The symptoms of celiac disease on many occasions only manifest in the teeth and in the mouth, so a visit to the dentist can be “the first warning sign” in the face of unidentified celiac disease. This was stated in an interview with EFE by the president of the General Council of Dentists, Óscar Castro, on the occasion of National Celiac Disease Day, which was celebrated last Saturday.
Scientific studies indicate that, while only 20% of celiacs experience digestive disorders, oral discomfort is more frequent, for which reason Castro has stated that dentists are the first physicians “in the line of defense for patients”.
According to Castro, there is a great lack of knowledge about this type of ailment, which adds to the problem that many celiacs are not diagnosed: 75% of those affected, according to data from the Federation of Celiac Associations of Spain (FACE). In children, the most common manifestations are caries and enamel defects (hypoplasia) despite good hygiene and healthy eating habits.
The expert has highlighted the importance of an early diagnosis because, if there is a delay, the anomalies can be “irreversible”, in addition to the psychological impact that having stained or broken teeth can cause a child.
Other possible signs of the disease that appear in the oral cavity are painful and recurrent ulcers and sores (thrush), a burning sensation and irritation that causes dry mouth syndrome (xerostomia), inflammation (atrophic glossitis) or spots ( geographic tongue) on the tongue or fissures at the corner of the lips (angular cheilitis).
Faced with these symptoms, Castro asks dentists to suspect and recommend that patients undergo tests for celiac disease, in addition to removing gluten from their diet to see if there is an improvement.
In this sense, he has stated that dentists, paediatricians, family and digestive system doctors must have a “direct and transversal” connection because, although the dentist can give oral hygiene advice, there is a background in which several specialists intervene.
In addition, he has called for a greater involvement of the administrations, because right now celiac disease is a “disease of the rich” in which patients have to pay for themselves without any type of aid, more expensive food and visits to the dentist that public health does not cover. : “the State should take action on the matter”. FACE estimates that, currently, 1% of the Spanish population is celiac, approximately 450,000 people.
