Signs Gluten Causing Dental Decay, By Dr. Sylvia Onusic: Dentists Play an Important Part-Part 2

Dr Sylvia Onusic, writing for Healthy Home Economist, describes the connection of celiac connective tissue abnormalities (besides dental and oral manifestations), and the triggers which have been identified: bottle feeding, low vitamin D ingestion and sun exposure, virus's, C/S and timing of ingestion of gluten in the infant. She rightly identifies gluten induced disorders as a connective tissue disease.....NOT A FOOD ALLERGY, with stimulation of the abnormal lymphatic tissues.

Here she writes:
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease, not a food allergy, which affects infants, children and adults and results in a permanent intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

Celiac disease is a common disorder and about 1% or more of North Americans may develop it and it can occur at any age. With celiac progression, there is increasing damage to the villi of the small intestine, which are responsible for uptake of nutrients, leading to nutrient- related diseases such as osteoporosis, malabsorption syndromes, anemia, even lymphoma and other cancers. 1-2

Celiac is an inherited disease which can show up because of a variety of different conditions. The most important factor in preventing development of celiac in at-risk babies is breastfeeding up to a year or more, especially upon first exposure to gluten.Studies show that the timing of the introduction of gluten and amount of gluten given is important. Babies ingesting gluten laden cereals, crackers or other gluten containing foods during the first three months of life are an increased the risk for development of celiac disease, compared to infants who were first given gluten around six months of age.

In Swedish studies from the 1990,’s prompted by an epidemic of celiac disease, it was found that babies given higher amounts of wheat baby foods were much more likely to develop celiac disease. 3

For persons who have a relative or parent with celiac disease, the disorder can show up after a virus, accident, pregnancy, or stressful situation. 1

I would recommend, if you are concerned for your children's teeth or you look after children that you read the whole thing.

To Your Health

Dr. Barbara

55% of Kids with Celiac Disease have Dental Enamel Defects- Dentists Play an Important Role-Part 1

Grade 1 enamel defects in celiac disease

As it turns out, it is depressingly common for adults and children with celiac disease to have problematic teeth. And expensive. And these may lead to long-term health problems.Previous studies have shown that celiacs tend to have more dental problems than average, and new research backs that up.


As reported in About.com:(my bold), the study, published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, looks at dental enamel defects in adult celiac disease. Defects in your teeth's enamel, or coating, can appear as discoloration or as pitted, rough surfaces.

grade 2 enamel defects, notice the scalloped edges

The researchers performed a dental exam in 54 adults with celiac disease to look for enamel defects, and found them in a whopping 85% of those they examined. One-third had minor defects (also called "grade 1" defects), another 30% had grade 2 defects, 15% had grade 3 defects and 7% had grade 4.                                                                    


The researchers, who are based at the University of Pavia in Italy, noted that "dentists have a chance to refer people for celiac disease testing if they find enamel defects".

And according to researchers out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 55% of children with the diagnosis of celiac disease have dental enamel defects. These may be the only manifestation of this disorder. They say "Dentists can play an important role in identifying people who may have unrecognized celiac disease". J Can Dent Assoc 2011;77:b39.

Other oral and dental manifestations of celiac disease, besides enamel defects include delayed eruption, recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAS), Cheilosis, oral lichen planus, atrophic glossitis, dens invaginatus, squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and mouth, red smooth shiny tongue, and dry mouth. According to this paper sometimes aphthous ulcers are the only sign of celiac disease.

A clinical guide for dentists is here. Dr. Rashid and his colleagues recommend the following clinical tips for dentists:

-Consider celiac disease as a possible diagnosis in any patient with dental enamel defects, recurrent oral      aphthous ulcers or both.
-Question about other clinical symptoms of celiac disease, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss,  poor growth, anemia and extreme fatigue. Remember that absence of these symptoms does not rule out  celiac disease.
-Inquire about the presence of other autoimmune diseases, especially type 1 diabetes and thyroiditis. The  presence of these will further increase the probability of celiac disease.
-Consider adding celiac disease to the list of disorders that you inquire about during family history screening.  Having a first- or second-degree relative with celiac disease increases the likelihood of a positive diagnosis.
-If celiac disease is suspected, the dentist or dental hygienist may wish to coordinate laboratory testing with  the patient’s primary care physician or specialist. The currently recommended screening test for celiac  disease is serum IgA-TTG antibody test, which is readily available. The TTG is an IgA-based test and IgA  deficiency is common in celiac disease. Therefore, total IgA level should also be measured.

An information sheet is available at Canadian Celiac Association , which would be helpful if you suspect or you know you or your child has celiac disease, and you want to open a discussion with your dentist.

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease, not a food allergy, which affects infants, children and adults and results in a permanent intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. And other grain proteins found in oats, hemp and coffee.

Dentists play an important role in diagnosing celiac. More studies on the incidence of gluten sensitivity and dental disorders need to be done.

See Dr. Onusic's excellent article on the relationship of this abnormal autoimmune disorder, not a food allergy to our health in general and to our teeth, in "Part 2".

