Dental Health & Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes sufferers to have an intolerance to gluten. When people living with celiac disease consume gluten, their bodies will not properly absorb the gluten, leading to damage to the small intestine. Most celiac disease symptoms occur in the gastrointestinal tract, but there are also a few dental ramifications of celiac disease.

Celiac Disease & Your Child's Oral Health

According to a European Journal of Internal Medicine study, around 85% of people with celiac disease experience damage to the tooth enamel. The same immune response that causes damage to the small intestine also blocks Vitamin D absorption, which is a necessary part of growing strong, healthy teeth.

Consuming gluten has also been known cause the following dental health problems in those with an intolerance to gluten:

• Misshapen or abnormal teeth 
• Canker sores 
• Tooth discoloration 
• Pitting of the teeth 
• Excessive mucus production 

Many of the above issues are permanent. If you have celiac disease, it's crucial to avoid gluten altogether, practice good at-home dental hygiene.

If you have an intolerance to gluten, it's important to let our Wichita, Kansas, dentist know of it so we can keep an eye out for problems closely associated with celiac disease.