Although are many kinds of lupus, they all fall under one category, an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body actually becomes allergic to itself. This happens when the antibodies used to protect the body from infectious agents attack the healthy cells and tissues instead (The Lupus Book). The types of lupus include discoid lupus, subacute cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, neonatal lupus, and systemic lupus erythematosus, the most common type. Lupus damages many parts of the body including the skin, joints, blood vessels, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain (Lupus 2016). Lupus can even affect the overall oral health as well as causing nutritional deficiencies that could lead to major health issues. Anyone can be diagnosed
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Saliva is needed to protect teeth from acid exposure and developing cavities, however a lupus diagnosis can lead to problems such as swollen glands. Swollen salivary glands is also known as Sjogren’s Syndrome which can diminish the salivary flow, resulting in dry mouth. Green (2016) stated, “The mouth contains 500 types of bacteria, as stated by Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), and 11 of these cause periodontal disease” (http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/immune-disorders/article/the-link-between-lupus-and-teeth-0515). So without saliva, your teeth will not be protected from those certain bacteria and serious decay may occur (The Link Between Lupus and …show more content…
The most common deficiencies for lupus are vitamins D and B12. Vitamin D is responsible for bone health and may be linked to prevention of autoimmune diseases. It can be found in several various food sources but it can also be synthesized from direct sunlight exposure. This deficiency occurs because light sensitivity prevents any vitamin D from being absorbed. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also associated with lupus. It is responsible for healthy blood cells, nerves and DNA genetic material. It also prevents anemia, which is common with lupus, as well as
Saliva is needed to protect teeth from acid exposure and developing cavities, however a lupus diagnosis can lead to problems such as swollen glands. Swollen salivary glands is also known as Sjogren’s Syndrome which can diminish the salivary flow, resulting in dry mouth. Green (2016) stated, “The mouth contains 500 types of bacteria, as stated by Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), and 11 of these cause periodontal disease” (http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/immune-disorders/article/the-link-between-lupus-and-teeth-0515). So without saliva, your teeth will not be protected from those certain bacteria and serious decay may occur (The Link Between Lupus and …show more content…
The most common deficiencies for lupus are vitamins D and B12. Vitamin D is responsible for bone health and may be linked to prevention of autoimmune diseases. It can be found in several various food sources but it can also be synthesized from direct sunlight exposure. This deficiency occurs because light sensitivity prevents any vitamin D from being absorbed. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also associated with lupus. It is responsible for healthy blood cells, nerves and DNA genetic material. It also prevents anemia, which is common with lupus, as well as