The Center for AIDS

Patient/Doctor Q&A

Edwin Cordray, D.D.S., Answers Some Important Questions About HIV and the Mouth

July 2001

This article is part of TheBody.com's archive. Because it contains information that may no longer be accurate, this article should only be considered a historical document.

Q: I occasionally get sores in my mouth and have a gel my dentist gave me that helps them heal faster. Lately, I have been getting sores on my tongue that turn white and seem to spread, with dead skin that I can scrape away. The gel helps, but should I be worried about this?

A: Yes, you should be concerned about any unusual looking lesion in the mouth, whether it is painful or not. Many HIV-related problems appear in the oral cavity, most of which can be treated very easily without surgery. If your dentist is familiar with HIV oral problems, he or she can determine if the dead skin is a problem or not.

Q: My viral load is undetectable, but my T cells are at 250. Do I need to worry about thrush or other mouth problems?

A: Yes, you need to be concerned with thrush and other mouth problems -- even if your viral load is undetectable. Even immune-healthy people can have thrush following certain drug therapies.

Q: I have heard about bone loss in people with HIV (especially in the last couple of years on combination therapy). Can teeth also lose minerals and become weaker? What should I do?

A: HIV-related gum diseases can be very aggressive and rapid. Bone (that holds your teeth in place, just under the gums) can be destroyed, causing the loss of the teeth in the affected area. Look for gums that bleed easily, even if painless. Blood on your toothbrush is another problem that is frequently ignored. Healthy gums do not bleed and are not painful or sore. If they are, see your dentist.

Teeth can lose minerals due to decay from sweets and acidic food and drinks (see next answer). However, mineral loss in the teeth has not been associated with the use of anti-HIV drugs.

Q: My mouth is dry since I have started taking my medications, should I be concerned?

A: Yes, dry mouth is very destructive to your teeth and gums. If this occurs, do not ignore it! Your dentist can help. First, stop drinking colas that are not sugar-free; even sugar-free ones are not suggested but are less harmful. Decreasing caffeine intake, using toothpaste with fluoride, brushing and flossing regularly, and using fluoride supplements, as directed by your dentist, can diminish the harm caused by dry mouth. Between-meal snacks that contain sugar should be eliminated completely.

Many times in my practice I have seen destruction of the teeth and gums caused by behaviors like tobacco use. Tobacco acts as a poison to the gums. For many people, stopping the use of tobacco is a choice of either their habit/addiction or their teeth. Tobacco can cause dramatic damage to your teeth and gums -- imagine what it does to the rest of your vital internal organs.

Q: I get painful ulcers in my mouth, is there anything that can help?

A: Unfortunately, ulcers are a frequent and common complaint. Again, your dentist can help. New drug therapies sometimes can cause ulcers or sores. However, any ulcer that lasts over several weeks and does not respond to medications may have to be removed surgically. See your dentist regularly as recommended. Prevention is far less invasive and certainly less expensive than treatment after the damage is done.

Edwin Cordray, D.D.S., is in general practice in Houston and has treated patients for 38 years, caring for HIV-infected patients since the beginning of the epidemic. To help meet the needs of patients with HIV/AIDS in difficult financial situations, he helped start the Bering Dental Clinic (see below). Send your questions for physicians to rita@centerforaids.org or by mail: Questions, P.O. Box 66306, Houston TX 77266-6306.

Bering Dental Clinic: An Important Community Resource

For individuals who cannot afford private dental care, the Bering Dental Clinic is a wonderful option. The Bering Dental Clinic is a nine-chair treatment facility dedicated to serving the oral health care needs of the HIV/AIDS population. The clinic is staffed by several dentists and a hygienist who provide a variety of services including restorative dentistry, hygiene (cleanings), root canals, gum surgery, oral surgery, and oral pathology. This staff has developed a high level of expertise in the special needs of the HIV/AIDS patient by having seen over 10,000 patients in the last 14 years. The clinic also provides a unique experience for patients to participate in several research studies looking at topics like oral warts, oral Epstein-Barr virus infections, the effects and treatment of lipodystrophy in the oral cavity, and dental implants.

To qualify as a patient of the Bering Dental Clinic, an individual must have an income below 500% of the poverty guidelines and the patient must provide proof of residency and have current blood work from a physician. The clinic is also willing to work with patients of dentists in the private practice setting. If the patient cannot afford all of the dental work, the clinic will be happy to perform some of the more basic procedures allowing the patient to save money for the more costly procedures, such as porcelain or gold crowns and bridges. For more information, call 1-713-524-7933 (ext. 120).

Back to the HIV Treatment ALERTS! July 2001 contents page.

This article is part of TheBody.com's archive. Because it contains information that may no longer be accurate, this article should only be considered a historical document.

This article was provided by The Center for AIDS. It is a part of the publication HIV Treatment ALERTS!.

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