Dental Issues With Gluten Free

[LJ-Mom]

My 20 month old son had all of his celiac tests come back negative (very low #s). However, I find he does better without wheat. We don't get normal poops all the time, but we do see more of them. When we have wheat it is clearly worse. The pediatric GI said that gluten is just harder to digest whether your celiac or not and suggests keep trying to challenge his diet.

So my question is...

Has anyone heard about/or experienced dental issues because of being gluten free? My pediatric GI cautioned not to take my son off wheat for too long because of the possible effects which could cause dental issues over a lifetime.

[AmyT]

That is interesting because I haven't heard anything like that except the opposite. We have dental discoloration here. My daughter is 11yo and she has very yellow teeth. Celiac does something to the enamel. Celiac also causes vitamin absorption problems, it can cause calcium to leech out of bones and teeth. You might want to ask him about that. Maybe someone here know more than me!

[tarnalberry]

What does the doc say is in wheat that you can't get anywhere else? I simply don't buy it.

But enamel defects are a common problem in children with undiagnosed celiac disease, since the body is unable to properly absorb calcium and other minerals needed for enamel formation.

[Gemini]

What does the doc say is in wheat that you can't get anywhere else? I simply don't buy it.

But enamel defects are a common problem in children with undiagnosed celiac disease, since the body is unable to properly absorb calcium and other minerals needed for enamel formation.

I agree with this completely! I think the doctor is confused about his information because dental enamel defects occur WITH Celiac Disease and the ingestion of wheat.....not the other way around. I should know....I have a lot of defects which is the reason I am always having dental work done. When my bottom adult front teeth came in, there was no enamel at all on them. I had to have them capped.

The lengths that some in the medical profession go to keep people on wheat is astounding. I think Mommy knows best in this case!

[mom2katry]

We have the opposite. My daughter is 8 and while her baby teeth are pearly white, her adult teeth are coming in yellow.

[macocha]

oh my gosh! I wish I would have known this!! My son's teeth do not form enamel on all of them. and here we test for celiac next week through the biopsy.

I am sitting here trying to scrape my jaw off the floor. wow.

all these indicators that I missed...wah!

[OBXMom]

While we are on the subject, celiac disease also can cause delays in tooth development. The dentist said my 10 year old is about 2 years behind. I'm just happy that he is expected to catch up.

I know this doesn't answer your original question, LJ Mom. I agree with whoever said the doctor is probably confused. Maybe he was confusing gluten with milk products? A lack of calcium can certainly affect bones and teeth.

[MRM]

my daughter(2.5yo) has terrible teeth. she showed an intolerance to wheat via IgG testing. her four top teeth have severe decay and many of her molars are quickly crumbling. her hair and nails also break very easily and he skin is super sensitive.

i'm about to take her back off gluten/wheat and try to heal her system. hopefully it's not to late to save her adult teeth.

[macocha]

MRM - make sure they do sealants on her permanent. Son has to have them put on.