26 replies to this topic

[ChrisRR]

Hey everyone,

I have been wondering, I know that a common symptom of gluten intolerance is bad teeth or declining dental health. Since I was a kid, my teeth have given me nothing but problems. I get cavities all the time, once I got 8 in the course of 7 months. And my gums get irritated very easilly, despite everything I do to keep them clean and healthy.

I follow a very strict diet apart from the gluten free, style, so it's not what I eat that is causing it. But my mother and brother have healthy teeth and they don't have gluten intolerance.

Have any of you experienced the same sort of problems with your gluten intolerance?

[guest134]

Where did you find that gluten intolerance causes dental issues? Celiac will, because of the absorption issues resulting in the lack of important nutrients that are crucial for dental health and because most diseases of the digestive track can show some signs in the mouth as well (all connected).

Gluten intolerance is similar to that of an allergy and as far as anything I have read can in no way cause dental issues. It just wouldn't make sense for it to.

[L.J.]

I recently went to the dentist for a regular check up. My Dental Hygienist asked about my diet--because my gums were not as healthy as 6 months ago. When I explained the gluten-free diet--she said that the protein that we tend to eat more of (i.e. meats) actually causes the "germs" in the deeper pockets of the gums to grow faster...the teeth themselves are affected by sugar--but the gums (and the yucky germs) thrive on the proteins that we tend to eat more of! Just a thought to the dental issue...

Her advice: Floss more because the meat gets in the pockets of the gums So I am trying to floss, floss, floss!!!

[Findin my way]

I'm dairy free as well as gluten free. Over the holidays I had cheese and cream. My gums became incredibly inflamed (among a myriad of other problems). It took several days to calm down. Maybe you're having a problem with casein as well?

[love2travel]

My teeth are living proof that celiac can indeed cause dental problems. My tooth enamel was very weak and my teeth were extremely sensitive. I didn't really think much about it until my diagnosis. After being gluten free, my dentist was shocked on my subsequent checkup. My enamel had strengthened a great deal. My teeth are no longer sensitive to hot and cold whatsoever. My dentist keeps himself up to date on celiac issues (smart man!) and has spoken to groups about it as well (including our own celiac group in town).

[designerstubble]

Wow, love 2 travel! Your teeth have strengthened?? That's awesome. How long did that take being gluten-free? I have had weak enamel these last few years (obviously didn't know why), and had lots of cavities etc... Be nice to know I could possibly regain some dental health back! Also have sensitive teeth!
Thanks for your story

[1desperateladysaved]

The enamel disappeared off my teeth when I was in High School. I have been lectured ever since about how to care for my teeth. I went home many times and did it all only to get the lectures all over the next time. THERE had to be something else I kept thinking. About 6 months ago I got the Celiac diagnosed. I finally went back to the dentist having stayed away for 3 years. The teeth were "good" under the circumstances with no cavities.

The teeth were covered with deposits, though. The hygentist told me that sometimes if a person has mal-absorption their saliva contains minerals. Then she said that my teeth had the deposits only where the saliva puddles.

I said, "Bingo" that is the missing link.

A dentist long ago told me that I had allergies big time. No explanation was given me, but the dentist called my MD. The next time I went to the MD she estimated that I had 5 % of my bone mass left. She gave no explanation for this determination and no way to detour it. I was 25.

Five years back one dentist told me that he hadn't had anyone with so many teeth problems that didn't have an autoimmune disease. OH, I didn't even know what an autoimmune disease was. I was working on my health as I felt like my teeth were being destructed from the inside to out.

My gums don't bleed every time I brush and floss anymore, so I think there is some improvement. Maybe one of these days I won't get the lectures.

Diana

[Adalaide]

I am looking forward to the day I don't bleed like a stuck pig every time I brush my teeth. It is truly scary how much I bleed to be honest. I have to wait about 5-10 minutes after and go rinse my mouth out again to get all the blood off my teeth, it just pools and stains my whole mouth red. This is after a year gluten free. I will go in for a checkup at the end of this month, I am hoping to have no new cavities, which will mark the first 6-month period in about 20 years that that has happened. Some of the tenderness and sensitivity is gone though, and that is good.

