Arimidex and effect on teeth

katiegrey

Hi all - I've always had really good teeth - hard enamel, no cavities. I've been taking Arimidex for about 6 months now, and recently very large chucks of my back molars have begun breaking off. I'm getting my second crown today in only 2 months. I know these drugs are hard on your bones, causing osteoporosis, but has any one experienced problems with their teeth?

muska

Katie, you had chemo recently and it might have contributed to some changes in teeth. I wouldn't blame this on arimidex alone.

inks

I agree, I asked my dental hygienist at the last visit if there is something I should worry about since I am on AI now and she said that it should not have any effect on teeth. Most likely you had dry mouth during chemo and that damaged the teeth. I used topical fluoride during chemo.

TKT___1958

Hi. I am on Exemestane, a generic of Aromasin. I'm 57, and have had normal dental problems in the past, however in the last few months my front upper teeth are "eroding" on the back. Just the two center ones. I don't know how to explain this other than they're deminishing. One can clearly see a grey tinge when I show them. As a concern that they are obviously weakened, I'm very cautious on what I eat. I certainly don't want chipped teeth. When I saw my onc last, she denied that this was from the drug.

All in all, multiple side effects. I really need to hear what others are experiencing. It's hard when your physician doesn't acknowledge things, and your family thinks you're full of it. Bear in mind, I'm a tomboy, use to handle my own chainsaw, etc. etc. etc. .

Thanks so much.

dtad

Biotene is great for dry mouth. You can get it in a spray or mouth wash.....

Moderators

Dear TKT_1958, Welcome to BCO Just wondering how you are? have you talked to your dentist about the problem? He or she may have some thoughts. The Mods

katiegrey

Moderators - I talked with my dentist and oncologist and they both don't think there's a relationship between the drug and my teeth chipping. My oncologist said chemo, however, can wreak havoc on your mouth, including your teeth. So I guess that's it. It's just such a bummer to go through all that cancer treatment and then have to start worrying about what else chemo's done to my body.

Thanks for the input all -- I feel relieved, especially by your support and knowledge.

Meow13

yes I have a very small front tooth chip it has been getting eroded a bit more. Thinking of having it fixed.

dtad

Hi everyone. I never heard or read anything about this but I do know that it can have an adverse reaction to the bone surrounding your teeth which might explain some of these issues

BrooksideVT

If you have old silver fillings, they expand over the years, causing teeth to crack and hunks to break off. My dentist has been replacing lots of damaged areas with the new white fillings, and in a couple of cases, with crowns. He's basically told me that he's keeping an eagle eye on problem areas, but all those original fillings will have to go at some point. Also, with age, our teeth wear down, not only growing shorter, but thinner as well. With thinner enamel coatings, frontal incisors begin to look grayish, not bright white. Thinner incisors are going to be more susceptible to chipping.

Yes, this all shocked me, and it all started happening well before I started arimidex.

Oh, and my father (a dentist) used to repeat, repeat, repeat, "Teeth are not tools." Please do not use your teeth to open potato chips or cut thread, or other non-gobbling purpose. And smile

Nurzrobin

Hi all! I have just finished my 2nd month of Anastrozole and I am having a sudden onset of teeth sensitivity. Particularly the front lower. Using a sensitive tooth paste now, but symptoms persist. I did not have chemotherapy so can't blame that. If anyone has had success with managing this, please share!😣

mysticalcity

I also just finished my 2nd month of Anastrozole and just happened to have my 6 month dental check up--was told that I have developed "dental pocketing". . As it was a new hygienist/dentist (my regular dentist just retired) I hadn't seen before I wondered if perhaps that made a difference or if it had something to do with the new medicine Anastrozole. I then had a visit with my medical oncologist and she was asking how I was tolerating the Anastrozole and side effects. . . I told her about the dental issue and she acted as if it couldn't have anything to do with the Anastrozole (though I found dental pocketing listed as a potential side effect). It was troubling me as I have always been told before I had good gums and no sign of gum disease. So I decided to call the new young female dentist back--she researched Anastrozole specifically and also told me more about how hormones affect the gums and teeth than I ever knew or had heard from anyone else. She told me that when they clean teeth they can tell women who are on their period as their gums will bleed more and there will be more inflammation. She said same thing with pregnancy--that not for all women, but many--experience huge dental issues where they might even need to get their teeth cleaned even every 2 months due to gum/dental issues from the hormone shift from pregnancy.

