecting this against tooth decay.  This is especially important if you have a dry mouth. Colitis and Crohn’s is something that causes mouth ulcers, which you should be mindful of.

If you do have a mouth ulcer, and within three weeks it doesn’t heal, talk to a dentist so that they’re able to look at, and manage all of this too.

Make sure to clean between the teeth every single day, using tape, floss, or interdental brushes.  If the joints start to feel painful, or you have some issues with moving your floss between the teeth, consider using Water Parks to get water between the teeth to get rid of debris and plaque.  Those with bad dexterity love these.  The plaque that collects between the teeth does cause the risk for caries, along with gum disease and other conditions. It can also cause issues with your heart, as diabetes and cardiovascular disease also play a role in this too.

Other Risks 

What a lot of people don’t know are the other risks. 

Smoking for those with colitis and Crohn’s can be bad, and it might be a risk factor, or minimally exacerbating. Smoking is also bad for your oral health.  This is because it causes nicotine staining.

If you do chew tobacco, you’re likely to get mouth cancer. This is why the ulcers begin to appear, which can be confused with the mouth ulcers from colitis or Crohn’s disease. If you do engage in smoking or chewing tobacco, and you start to have these ulcers form, talk to your dentist, and make sure that you keep an eye on it.

For those with Colitis or Crohn’s disease, you want to make sure that you eat a diet that’s balanced, especially for the flare-ups.  Avoid anything that’s processed, and any foods or drinks that are sugary when possible.

For those with a diet high in sugar, or they vomit up when flaring, use mouthwash to get rid of possible decay.