Enamel Hypoplasia

[chrissy]

we just had our youngest daughter's teeth fixed----there was even more work needed than the dentist realized. she had about 11-12 teeth that needed work, 6 of them were child versions of root canals and have stainless steel crowns on them now----the four lower front teeth and two molars. she also had staining and decay on her two top front teeth, right about in the middle of the teeth. this seems like kind of an odd place for decay on front teeth. he told me that her teeth looked clean, but she seems to have some enamel hypoplasia. so far, this child tests negative for celiac and has no other symptoms---but she is only 3. i keep hoping she is not going to end up with celiac also. have any of you actually been diagnosed with enamel hypoplasia that you feel is directly connected to your celiac?

[Eliza13]

I had ceramic sealants placed on all of my teeth when I was a kid b/c the enamel was wearing thin.

I wonder why celiacs often have this problem. Anyone know why the enamel wears?

[brendygirl]

I have this problem, too. I imagine it's from lack of nutrient absorption/vitamin deficiency.

Just like how I got night blindness from vitamin A deficiency. I was a vegetarian and ate mega healthfully....

[lonewolf]

When I was growing up my dentist told my mom that my "enamel didn't form right" on my teeth. I had so many cavities I couldn't possibly tell you how many. Once, when I was about 9 or 10, I had 12 at one visit. I brushed my teeth well, didn't drink much pop or eat much candy. The dentist told me it wasn't my fault, that some people just had that problem. I kept getting cavities until I stopped eating wheat (not quite gluten-free, but very close) at age 32. Haven't had one since. But my front teeth are almost transparent - you can easily see my tongue through my teeth.

But, I don't technically have celiac disease, because I don't have the correct genes, so you might not consider it related. Your little one might have non-Celiac gluten intolerance, which IS every bit as serious as celiac disease. Or she might be so young that the tests aren't coming out positive yet.

[Kaycee]

I have this problem, too. I imagine it's from lack of nutrient absorption/vitamin deficiency.

Just like how I got night blindness from vitamin A deficiency. I was a vegetarian and ate mega healthfully....

I think brendygirl is probably right. I have thin enamel as well and the dentist always says don't brush too hard, and to worry about my gums more.

As a child I had countless fillings, but that eased off as I got older, and I haven't had many cavities since my thirties, but they are still not good teeth.

Cathy

[Guest cassidy]

I had sealant on all my teeth when I was a kid because the enamel was thin also. My last morals also came in with only 3 sides so they had to do fillings to make the last part of the tooth. A few years ago I got holes in my bottom two front teeth right in the middle of the tooth. The enamel was just wearing away until there were dents there.

When my mom first told me she thought I also had celiac I didn't believe her. I read the article she sent about tooth enamel problems and that really hit home. I did an internet search and couldn't find another reason why my teeth would be this way. I have never had a cavity so that really freaked me out.

[zansu]

My last morals also came in

glad to know you have morals

that said, I, too have 4 teeth with gaps in the middle of the enamel-- I had bonding done many years ago to cover them. Another sign that I always had celiac, I just didn't know until 44.

[spunky]

I was told a couple of decades ago I had "enamel erosion" and ended up getting almost all my teeth crowned. I think all but my eye teeth are crowned by now.

Many years later, I suddenly developed strange intestinal sypmtoms, took myself off of guten, and now that's about gone too. Maybe the weird teeth should've been a clue for future problems developing.

Supposedly, the enamel on your teeth develops before those teeth emerge, and it's a one-shot deal. If you don't make good enamel before the teeth grow in, there's no making up for it later.

[heathen]

holy cow!!! my dentist thought it was just the acid reflux... i knew there had to be more to it. one side of my molars is almost completely gone at the top. is there any way to reverse it? or do you just have to cap it? and did anyone else have discoloration?

[Electra]

When I was a teen they tried to get me to get a mouth guard because the enamel on my teeth was worn like a 60 yr. old and they thought I was gringing my teeth. I had no idea why that was until I found Celiac Symptoms on the web and realized that I had another sympton ;-)!!

[lonewolf]

Supposedly, the enamel on your teeth develops before those teeth emerge, and it's a one-shot deal. If you don't make good enamel before the teeth grow in, there's no making up for it later.

Interesting. That reminds me... When I got my wisdom teeth pulled, two of them hadn't even come in yet and they had 13 cavities between the two of them. The oral surgeon said that there was almost no enamel on them and I wouldn't have been able to keep them even if there was room in my jaw.

[Generic]

When I was diagnosed at 13 my teeth were already starting to fall out of my mouth. I know I was deficent in most of the fat soluable vitamins, K & A I know for sure and i think calcium and D too. I was told your teeth need those vitamins to maintain the enamel on your teeth and when they are developing under the gums as well.

-Laurie

[JerryK]

This is a topic I am well versed in I had to have ALL my teeth crowned at age 40 because the enamel was gone. The dentist did indeed mention enamel hypoplasia..... I'm 46 now.

Enamel hypoplasia is what initially raised my interest in Celiac.

Interestingly, when I was in my mid 20s, a different dentist said my teeth were as hard as granite and he didnt' see me ever having problems....

Then.....just like it says in all the Celiac textbooks....discolored teeth and/or loss of enamel.

5 years after I had my teeth crowned, I started having symptoms......

My twin brother had identical enamel loss and had to have his teeth crowned also.

Now give me a bit of a face-lift and I'm good to go;)