Oral health is often treated as optional or cosmetic, but for people living with AiArthritis diseases, it can have a real impact on pain, fatigue, nutrition, and quality of life. In this episode, Leila and Bridget explore why oral health deserves a place in routine disease management and why so many patients are never told their symptoms are disease related.

The episode looks at how autoimmune conditions and common medications can affect the mouth, from dry mouth and gum inflammation to delayed healing and increased infection risk. It also breaks down the connection between oral health, the immune system, and systemic inflammation, helping patients better understand why issues can show up even when oral hygiene is strong.

Join us on this episode to hear practical, gentle strategies for protecting oral health when saliva is reduced or sensitivity is high. The discussion emphasizes adaptation over perfection and reinforces that oral health challenges are not personal failures, but part of living with complex chronic disease.

Episode Highlights:

• Why oral health is often overlooked and why it matters in autoimmune disease
• How inflammation, medications, and reduced saliva affect the mouth
• The link between oral health and conditions like Sjögren’s, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma
• Gentle, realistic strategies to protect teeth and gums without causing more harm

• Go With Us! To ACR 2025: Oral Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5XlwG4cNXo
• See more about co-existing conditions, disease management & more www.aiarthritis.org/patientjourney
• Have questions about this episode or topics you want to hear us bring to the table? Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org
• Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate

Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis

Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE

Connect with our Co-Hosts:

Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.

Connect with Leila:

• Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei

Bridget Dandaraw-Seritt founded a patient based organization that advocates for access to compassionate care and provides community support. She’s a published author on therapeutic cannabis, presents at medical conferences, and is engaged in the policy making process.

Connect with Bridget:

Facebook: Advocates for Compassionate Therapy Now

As we close out 2025, this special episode looks back on some of the most impactful conversations from this year. This episode reflects on key moments that captured the real experiences of people living with AiArthritis diseases and the topics patients told us mattered most.

Listeners will hear powerful conversations exploring what it means to parent while managing chronic illness, the often overlooked neurological symptoms of lupus and Sjögren’s disease, and the long journey many mystery patients face searching for answers. These episodes go beyond symptoms to explore the emotional toll, physical obstacles, and systemic hurdles patients navigate, showing why knowledge and advocacy can transform the patient journey.

Whether you are hearing these stories for the first time or revisiting them, this episode brings the voices, clinical insights, and lived experiences that shaped AiArthritis patients in 2025.

Episode Highlights:

• Parenting and family life while living with chronic illness
• Neurological symptoms in lupus and Sjögren’s disease and why they are often missed
• The mystery patient experience and the impact of delayed diagnosis
• Why patient voices continue to drive education, awareness, and change

• Mystery Patient Guide: www.aiarthritis.org/undiagnosed
• IgG4-RD Resource :https://igg4ward.org/education-and-resources
• Have questions about this episode or topics you want to hear us bring to the table? Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org
• Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate

Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis

Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE

Remission is no longer an abstract idea for people living with AiArthritis diseases. Thanks to earlier diagnosis, better treatment options, and growing global awareness, more patients are reaching remission and staying there. In this episode of AiArthritis Voices 360, Health Education Manager Leila P. L. Valete sits down with Neil Betteridge of the Global Remission Coalition to explore what remission truly means and why it is becoming a realistic goal for many.

Together they unpack how remission differs from basic disease control and why that distinction is so important for daily life. They also talk through the emotional and practical impact of reaching remission, the role of early action, and the barriers that still prevent many patients from accessing timely care. The conversation highlights what sustainable remission looks like in the real world and how better education, support, and policy attention can help more people get there.

Whether you are newly diagnosed or years into your patient journey, this episode offers a grounded and hopeful look at the road to remission and the steps that can make a life-changing difference.

Episode Highlights:

• What remission really means and how it differs from basic disease control
• Why remission improves quality of life, mental health, and daily function
• Key factors that help patients reach remission including early diagnosis and timely treatment
• Common barriers patients face like limited access to specialists, treatment delays, and lack of information
• What it takes to sustain remission through monitoring, adherence, and patient support

• Global Remissions resources: www.globalremission.org
• AiArthritis remission information: https://www.aiarthritis.org/remission
• Have questions about this episode or topics you want to hear us bring to the table? Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org
• Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate

Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis

Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE

Connect with our Co Hosts:

Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.

Connect with Leila:

Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei

Neil Betteridge developed juvenile arthritis at age three, an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to advocating for people with chronic diseases. He has led major patient organizations in the UK and globally, including serving as CEO of Arthritis Care and now as Senior Director of the Global Alliance for Patient Access, where he also chairs the Global Remission Coalition.

With decades of experience in public affairs and patient engagement, Neil has advised health ministers, worked with the Royal College of Physicians, and held key leadership roles in international networks such as the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health and EULAR. His work continues to advance policy, access, and better outcomes for people living with chronic inflammatory conditions.

Connect with Neil:

Website: www.globalremission.org

X/Twitter: https://x.com/Neil_Betteridge