A group of dental students from Plymouth have decided to work alongside local people suffering from an autoimmune disease to develop an oral health leaflet to help fight against a little-known condition.

The Plymouth Herald reported on the plight of students at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, who created the flyer to warn people about Sjögren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune rheumatic disease.

As part of their programme of a special study unit, the students worked with locals who suffer from the condition to learn all about Sjögren’s, an issue that causes the body’s immune system to attack glands that secrete fluid, including those that produce tears and saliva.

The condition also has a number of other effects. Inflammation in glands will reduce the creation of tears and saliva, resulting in dry mouth, dry eyes and difficulty swallowing. Teeth are also at risk too, as a lack of saliva will affect a person’s ability to control acid levels in the mouth.

In the leaflet, dental students recommended that people take special care with tooth brushing, offer advice on foods that exacerbate the condition, as well as potential stimulants for saliva, such as sugar-free gum.