Gluten intolerance is a spectrum of problems some people have when eating wheat, rye and barley. It can be as minor as symptoms of bloating or a stomachache after eating a large plate of pasta, or it can be a full-blown autoimmune disorder that causes permanent damage to the intestines. Gluten intolerance is associated with many symptoms you might not connect with a digestive disorder. One of these symptoms is defects in a child's tooth enamel.
Gluten Intolerance
The protein gluten occurs in wheat, barley and rye, and other grains become contaminated with gluten during milling and food processing. These grains are pervasive in processed foods, and many food manufacturers also add gluten to a variety of products. While many people have differing degrees of gluten intolerance, more than 3 million in the United States have the autoimmune disorder celiac disease, according to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. This type of gluten intolerance involves an abnormal response in which the immune system attacks the small intestine and destroys villi, which are tiny projections in the intestinal lining that absorb nutrients.
Symptoms
Celiac disease has hundreds of possible symptoms, many of which are not digestive in nature, explains the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. In addition to a broad range of digestive issues, celiac disease is associated with symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, rashes, anxiety and depression. An individual with celiac disease also could have no symptoms whatsoever. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse lists tooth discoloration as a sign of celiac disease. Your child could have celiac disease with tooth discoloration being the only symptom.
Dental Defects
Celiac disease can affect any organ or body system, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NDDIC. Some dental indications may include pitting, mottling and bands of white, yellow or brown spots on the enamel. If your child has any tooth discoloration such as yellowing of the enamel, consult your dentist. However, be aware that some dentists assume tooth discoloration in children is due to excessive fluoride intake or the mother taking tetracycline antibiotics while pregnant, when it actually may be caused by celiac disease, cautions the NDDIC. A health-care provider can refer your child to a gastroenterologist to confirm or rule out celiac disease with a biopsy.
Considerations
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that damage to the intestines from celiac disease interferes with the absorption of some nutrients essential for healthy teeth, including phosphorus and calcium. Other types of gluten intolerance do not damage intestinal villi, but can cause intestinal inflammation that also interferes with nutrient absorption. Related signs of gluten intolerance in children may include slow development, failure to grow, weight loss, irritability, poor memory and difficulty concentrating.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Dental Enamel Defects and Celiac Disease
- University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center: Celiac Disease 101
- University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research: Celiac and Children
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Phosphorus
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Calcium
- The Spectrum of Gluten Intolerance: Testing for Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance
