How Celiac Disease Can Affect Oral Health

Affecting roughly one in every 100 people around the world, celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, denies individuals the ability to digest gluten, which is a protein in grains. Celiac is known for damaging the small intestine by making it difficult for a person’s body to absorb various vital nutrients. While the effects of this disease on a person’s digestive system have become fairly well known, there are actually a few ways celiac can manifest in the mouth as well, such as dry mouth, canker sores, and teeth defects.

Dry Mouth

This condition is exactly how it sounds—the sense that the mouth is too dry too frequently. Dry mouth is often a side effect of Sjogren's syndrome, which is an autoimmune disorder that hits the salivary glands often alongside celiac. As per the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, around 4.5 to 15 percent of celiac patients have Sjogren's syndrome. If individuals are not creating enough saliva, they usually have a hard time chewing and swallowing food and can have more difficulty speaking clearly. Also, since saliva helps keep teeth clean, a lack of it can quickly lead to cavities. Luckily, a dentist can treat symptoms using a prescription toothpaste or artificial saliva.

Canker Sores

Also called aphthous stomatitis, canker sores are painful oral lesions that can develop on soft tissue, such as on the roof of the mouth or the inside of the cheek. As with dry mouth, canker sores can lead to difficulty eating or speaking. As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), canker sores can affect between 3 to 61 percent of celiac patients. These lesions may go away on their own, but there is a chance for recurrence later. Should canker sores start interfering with a person’s daily activities, the dentist can ease symptoms using topical anesthetics or a prescription mouth rinse.

Teeth Defects

The effects of celiac disease on a person’s tooth enamel can be problematic, leading to poor development or discoloration. If teeth have discolored enamel, they typically have yellow, brown, or even white dots. On the other hand, poorly developed enamel looks banded or pitted, and teeth could look translucent rather than opaque. Regrettably, celiac-based enamel defects are permanent, meaning they will not go away if patients start gluten-free diets, but dentists can help patients with this effect through bonding or veneers.

For celiac patients, problems involving saliva, oral tissues, or enamel are legitimate causes for concern. If celiac patients feel they are having oral side effects of their condition, they must make sure they don't go ignored and visit a dentist immediately to receive a sound diagnosis and proper treatment.

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