I am missing 4 teeth, 2 need implants because they can't be bridged, one has to be bridged and another I have to decide on a bridge or implant. Of the remaining teeth, a few have been root canals, most if not all have fillings. I had my first cavity at 14, my first abscess at 17. I also grew up taught almost as if it were a religion to brush my teeth. (I resented my brother because he always had perfectly healthy teeth but NEVER brushed them.) But even at the young age of 6 or 7 I couldn't eat a whole apple, I had to cut it. Some people called me a picky kid, but I would bleed all over, enough to get it on my hands. I have never, no matter what I did, had healthy teeth.

I think it could be helpful if the dental profession were educated on what celiac is and what signs to look for. I think there are a lot of clues to celiac in the dental health and that from a young age they may see what doctors are missing. They could recommend a patient for testing when people are falling through the cracks everywhere else. It could have saved me years. It is something I have talked to my dentist about. I hope he took to heart what I said.

[designerstubble]

Omg. These stories are freaking me out. I have had virtually all my teeth root canaled (the molars), I have one implant and other fillings. It started as a child. I never truly thought I have had celiac since I was a child... Now I'm beginning to wonder. I have always had weak teeth... And didn't understand why as I took care if them. Like they were going rotten from the inside out. Could I have been celiac as a child and not have any other symptoms???
My gums bleed too, but it's only started after taking iron and my iron levels going up. I figured its all the extra blood in my gums? Maybe it's the same for some of you?

[mushroom]

I do not have a tooth in my head that is not filled, all my molars are crowned, one tooth just crumbled so there is an implant there. I had gum surgery in my 30's (of course, that was after I quit smoking and my gums suddenly started bleeding all over the place ). Yes, you are not alone.

[love2travel]

Wow, love 2 travel! Your teeth have strengthened?? That's awesome. How long did that take being gluten-free? I have had weak enamel these last few years (obviously didn't know why), and had lots of cavities etc... Be nice to know I could possibly regain some dental health back! Also have sensitive teeth!
Thanks for your story

Yes - very obviously. I used to dread dental appointments as the scaling especially hurt so badly and my gums bled like crazy when it was done. In fact, I was so chicken that my husband booked my appointments without my knowledge and took me on those days. I had no clue when it would happen until we drove up to the dental office. He even had it arranged for me just to walk right in without having to wait in the waiting room. I was THAT chicken and I generally am not a chicken person (well, except to eat it). Now I go on my own volition without thinking twice. My last few appointments have been easy peasy. I'd rate the fear 1/10 whereas it used to be about 12/10!! Anyway, my teeth and gums are definitely stronger. It took about six months eating gluten free for the difference to be noticeable.

[designerstubble]

Yes - very obviously. I used to dread dental appointments as the scaling especially hurt so badly and my gums bled like crazy when it was done. In fact, I was so chicken that my husband booked my appointments without my knowledge and took me on those days. I had no clue when it would happen until we drove up to the dental office. He even had it arranged for me just to walk right in without having to wait in the waiting room. I was THAT chicken and I generally am not a chicken person (well, except to eat it). Now I go on my own volition without thinking twice. My last few appointments have been easy peasy. I'd rate the fear 1/10 whereas it used to be about 12/10!! Anyway, my teeth and gums are definitely stronger. It took about six months eating gluten free for the difference to be noticeable.

[designerstubble]

Oh that's fantastic, I'm so pleased for you. You must be very happy. Have you had any other celiac symptoms? I've also had big hairloss. I feel like Cinderella ugliest sister!
So does the enamel look 'thicker'? Have you healed easily with gi symptoms?
I've been looking at my teeth today! I've only been gluten-free for 3months... But my gums are pinker since the iron.
I'd love stronger enamel. I HATE the dentist. Petrified. And I react to the injections. Lovely!
Oooh. Nice strong teeth. There's a nice thought...
Well done to you!

[designerstubble]

I do not have a tooth in my head that is not filled, all my molars are crowned, one tooth just crumbled so there is an implant there. I had gum surgery in my 30's (of course, that was after I quit smoking and my gums suddenly started bleeding all over the place ). Yes, you are not alone.

[designerstubble]

I forgot that I've actually had 3 teeth removed too! Ha! So long ago. Because they crumbled. Hmmmmm. Interesting. I hope I haven't been celiac that long, though the more I read and research the more likely it's looking.
Sorry for being dense but what is gum surgery? (I quit smoking 3 months ago after dx and have receding gums.)