Dental Enamel Problems?

[ar8]

Hi all-

I'm well aware that dental enamel problems can be a sign for celiac. 5 yrs ago, I had blood testing and endoscopy, and both were neg for celiac, but i had elevated IGG antibodies. I have had diarrhea/gas/constipation problems ever since. As you can imagine I was dx'ed with IBS and sent on my way and told not to worry about gluten. Nothing ever got better, but worse. In addition to tummy problems I now have joint and back pains and my muscles are sore after my running workouts, more and longer than they should be (i think). So I know gluten free is probably the way to go for me but i never stick with it. I did it for a while about 2 yrs ago and did in fact feel a lot better.

But then i quit.... because I was going through a lot of other junk with my life in general and didn't have a formal diagnosis or the willpower to stick to it at that time.

My question is, WHAT DO CELIAC TEETH LOOK LIKE when they are affected by this? And what about non-celiac gluten intolerant teeth??? can dental enamel be an issue for them too ? My front teeth seem to be dissolving in front of me. The entire top half of my two big ones in front (sorry I'm not dentist..don't know the name for these) have no enamel. When I drink a soda they turn a nasty brown color at the top from staining and I'm even considering getting veneers put on. I have good oral hygiene (i brush after meals and don't drink soda that often!!) so i don't feel like THAT is the issue here. Maybe I'm wrong and its just genetics, i have bad teeth, and not gluten. please share your opinions and experience on this.

Can gluten cause this issue in people who don't have celiac, but are just gluten intolerant?

[mushroom]

"Just" gluten intolerant can be as bad as celiac. Gluten 'just' affects you differently, but so often the same. I would definitely consider that you enamel defects are being caused by gluten. Maybe this will be the trigger for your willpower, to convince you to go gluten free and stop harming yourself. You don't have to be celiac to harm yourself with gluten

[BRUMI1968]

You say your joints hurt and your teeth are dissolving in front of you - I would suggest cutting out grains entirely - all of them. They demineralize the body and can cause joint pain and demineralization of teeth. If you have joint pain you might also want to see if you are eating a lot of nightshades (tomato, potato, eggplant, peppers (not black pepper) and tobacco). If so, you should quit those too to see if the pain goes away.

I have Celiac and have had it actively since I was a toddler. I have had amazing teeth my whole with only one shallow cavity (I'm 42) - and that was when I had braces and it was hard to clean the old choppers. In the past year, my front teeth have started to look clear and I have pains in my teeth whenever I eat brown rice and other high acid demineralizing foods.

That would be my advice to you - try one or both of those eliminations. No grains is a bit difficult at first - we are really used to eating grains. You can use quinoa and amaranth to substitute, but know that they have mineral blocking qualities as well. Take a good calcium supplement and see if that helps.

Good luck.

Sherri

[ar8]

You say your joints hurt and your teeth are dissolving in front of you - I would suggest cutting out grains entirely - all of them. They demineralize the body and can cause joint pain and demineralization of teeth. If you have joint pain you might also want to see if you are eating a lot of nightshades (tomato, potato, eggplant, peppers (not black pepper) and tobacco). If so, you should quit those too to see if the pain goes away.

I have Celiac and have had it actively since I was a toddler. I have had amazing teeth my whole with only one shallow cavity (I'm 42) - and that was when I had braces and it was hard to clean the old choppers. In the past year, my front teeth have started to look clear and I have pains in my teeth whenever I eat brown rice and other high acid demineralizing foods.

That would be my advice to you - try one or both of those eliminations. No grains is a bit difficult at first - we are really used to eating grains. You can use quinoa and amaranth to substitute, but know that they have mineral blocking qualities as well. Take a good calcium supplement and see if that helps.

Good luck.

Sherri

Thanks to both of you for sharing your advice. I understand the hows and whys behind celiac causing demineralization of the teeth-- ineffective absorption, etc. , but what is it about other grains that blocks absorption even in the absence of celiac? Also- i do understand that gluten intolerance can be as bad as celiac, it's just different-- i guess i am trying to get a handle on if/how/why this is causing my teeth to do this in a span of 5 years.

[BRUMI1968]

I think grains can cause demineralization through 1) being very acid and 2) containing phytic acid. Of course, lots of foods contain phytic acid, such as nuts, seeds, grains, and to a lesser extent some veggies.

There are a few books out about grains - dangerous grains maybe is one title name. I can't recall.

[WheatChef]

The only differences between a celiac and a non-celiac gluten sensitive are found in the small intestine. In reality there's no difference between a celiac and a NCGS, each person is different in which exact organs (teeth included) that the body decides to attack as a result of a gluten sensitivity.

[codetalker]

I'm well aware that dental enamel problems can be a sign for celiac.

Are there any published studies that show this?

I have enamel loss and my dentist is always on my back about "brushing too hard". If there are studies that show a link between celiac disease and tooth and/or gum issues, I'd like to mention them to him.

Thanks.

[Dixiebell]

I believe problems with teeth would be because of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

[ar8]

Are there any published studies that show this?

I have enamel loss and my dentist is always on my back about "brushing too hard". If there are studies that show a link between celiac disease and tooth and/or gum issues, I'd like to mention them to him.

Thanks.

