Propecia and dental problems

Symptoms Physical
#13

Further note, I just had $2k in dental work done and the dentist said an additional 5 teeth have soft spots (cavities in waiting). F - U - C - K. And I’m having a problem with my jaw now, and nerves. I started clenching and grinding after starting propecia (didn’t realize this until visiting the dentist, never had the headaches or head pain before propecia and didn’t think about it until now). The teeth are starting to wear.

Now I’m clenching muscles so hard that it’s traveled to my neck, shoulder, and chest to the point where my shoulder and a rib pop out of joint at nights when I sleep.

So again I’m in a situation where something really strange is going on and I can’t figure out how to fix it but it makes life miserable…

#14

Wow, I’m so glad to have found this posting! I’m a male in my late 30’s. My dental problems didn’t really surface until after I quit taking Propecia. I took the drug for 5-6 years. I’ve been off it for a little more than a year now, and although I have excellent dental hygiene (brush twice, floss once daily), I think I had 5 cavaties in the past year (3 were substantial, at the gumline. 2 were very minor pit cavaties). I’m confident that the cause of the cavaties is due to reduced saliva production aka xerostomia. I’m almost always thirsty and have to carry a bottle of water everywhere I go. My electrolytes have checked out fine. With negative blood test results for auto immune disorders, such as Sjogren’s, my doctor is a little stumped. Blood tests over the past year revealed that I have subclinical hyperthyroidism. I’ve found many references to Propecia affecting the thyroid and endocrine system, however, I’ve been looking for indications that it might have affected my exocrine system, specifically the salivary glands. I’ve also tried to pay closer attention to my diet and digestive system, since I know it is all related. Digestion is basically normal, although I suspect I’ve had issues w/ mild Candida overgrowth. I try to eat whole foods often, and have limited my intake of sugars and gluten products. FWIW, I tend to sweat less frequently than others too. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, I’d welcome any replies.

#15

Many of us ended up with dry eyes, a product of androgen deprivation. Saliva producing glands are also impaired in some.

If you’re thirsty and sweat less check recent posts by me on the following:

sea salt
thyroid
cortisol
aldosterone
potassium

After taking sea salt in combination with iodine I started to sweat normally again. Two pieces of the puzzle…

#16

Martin have you tried to wear a mouth guard at night? I used to have problems with clenching and grinding when I was on another drug, and it helped. Just go to target and pick up a cheap $1 athletic boil and bite mouth guard and cut a bit of the excess off to fit your mouth.

#17

Well it would follow reason that if you are more stressed you would grind your teeth more. Not saying that this poison doesnt effect your dential health too. Might very well. I had a couple a root canal since my crash and I also have excellent hygeine.

#18

I tried it but it threw off my bite and caused more problems. The origin comes from clenched neck and back muscles when I sleep, travels all the way through the jaw. I haven’t had the problem as bad since I stopped working and spending 10hrs/day in front of the computer though so happy about that. Still have clenching in the shoulders and upper back when I sleep though.

Gum recession and sensitivity
#19

martinM-

Thanks for your suggestions.

Also I need to make a correction…

Just realized that I typed “hyperthyroidism”…meant subclinical hypothyroidism. (My TSH was 4.88, but my T4 was normal).

#20

I took propecia for about 6 months and stopped suddenly. I too have a constant dry mouth (especially in the morning), sensitive gums and somewhat of a white tongue. I wasn’t really thinking that stopping Propecia would do something like this. I have been under a lot of stress as of late which may be the cause for the mouth problems as well. If it is the drug, does this go away?

#21

I am beginning to fear that I will be stuck with these symptoms for the long run. Ever since I stopped the drug, I feel very different…brain fog? My salivary glands don’t seem to be working the way they used and I basically just feel that something is wrong. Should I go back on the drug or is this the “crash”. I did not taper the drug…does this get better?

#22

What in the hell?

#23

I second Tim’s reply.

However, I had the same thought prior to finding this forum. In retrospect, I now realize that I had symptoms back when I was taking the drug, however the onset of these symptoms was very slow. And since my symtoms seemed to worsen without the drug, I thought that maybe I needed it to make me feel normal again. Then I read through many of the posts on this forum and quickly realized that I wasn’t going back. Compared to many people on this forum, I have somewhat minor issues. Still we’ve all already observed how the drug has disrupted our body’s balance (whether it be WITH taking the drug or WITHOUT it). I think you have to be concerned about the bigger picture now. If you go back on the drug, what pitfalls lie ahead?

I think that a wiser course of action would be to get proper blood work done to identify and thus benchmark your present condition, and then take steps to create an environment that would facilitate your body’s rehabilitation or rebalancing. Help your body to be as healthy as it can be through diet and supplements, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle. Will this work? I’m optimistically hopeful for myself.

At least you’ll be confident that you’re not inflicting further damage to your body.

Oh and FWIW, I gradually ceased taking the drug. Went to half a pill for a year or more, then slowly tapered off skipping days here and there. I still got the dry mouth and the brain fog without a “crash”.

