Vital Health, Inc. Provides Tips on How to Identify Celiac Disease in Young Children through Dental Enamel Defects, Malformed, and Extreme Decayed Teeth
Orland Park, Illinois (PRWEB) July 31, 2013 -- Barbara Griffin, NMD, CNC, Certified Gluten Practitioner, and owner of Vital Health, Inc, explained, “Often dentists see young children in with office with malformed, decayed teeth or with dental enamel defects, and the first assumption is to criticize the lack of oral hygiene as the cause of the dental disorder. However, dentists and parents should consider that there could be a systemic disorder as the underlying cause.”
Dr. Griffin continued, “Celiac disease can manifest itself through over 300 symptoms within the body and can affect almost every organ. In the case of a young child, dental enamel defects might be the only presenting manifestations of celiac disease at the time. Thus, especially if there is a history of celiac disease or gluten sensitivity in the family, the overall health of the mouth and teeth needs to be carefully looked at in young children.”
Dr. Griffin provides tips on symptoms parents can look for in young children:
Classic Signs of Dental enamel defects
A. An increase in cavities
Tooth enamel is the dental tissue of the tooth that is normally visible and is supported by the underlying dentin. It is the hardest substance in the body and is 96 percent mineral. The high degree of mineralization in tooth enamel makes it prone to cavities. (1)
B. Tooth discoloration
Dental enamel problems stemming from celiac disease involve permanent dentition and include tooth discoloration—white, yellow, or brown spots on the teeth—poor enamel formation, pitting or banding of teeth, and mottled or translucent-looking teeth. The imperfections are symmetrical and often appear on the incisors and molars.
C. Chipped fractured teeth
Look for chipped fractured teeth that may cause the dentin to be immediately exposed. Chronic teeth clenching or grinding can cause the grinding surface of the molars to be characteristically flat.
D. Increase in teeth sensitivity
Heat and cold are transmitted through the dentin to the nerve of the tooth more easily when the protective enamel of a tooth is lost.
E. Check for receding gums
Tooth enamel result from improper brushing or gum disease, causing the gums to recede. V-shaped notches near the gum line can indicate abrasion of the enamel due to excessive brushing. Overuse of a toothpick can cause notches of eroded enamel between the teeth.
F. Soft spots on teeth
A dentist can detect soft spots in the enamel by probing the teeth with an instrument. An X-ray can confirm the loss of enamel.
Other Oral Symptoms of Celiac Disease:
Checking a patient’s mouth is something primary care physicians also can do to help identify people who might have celiac disease. While dental enamel defects are the most prominent, a number of other oral problems are related to celiac disease. These include:
a. recurrent aphthous stomatitis, or canker sores or ulcers that recur inside the mouth
b. atrophic glossitis, a condition characterized by a red, smooth, shiny tongue
c. dry mouth syndrome
d. squamous cell carcinoma—a type of cancer—of the pharynx and mouth (2)
Griffin added, “Tooth defects resulting from celiac disease are permanent and do not improve after adopting a gluten-free diet—the primary treatment for celiac disease. Strict adherence to a gluten-free diet can protect the body from developing other celiac disease complications, which can lead to fatal illnesses.”
Celiac disease was once considered to be strictly a childhood disease. Failure to thrive, weight loss, distended abdomen, anemia (folic acid, iron, vitamin B-12 deficiencies) and diarrhea were considered to be the classic symptoms. The medical community now understands that celiac disease is a genetic life-long condition that can occur anytime during the lifecycle and symptoms can vary significantly among individuals.
About Vital Health, Inc.:
At Vital Health, Inc. Dr. Griffin integrates a whole body approach with the intention of facilitating wellbeing and optimal health amongst her clients. Dr. Griffin’s specialties include: traditional naturopathy, nutrition, EAV Meridian Stress Assessment, Food Sensitivity Screening, Environmental Screenings, Iridology, SKASYS, Live Blood Cell Analysis as well as established integrative therapies such as Neuroemotional Therapy, Neuromodulation Technique, Cold Laser and clinician for Spectracell Laboratories, Inc. Vital Health, Inc. 9031 W. 151st Street, Suite 210, Orland Park, IL 60462, (708) 226-1131, http://www.vitalhealth.org.
Sources:
1. http://www.ehow.com/how_2146845_recognize-tooth-enamel-loss.html#ixzz2aXfgeNvY
2. http://www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
3. http://www.healthnowmedical.com
Linda Gardner, Vital Health, Inc., http://www.vitalhealth.org, 708-638-9579, [email protected]
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