With the world becoming more diet-conscious, celiac disease gets plenty of public attention these days. People worldwide now wonder if their bodies react poorly to gluten. That said, a key truth about this issue still goes underdiscussed: celiac disease can affect oral health in harmful ways. You should consider how a potential gluten sensitivity might hurt your smile, how to counter it, etc. So, your Baltimore dentists are here to discuss the matter below.
Context: What’s Celiac Disease?
You’ll need to know the gist of celiac disease. Otherwise, this condition’s connection to your grin won’t make sense.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that can greatly damage the body. When one has it, eating gluten – a protein found in foods like wheat, barley, or rye – triggers an immune response in the digestive system. This response disrupts the small intestine, preventing it from absorbing nutrients (i.e., malabsorption).
Celiac disease is better known for causing uncomfortable fatigue and bloating. However, it can also cause malnutrition, lactose intolerance, bone weakening, and more if left untreated.
How Does It Affect Oral Health?
Celiac disease certainly does a number on your gut. However, it affects your oral health just as much when it runs rampant.
Those with celiac disease face a higher risk of oral problems. One such issue is poor tooth formation, especially enamel defects in both primary and permanent teeth. Another is the spread of canker sores or mouth ulcers, which can occur as your body overreacts to gluten. Celiac disease will even sometimes result in dry mouth, an ailment that makes tooth decay and cavities more likely.
Unless you’re okay with the effects above, you’ll want to manage your celiac disease well. Doing anything less will lead to tooth and gum troubles.
What Can You Do to Counter It?
Even if you avoid gluten, celiac disease could still lead to trouble for your smile. The good news is that you can counter such trouble with the following tips:
- Get Teeth Whitening – Teeth affected by celiac disease sometimes look discolored. To compensate, consider whitening them through professional treatment.
- Consider Fillings – If your celiac disease indirectly causes cavities, don’t panic. You can always try tooth-colored fillings from your local dentist.
- Attend Dental Checkups – With twice-yearly dental checkups, you can keep your gluten sensitivity from upsetting your mouth much.
While you shouldn’t ignore celiac disease’s more famous effects, don’t dismiss its impact on oral health either. You and your smile will lead happier lives that way!
About the Authors
Drs. Chen & Kim are excellent dentists based in Baltimore, MD. Combining excellent care with a patient-first mindset, they aim to make every visitor’s smile thrive! They thus offer a comprehensive set of dental services, ranging from dental checkups and cleanings to same-day emergency treatment. Whatever difficulty your teeth and gums have, trust us to fix it for you! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (410)-235-8525.