#24

Number23, very encouraging words…thank you. Yes, I thought that going back on the drug would have resolved my syptoms because I never did have any when I was on the drug. I didn’t restart the drug and will endure this hoping that it goes away in time as it has only been a couple of weeks.

#25

This problem has completely resolved for me since taking high dose vitamin c (2000-3000mg p/d)

#26

I’m having a ton of dental problems right now. I had a cleaning/check up on April 28 2010, and everything was fine. Took fin for 15 days in mid-May. By late June I started having problems in one of my lower second molars, which eventually became inflamed and needed a root canal. The root canaled tooth hasn’t healed as of 6 weeks after the procedure(very sensitive to air and still tender to pushing and chewing), and they suspect it’s cracked at the root. Looking more and more like I’m going to have this one pulled.

A few weeks ago, I also started having problems in the lower first molar on the other side. Very similar to the first tooth I mentioned-- sensitivity to air, a small twinge on biting. Looks like another cracked tooth. This despite the fact I was wearing a dental night guard… those things protect your teeth from grinding wear, but not so much from clenching forces. I’m now wearing a rubber football guard which has a little more give to it.

Looking more and more like I"m going to lose these two teeth. This is extremely distressing, as I had exemplary dental health before all this. Will probably try to go for implants, which adds about $6000 to what I’ve spent so far($1100 for a root canal, $300 for dental exams). My dentist is making me an NTI-TSS splint, which fits onto the two front teeth and supposedly stops the clenching/grinding reaction. This astoundingly costs $600 in itself.

My thought is that the hormonal imbalance caused by propecia may have compromised the strength of my teeth. Either that or the stress of the whole situation caused me to clench/grind with greater force than before. Or maybe it’s just accumulated wear and a coincidence it all started right after taking Propecia.

Who have this to your teeth?
#27

cantlseep I have had a very similar experience with dental pain. After taking fin my dental health seemed to be failing. about 4 years ago I had 5 cavities filled, then a year later another, then another, then last year a crown I have on the rear upper molar came off. It got loose from grinding the teeth and gave me a horrible feeling all through my face and neck because the nerve was inflamed. they reglued the crown but told me the tooth next to it needed an onlay because it was cracked. I went through the processes which was a nightmare.

During this entire time I’ve had pain in my cheek from the tooth and it became increasingly more sensitive to touch and temp, but only on one side, and the nerve pain traveled all the way into my shoulder. I saw some specialist that focuses on root canals and the xrays showed nothing however the teeth were extremely sensitive to temperature.

The pain was so bad I was ready for a root canal. I did research online and discovered that the pain can travel from tooth to tooth due to grinding, so one root canal can lead to another until your whole mouth is done, which has actually happened to some people.

I tried a football mouthguard and the pain got better however it altered my bite so I stopped using it. Any mouthguard can do this as can the NTI-TSS splint. I was offered one for $300, so if you go this route you might want to shop around. But be warned the can alter your bite so that the rear teeth stop touching at all.

My dental pain has subsided a lot since I quit my job. The angle I was sitting n front of my 2 computer screens, with my right arm extended way to the right and often with a head turned to the right, was pulling my body out of alignment and the bursting point for the pressure was the weakest link, my jaw and upper left molars. I stopped grinding my teeth totally about two weeks after I changed position and cut way down on computer use. I still have a slight pain in the molar, especially if I spend too much time online, but it hasn’t got so bad since. I also never use the night guard anymore, it’s been over a year.

I believe if I would have remained at the job doing the same thing I would be about 2 root canals by now along with another damaged tooth from grinding.

I think you’re right on the first two in addition to weaker nerves that inflame easier and a compromised immune system that give teethe the propensity to be inflamed. I highly doubt this is coincidence. I’m not having any dental work done unless I’m having pain from now on.

#28

I’m in for this one as well, unfortunately. I think things have improved though since I have quit the drug and begun to repair the damage.

I had a filling fall out, my gums receded and I had bone loss in the lower portion of the teeth. Another reason why we need to get the vit d level back in check.

#29

Same for me. One filling, one root canal and one implant since Fin. Dunno if its coincidence or what. Definately dont think Fin helped the situation.

#30

Martin, regarding the NTI-TSS splint, I’m aware of what you’re talking about. I believe the problem that most people develop is the front teeth no longer touching(open bite). It’s theorized this happens either because the back teeth supra-erupt from lack of contact, or because of other unknown changes made to the jaw. I am going to be extra careful to observe any changes in my bite.

Incidentally I asked my dentist about these things-- he said he’s made these splints for three years and hasn’t had a single patient report a problem. Sound familiar? However for me it’s either wear a splint or crack more teeth. Not much else I can do.

#31

Well damn. Looks like I have another tooth going. Another tooth that was perfectly healthy before this. This makes 3 teeth cracked in about 5 months. I had zero cracked teeth in 28 years before this. I do not consider this a coincidence.

#32

Had one tooth removed on Tuesday. Another one is starting to ache a bit. Hoping its coincidence and doesnt become much worse. Odd because I’ve very few dental issues pre-Fin. IF this is related I will be close to 10K in PFS related expenses and I’ve only been off it nine months.

Wonder if by next January Merck will have added dental problems to its list of potential side effects.