My mouth is fine. Aphthous ulcers are common, though, in IBD.

I'm reading a book called Gulp, Adventures of the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach. I'm on the saliva chapter. Dry mouth, like in Sjögrens and after radiation, where the mouth is REALLY dry, suffer "gaping brown lesions" and their teeth get VERY soft. The main digestive enzyme in saliva is amylase, to break down starches to sugar... there is not as much to digestion in the mouth, though there is some. Saliva is very important, though, and antimicrobial, so if you have a dry mouth, you can suffer more issues. Anyway, I'm not done with the chapter, but the whole book is really interesting, and all about our friendly GI tract (also including some on smell).

Thanks Rachael,
Keep me posted on the adventure of the mouth!
It is very interesting...
Maybe I will pick it up when I am Stateside this summer.
How are you doing?
Sharon

I'm hanging in there. Every day a new adventure, but cutting out almost all wheat products has helped me feel better. I'm not so sure it's the gluten part or the sugar part that bloats me, though. Regardless, it is helping.

Factors that increase thrush are:

Being in poor health
Being very old or very young
Having an HIV infection or AIDS
Long-term use or high dose antibiotics
Receiving chemotherapy or drugs that weaken the immune system
Taking steroid medications

I'm sure the Cipro doesn't help! It usually gives me a vaginal yeast infection, but I've never had thrush.

Thanks Rachael,
ok so I have 4 out of 6 on the list!
Saw the dentist today ( thank goodness she is an American dentist who knows how to do a real cleanning...)and has told me that there is a lot of inflamation (what else is new?)and cracked teeth (from clenching during flares of pain)...
The gift that keeps on giving.
Now I have to worry about mouth and gum health along with the rest.
yuck
Sharon