Dental Problems

[Megan6516]

They are testing my 3 year old for celiac disease because of severe constipation, ezema, irratibility, clubbed fingernails/spooned toenails, slow growth, low iron, unable to gain weight, and I'm sure some other symptoms that aren't coming to mind right now. Anyways, at his 2 year check up at the dentist saw a few little spots that apparently weren't a big deal. He gave me instructions on how to brush correctly and sent us home. So at his 3 year check up (which was really only about 7-8 months later because we were late going in for his 2 year check up) the dentist lifted up his gums and and his teeth were nearly completey deteriorated. The dentist stressed that that quick of deterioration is not normal even if you don't take care of your teeth at all and told us that we needed to consult a doctor about malnutrition. We just got done with major dental surgery and had to have 2 teeth removed completely and silver caps on all the rest of his teeth. Anyone else have kids with dental problems. Is it a symptom of celiac, or should we be looking at something else?

[tarnalberry]

yes, severe dental problems are a strong indicator of celiac, due to malnutrition (not getting the vitamins/minerals he needs to properly form and maintain tooth mineral). good for your dentist for identifying possible nutritional deficiency. please continue on the testing! (though, it should be fairly straightforward, right? blood test and biopsy? is there something else they're trying to do?)

[Pattymom]

My dd 4, also just had two extracted, a few other cavities as well They also seemed to go from fine, to a crumbling tooth in short order.

Patty

[Megan6516]

My dd 4, also just had two extracted, a few other cavities as well They also seemed to go from fine, to a crumbling tooth in short order.

Patty

Does your daughter have Celiac?

[deditus]

My dd has enamel defects and just had 4 fillings where there was decay in them. She did not test positive for celiacs, but after the blood draw for the celiac panel we removed gluten and she has been doing better.

[theclutterhouse]

My son who is 13 has never had a cavity and he has Celiac's disease. I think that is the only area he has not suffered. My daughter who is 9 is another story. The Dentist always gives me a hard time and never believed my husband or me when we told him and her that we brush her teeth ourselves and make sure we don't miss anything. She has lost many teeth, and the ones that are left, many have cavities. It's only been 11 months since the celiac's diagnosis and her next appointment is in a couple of weeks. I now have the proof of what is causing all the problems. Heres the other problem, getting the Dentist to recognize that Celiac's really caused the decay. I'm 37, I was diagnosed the same time my daughter was with celiac's and I have lost many of my teeth and the ones I do have left are in really bad shape. They brake all the time. The enamel is gone, leaving my teeth unbearable at times to brush. It's like brushing the nerves.

I think one of the most frustrating parts of this disease is trying to make the doctors believe you and you not feeling like your crazy!!!

When you have celiac's and your body is deprived of any and all nutrients, it affects every part of your body including your teeth. Like my doctor says "those doctor's that don't believe in the disease, need to have the disease".

It's a good thing your dentist recognized a problem. Hopefully the damage that has been done won't affect the second set of teeth. It's a good thing it was caught early.

Good Luck,

theclutterhouse

[Renesmee from New Zealand]

Hi, reading your post is just like you are talking about my daughter. Alessandra has had checkups with the dental hygenist (called a dental nurse here in NZ) with a clean bill of health and within 11 weeks her molar crumbled! I took her a childrens dental specialist who said her other back teeth are just as bad. Aless is having stainless crowns very soon and other work so extensive it has to be done under general aneasthetic. No health professional has ever connected Celiac and teeth even after I suggested it, they looked at me as if I was a mad women!

sigh...

[Rondar2001]

My daughter had to have all of her back teeth capped before she was six years old.

We also know of another child that it was their dentist that suggested they look into celiac disease, he tested positive even though he had zero GI symptoms.

[Pattymom]

She hasnt been officially diagnosed, though has been gluten-free for a year and is growing better.

Patty

[ChaiTea]

Anyone else have kids with dental problems. Is it a symptom of celiac, or should we be looking at something else?

My eight year old has had terrible problems with his enamel, beginning at nine months of age. The dentists we have gone to would assume it was all my fault...either poor brushing or I was giving him sugary foods and drink. Even our latest dentist said she'd never heard of celiac causing such problems, and that she had many celiac patients with good teeth. I told her it didn't affect all people the same.

I had all my teeth filled or capped by the time I was five years old. I'm 43 years old and in the process of getting dentures because I've had nothing but problems with my teeth all my life. I'm hoping my son was diagnosed in time to save his permanent teeth.

Christi