The Attack of Celiac Disease

Oral health can be negatively impacted by many systemic and autoimmune disorders, one of which is celiac disease. A chronic digestive disorder of the small intestine, celiac disease makes a person’s body intolerable to gluten. When gluten is ingested it causes an immune response that leads to the destruction of small protrusions within the small intestine. These small protrusions are needed to absorb nutrients from food we eat, and when they are destroyed, the body cannot obtain important nutrients.   

Celiac disease affects both children and adults, most commonly caucasian women. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the disease, and the only way to avoid problematic symptoms is to stick to a gluten-free diet. Luckily, today there are tons of products and recipes that are gluten-free!

Common symptoms of celiac disease include:

• Anxiety
• Bloating
• Chronic diarrhea
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Malnutrition
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

Celiac Disease and Your Mouth

So now that we covered the basics of celiac disease, it’s time to focus on how it affects oral health. Known as “celiac teeth” in the dental world, the teeth of someone suffering from celiac disease are susceptible to irreversible damage. Sometimes a dentist may suspect celiac disease to be the cause of oral health problems before an official diagnosis is made. 

Celiac disease can cause the following oral health problems:

-Chronic canker sores: Celiac disease is known to cause recurrent aphthous ulcers (canker sores). They can be frequent and severe. A gluten-free diet can significantly reduce these outbreaks.

-Delayed development: Children with celiac disease can experience delayed skeletal development, which can contribute to the slow loss of baby teeth and delayed eruption of permanent teeth.

-Dry mouth: Many autoimmune diseases can cause dry mouth. Reduced saliva is known to contribute to cavities. 

-Enamel defects: Celiac disease can cause white, yellow, and brown spots on tooth enamel. These defects can be caused from an immune-mediated reaction affecting the cells that form enamel.

-Soft tissue issues: Celiac patients can have dry and burning sensations on their oral tissues due to the effect the disease has on the absorption of vitamin B-12, folate, and iron. These issues can sometimes increase the risk of oral cancer.

-Tooth decay: According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, studies indicate that the baby teeth of kids with celiac disease shows a decrease in the calcium/phosphorous ratio, which could explain the incorporation of calcium in the tissue structure, making it more soluble and prone to decay.

Gluten-free is the way to be! 

A gluten-free lifestyle is the best way to avoid symptoms and complications of celiac disease. A diet completely free of gluten is most important but avoiding gluten in other items like personal hygiene products and medications is also important. Always check with your dentist about the ingredients in the oral care products used during your dental appointment.