Do you have a gluten sensitivity? 

Recently, there has been a buzz around gluten sensitivities, with more and more people reporting a renewed sense of well-being once they eliminate gluten from their diets.  A severe form of gluten intolerance is known as celiac disease, and your dentist can play a role in detecting it before you even suspect you have it!

If during your regular dental appointment, we notice enamel imperfections on your teeth and recognize that you suffer from recurrent canker sores, we may advise you of the possible link to celiac disease and recommend that you make an appointment with your family doctor for further testing and screening for the disease.

Dental enamel defects were linked to celiac disease in a recent study published by the European Journal of Internal Medicine. While Celiac disease affects the small intestine, patients may not notice any gastrointestinal symptoms. A common indicator of celiac disease is dental enamel defects, which were noticed in 85 percent of celiac patients involved in the study.

What might an enamel defect look like?  Your teeth may have an irregular shape, or they could have structural defects including deep horizontal grooves and large pits.  The surface of the enamel could be rough and discoloured with spots of yellow and brown.

Damaged enamel cannot usually be reversed in adults, however, we can offer a number of treatment options that can bring your teeth back to their original shape and colour!