Long story short--she said that while part of my changes might be due to new hygienist reading the gum recession differently as it is millimeters they measure , she said ABSOLUTELY she believed that the Anastrozole--due to its impact on your hormone levels-- could be causing my inflamed gums, dental pocketing and tooth sensitivity (the tooth sensitivity she said is coming from the inflamed gums issue). She recommended a water pick flosser--unless you are extremely vigilant/excellent flosser, brushing frequently, make sure the mouth stays hydrated either with frequent drinking water and/or special mouthwash and also said sensitive fluoridated toothpaste (she said there even is a prescription one if issues seemed to ramp up that she can prescribe) for the tooth sensitivity. She also said to closely monitor issues and report back any problems. . . and to stay vigilant with cleanings. You would think my Med. Onc doctor also a female would know about this as a side effect of the drug as that is what she does daily !! So score zero for Med. Onc and score one for the young female dentist. I guess the dentist also did some sort of extra training in school on all cancers and how they and their treatments impact dental health--she didn't tell me that, but I heard that after from someone else in town that goes to her.

Marymc86

I'm a Dental Hygienist. Since your former Dentist retired, the new Dentist has probably put more emphasis on peridontal probing and evaluation than the former Dentist did. I am old school, been cleaning teeth for 30 years, but we always probed for pockets, but in recent years, more emphasis has been placed on doing a chart of every tooth at every appointment.

The take away is this...yes, hormones affect your gums. In pregnancy, gums bleed more easily. We usually tell patients that are pregnant to be very vigilant about brushing and flossing regularly. I imagine hormone therapy drugs cause the same changes. If you do this, you should be just fine.

For those of you cracking teeth and having sensitivity that you didn't have before, remember that the stress we are under is new and intense. Stress causes you to clench and grind your teeth at night whether you realize it or not. A mouth guard might help, but kind of expensive. But crowns and root canals are, too. Clenching can also produce pocketing around teeth. Stress also can cause gums to bleed. Lots of factors. Go to your Dentist regularly and floss, floss, floss. The prescription fluoride gel your Dentist mentioned is probably Prevident. I use it when my teeth get sensitive. Try that first for sensitivity. Watch the pockets for six months. They might improve with regular daily flossing. If not, consider a nightguard. Hope this info helps.

mysticalcity

Thank you Marymc86!

Marymc86

You're welcome!

Ravin

I am now on tamoxifen but did take exemestane for almost a year after I couldn't tolerate another drug. I never had chemo or radiation. I had a double mastectomy due to cancer in both breasts. I have had problems with my teeth that seem worse than ever before, I've been up to date seeing my dentist but now my front upper teeth are developing cracking and holes, and I have now completely lost one that just deteriorated between dentist visits. So now I'm getting implants. I do believe the medication has had an effect on my teeth. It seems mostly upper teeth and not lower, exemestane also affected my balance causing me to use a cane. That has improved greatly on tamoxifen. Good luck

1/19/19

Update. I was flossing my teeth today and a tooth that had a crown just popped out. No pain but now I have two missing teeth on top. Getting implants on whole upper jaw in March

rottweilor

Hello all!

My lower teeth shifted seemingly overnight and I had trouble biting into anything hard - apple, bagel, meat, etc. Two upper teeth have small fractures. Lower jaw locked twice while yawning. Using Invisalign with much success - stabilized the shifting teeth and so far, no more locked jaw. We'll see how it goes...

rottweilor

Hmmmm.... I'll ask my dentist about Prevident.

MickeyB17

I started anastrazole in 9/17 and from 4/18-10/18, I had to have 4 root canals on molars. Everytime I turned around, I had a tooth ache which ultimately would lead to antibiotics and root canals. My teeth do react when I'm under stress - using a night guard now and feel teeth are stable, but it was weird - felt like I was never going to be OK again. Much better now using an electric toothbrush and a gum pick + floss every day!

MickeyB17

I started anastrazole in 9/17 and from 4/18-10/18, I had to have 4 root canals on molars. Everytime I turned around, I had a tooth ache which ultimately would lead to antibiotics and root canals. My teeth do react when I'm under stress - using a night guard now and feel teeth are stable, but it was weird - felt like I was never going to be OK again. Much better now using an electric toothbrush and a gum pick + floss every day!

BadLuck

Mickey - I too had the same experience as you. Been to the dentist 6 times since going through breast cancer surgery, radiation & now 7 months into that nasty Anastrozole. I know it rots our bones! My cousin who is a naturalist told me to use Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. It really works!!!! Take a tablespoon of it in your mouth & swish (don't swallow) for 15-20 minutes & spit in the garage. Then scrub your teeth with toothpaste & rinse with salt water

MickeyB17

OK, will give it a try - at this point can't hurt!

CBK

I spoke to my dentist about this. He said overall the dryness in the mouth can cause a lot of issues in general with decay. I’ve had two root canals with crown and two onlays placed since chemo and Arimidex.

My MO claims for me it was probably more likely the chemo caused the problems than Arimidex, but I say it could be both. If Arimidex can compromise bones why not teeth?

Love the coconut oil rinse idea badluck !

Meow13

Oh my I had 2 root canals after taking AI meds. Never had a root canal before.