This website is intended for patients with X-Linked Hypophosphataemia and their families in the United Kingdom and Ireland, provided by Kyowa Kirin.
Because XLH affects your teeth and gums, it's important to get your dentist’s support and stick to a good dental hygiene routine. Here we explain why and how.
Toothache and sore gums are symptoms that are all too familiar for people with XLH. As you probably know, the pain can be so bad sometimes that it’s hard to think straight. Thankfully, there’s a lot you can do to help reduce the damage XLH can do to your teeth and gums.
Many people assume that because teeth and bones are white and hard, they have similar properties. Both teeth and bones require calcium and phosphate to develop strength and to grow properly. However, teeth are actually much tougher than bones as they need to be able to cope with grinding against one another when we eat.
People with XLH often have trouble with their teeth and gums. This is because a lack of phosphate means that dentin (a hard layer of bony tissue just below the tooth enamel) develops poorly and becomes soft. Pulp chambers are enlarged, pushing into the dentin, so they are closer to the tooth enamel. These changes make it easier for bacteria to get into the teeth and cause infections.
Abscesses are the most significant dental problem associated with XLH. They result from oral infections and tend to appear without cavities or the evidence of trauma, so they are sometimes called ‘spontaneous abscesses’. Unfortunately, spontaneous abscesses can recur. Once the underlying infection takes hold, it is likely to continue until extraction or root canal treatment is needed.
If you have an abscess, you may experience some of the following:
The sooner you visit your dentist, the more he or she can do to help. And always remember to tell your dentist about your XLH.
Many people with XLH will experience problems with their teeth and gums. If this includes you, you will know how painful and troublesome XLH-related dental problems can be. You may even feel despair when you work hard to keep up a great dental care routine but it doesn’t seem to stop problems from happening.
Be reassured that dental problems are almost certainly not your fault - they are a symptom of XLH. Here are some ways to minimise your XLH-related dental problems:
Basic dental care reminder:
This website is specifically designed to provide information about X-linked hypophosphataemia (XLH).
Please note that this website does not replace the role of a healthcare professional and it is always recommended that you seek professional medical advice.
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Date of preparation: April 2022
This Kyowa Kirin website is intended for Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) involved in the care of people with X-linked Hypophosphataemia (XLH).
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