Hey there-- I couldn't recall where i first heard about dental enamel/celilac connections but here's just one article I found online (i'm sure there are others out there)--

Open Original Shared Link

[ar8]

I believe problems with teeth would be because of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Also, my understanding of enamel is that it is supposed to be one of the hardest substances in the human body because of its rich mineral concentration. I don't know if it's mostly calcium, phosophorus, or what, but I guess you are right, it can pretty much be pinned down to a general nutritional deficiency....the irony is that my blood tests have always been NORMAL-- even b12, calcium, and other things that are celiac markers. I had a history with anemia when i was in college (i hardly ate anything and was generally unhealthy....so that may explain that) and also when I had just hit puberty and my periods were SUPER heavy and frequent. Now my iron levels are normal and i havent' been conistently gluten free for a long time so I just don't know what to say about my "nutritional deficiencies" except that I sure feel malnourished no matter what those blood tests say!. In any case, this problem with my teeth will be just one more thing to add to my arsenal of reasons why I probably NEED this diet.

[Dixiebell]

Always get copies of your test results so you can see for yourself where your levels are. It could be that you are on the low level of normal.

[charling]

This topic is really interesting to me. Bad tooth enamel was one of the reasons I started my 2 year old on a gluten-free diet in July. She started having discoloration on her top front teeth a little after she turned 1. At first I thought it was because of the iron supplements she was on, and her pediatrician (at the time) agreed, so I didn't do anything about it. Then last November one of those teeth chipped off...I was horrified! We immediately went to a pediatric dentist and basically they told me it was because I nursed at night. (I had nursed my son the same and he's never had issues with his teeth). We started treating with fluoride varnish every 3 months in order to stop the damage. We did end up having the 2 teeth to the sides of the front 2 teeth removed because they were in really bad shape (they actually had emerged in her mouth before the front 2 teeth, so that made sense). Anyway, I did quit nursing in April of this year when she turned 2. Then in July I started researching a gluten-free diet for a variety of reasons (her unexplained off the charts weight, seizures (or migrianes), autistic behaviors, my own undiagnosed stomach issues)...and I was shocked when I learned of the tooth enamel problems associated with gluten. So we've both been gluten-free since then. Her teeth have been holding their own and even hardening up some, but of course there are other factors involved besides the gluten-free. Of course, when I asked the dentist about gluten, he didn't know anything about an association with enamel problems.

[ar8]

Always get copies of your test results so you can see for yourself where your levels are. It could be that you are on the low level of normal.

Yeah-- wish i could locate those results now! I do know that last time i was "ideal for b12" and actually at the HIGH end of the hemoglobin count (which indiciates iron levels), and i remember this because i was shocked (i was always on the low end or even below norm before)

perhaps this was due to my obsessive multivitamin use in the past few years. ANYWAY, i am still confused as to why i could be feeling this way.

because these high results certainly don't fit with gluten related problems, further confusing the issue for me. And whenever i am tempted to veer from the diet, that is always in the back of my mind beckoning me to do so.

[ar8]

This topic is really interesting to me. Bad tooth enamel was one of the reasons I started my 2 year old on a gluten-free diet in July. She started having discoloration on her top front teeth a little after she turned 1. At first I thought it was because of the iron supplements she was on, and her pediatrician (at the time) agreed, so I didn't do anything about it. Then last November one of those teeth chipped off...I was horrified! We immediately went to a pediatric dentist and basically they told me it was because I nursed at night. (I had nursed my son the same and he's never had issues with his teeth). We started treating with fluoride varnish every 3 months in order to stop the damage. We did end up having the 2 teeth to the sides of the front 2 teeth removed because they were in really bad shape (they actually had emerged in her mouth before the front 2 teeth, so that made sense). Anyway, I did quit nursing in April of this year when she turned 2. Then in July I started researching a gluten-free diet for a variety of reasons (her unexplained off the charts weight, seizures (or migrianes), autistic behaviors, my own undiagnosed stomach issues)...and I was shocked when I learned of the tooth enamel problems associated with gluten. So we've both been gluten-free since then. Her teeth have been holding their own and even hardening up some, but of course there are other factors involved besides the gluten-free. Of course, when I asked the dentist about gluten, he didn't know anything about an association with enamel problems.

Sorry to hear about your little one's tooth issues-- hope you get that worked out. Anyway the good news is that if you get her problems worked out these will be baby teeth, no? And then she'll grow a new set of healthy chompers if she stays gluten-free right??

[ar8]

Another interesting thing I found is the following

Open Original Shared Link

I don't know how trustworthy this source is, especially since doctors have been using blood tests for a while to accurately diagnose problems, but this site seems to suggest that many of the blood tests for minerals/vitamins do NOT accurately reflect the state of your body?? Why, oh why, do these things have to be so confusing?! It's almost like you have to be Sherlock Holmes these days to keep yourself healthy.

[charling]

Sorry to hear about your little one's tooth issues-- hope you get that worked out. Anyway the good news is that if you get her problems worked out these will be baby teeth, no? And then she'll grow a new set of healthy chompers if she stays gluten-free right??

That's what I'm hoping! She isn't diagnosed celiac or gluten intolerant, so I can't say for sure.

[codetalker]

Hey there-- I couldn't recall where i first heard about dental enamel/celilac connections but here's just one article I found online (i'm sure there are others out there)--

Open Original Shared Link

Thanks.

I had searched a while back but did not come across this particular article. I'll mention it to my dentist at my next appointment. I'm not going to hold my breath but, who knows, maybe he'll consider it.