Tooth Enamel

[erin24]

I have searched the message board and found many threads about the link between celiac and tooth enamel loss/defects. However, I was wondering you yours looks like. Pits in your teeth?...Or your whole tooth falling apart?

[jerseyangel]

Hi Erin--I had some problems with this long before I knew I had Celiac. The first time was when my top front tooth suddenly chipped--I was just eating normally. I had never damaged it or anything--it just chipped. I had to have it bonded. The other instances were a broken wisdom tooth--it got infected, and I had it pulled, and I have another molar that has one of the high parts broken off. The strange thing about the tooth breakage for me is that I have very little tooth decay--only one cavity in my whole mouth!

[erin24]

  jerseyangel said:

Hi Erin--I had some problems with this long before I knew I had Celiac. The first time was when my top front tooth suddenly chipped--I was just eating normally. I had never damaged it or anything--it just chipped. I had to have it bonded. The other instances were a broken wisdom tooth--it got infected, and I had it pulled, and I have another molar that has one of the high parts broken off. The strange thing about the tooth breakage for me is that I have very little tooth decay--only one cavity in my whole mouth!

Thanks for your reply. I have very little decay too but have broken 3 teeth. I also have 2 pits on the sides of 2 of my teeth. Also, when I chew gum every once is a while I will hit a place on my tooth the gives me pain and sends me to my knees. I thought I had a cavity but the dentist just said i have a sensitive tooth b/c I have no enamel.

Do you have the pits or sensitive teeth?

[jerseyangel]

Yes--both. I have a tooth--a left molar, that hurts like heck if I bite down on it the "wrong"way.. It has been x-rayed and there is nothing wrong--but sometimes--without warning--I get that pain you describe, too. I suspect that it's changed the way I bite down because 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with TMJ. The pain had moved to my jaw. The dentist made me a bite guard that I wear at night. It has helped.

[mmaccartney]

I don't have any tooth pain (yet), but I do have pits in two teeth, and the teeth are extremely discolored...

[jerseyangel]

  mmaccartney said:

I don't have any tooth pain (yet), but I do have pits in two teeth, and the teeth are extremely discolored...

Interesting--I have slightly discolored teeth--blamed on Tetracycline taken as a child. (only took it once) Page 192--Appendix D of Dangerous Grains states that "83 % of Celiac adults with Celiac-type color and structural defects, horizontal grooves, and/or vertical pits on one or more permanent teeth."

[Moongirl]

i have veryy sensitive teeth, a while back my dentist told me i had 'soft teeth' i have a few fillings here and there from when i was a kid, but nothing too extreme, i just actually had 2 wisdom teeth pulled, and im healing great.

But just to throw this out there my dentist realized I was grinding my teeth, that also makes your teeth more sensitive. He got me night gaurd to wear. Best thing i did! Also becareful of sodium laurel sulfate in the ingridients, its actually an irritant. its in almost all toothpastes, but i believe Toms brand has ones without it. and stay away from whitening products unless u can handle them, it strips the enamel off ur teeth, hence causing more pain!

[jerseyangel]

  Moongirl said:

i have veryy sensitive teeth, a while back my dentist told me i had 'soft teeth' i have a few fillings here and there from when i was a kid, but nothing too extreme, i just actually had 2 wisdom teeth pulled, and im healing great.

But just to throw this out there my dentist realized I was grinding my teeth, that also makes your teeth more sensitive. He got me night gaurd to wear. Best thing i did! Also becareful of sodium laurel sulfate in the ingridients, its actually an irritant. its in almost all toothpastes, but i believe Toms brand has ones without it. and stay away from whitening products unless u can handle them, it strips the enamel off ur teeth, hence causing more pain!

I agree on the SLS--I am currently looking for a toothpaste that does not contain it (and gluten-free, too). All of the Tom's toothpastes I've checked have it--which ones don't? I did find a brand--Jason--that is SLS free. I called that company, and was told that any gluten ingredients would be clearly listed. It comes in quite a few flavors--I'm planning on trying it. Trying to find gluten-free and SLS free shampoos, soaps, and toothpaste is proving difficult. But they are out there--lots of label reading!