To Your Health

Dr. Barbara

Dr. Perlmutter's Brain Health Program in Grain Brain includes a Grain Free, GAPS Style Diet

I don't know anyone who doesn't want to age in good 

health and avoid Alzheimer's. 

We get a lot of information about how to do this, but does this information have to be updated from the 30's and 40's when most of these principles were established? There is a large movement to update classical teachings and Dr. Perlmutter, a neurologist in practice has put up-to-date research and recommendations into a book called "Grain Brain". 

Dr. David Perlmutter says in this interview: the first step is to stop gluten! (My bold):

Research suggests gluten can play a damaging role by the changes it imparts on your microbiome, the bacteria in your gut. But gluten can also wreak havoc with your neurological health via the inflammation it causes. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity may involve 30 to 40 percent of the population and according to work done at Harvard by Dr. Alessio Fasano, it may even affect every single human being.

The reason for this is because gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, has significant effects on your gut cells, which leads to the production of a chemical called zonulin. Zonulin enhances inflammation and tends to make your gut porous and leaky (i.e. leaky gut syndrome). But that's not all. Dr. Fasano discovered that it can also make your blood-brain barrier leaky, allowing foreign proteins to migrate into your brain, where they clearly do not belong.

Listen to the full interview to pick up some brain saving tips.

Let's talk about those foreign proteins mentioned above. These proteins that migrate into the brain are recognized as "foreign invaders" mimicking a life threatening microorganism invasion, like "swine flu" or encephalitis, which then triggers a life saving reaction by the immune system. The reaction however, can go wrong with the confusion of the system when it thinks our own tissues look like gliadin proteins. Dr. Fraser Scott showed that celiac subjects had tissues that look like gliadin back in 2002, but other researchers have shown the same thing in other organs' connective tissues!!! 

This starts a reaction to one's own tissues with the production of anti deamidated gliadin, anti gliadin,  and  anti tissue transglutaminase antibodies (Tg2,3,and 6), especially worrisome is Tg6 but also Tg2, which attack the brain tissues and the tissues around the blood vessels blocking the "blood brain barrier".  Tg6's attack on the brain causes dozens of neurological disorders especially cerebellar ataxia, cerebral calcifications, peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy, migraines and possibly MS. 

Dr. Hadjivassiliou has written an extensive article  "Gluten Sensitivity; From Gut to Brain" on these neurological diseases and the good news is he has shown these conditions improve on a gluten free diet. If you want to see what the blood brain barrier thickened up with Tg6 looks like, go to page nine, and look at the picture labelled "A". The circle in the middle is the lumen of a blood vessel and around it is a cuff of thickness imbedded with Tg6 antibodies. This is very abnormal as the area around the blood vessel is rarely bigger than 1/5th of the diameter of the blood vessel. With one look at the diseased brain tissue's blood vessel you can tell there is something horribly wrong.

This abnormal attack on our own tissues also leads to psychiatric conditions. Here is a case of severe psychiatric symptoms, at one point requiring hospital admission, who improved with GAPS diet and B12 shots.

If your aim is good brain health, the first step is to stop eating gluten. 
You will want to get rid of all grains, though, because of the cross reactive and toxic proteins in them that promote leaky gut and inflammation just like gluten, which is the mechanism for the damage to the brain. 

There is more to do, of course, like remove chemical exposure especially to pesticides, proper dental care by a biological dentist, keeping your vitamin D levels good, keeping your blood sugar levels low and stable, keep your uric acid levels low by limiting your ingestion of fructose to 25 grams a day or less, monitor your B12 levels with a Homocysteine test, supplement with lots of folate (not folic acid, the chemical) probiotics and zinc, exercise moderately and keep your stress levels manageable.

To Your "Brain" Health

Dr. Barbara

THE WORLD'S FIRST FREE ONLINE THYROID HEALTH EVENT Starts Sunday, May 4th, 2014

Fourth percent of newly diagnosed celiac persons already have antibodies to their thyroid glands even if they don't have symptoms. 

I want you to know as much as possible about the cause, manifestations (including infertility), and treatment of thyroid conditions. There is an opportunity to view experts like Dr. David Bronstein at the Thyroid Sessions.

The Thyroid Sessions are put on by Sean Croxton of www.undergroundhealth.com an internet radio show where he interviews experts focusing on the subjects of real food, functional medicine and holistic health.

The first interview with Dr. Tom O'Bryan on the "Gluten-Thyroid Connection" was very informative and a glimpse of things to come. Get access to the interview with your free registration.

From Sean:

EVERYTHING YOUR DOCTOR DIDN'T TELL YOU ABOUT THYROID PROBLEMS

You Have Options!
The frustration and misinformation surrounding thyroid problems needs to stop. An estimated 30 million people in the US and 200 million worldwide have a thyroid disorder — only half have been properly diagnosed. And even less are receiving proper treatment.

Unfortunately, the real answers are not offered by their medical practitioners and seldom covered by insurance.

That’s why we traveled the country to interview a dozen of the leading functional medicine doctors, nutritionists, and real food chefs for a free online screening called The Thyroid Sessions. And you can register today to watch them for FREE!

Our panel of experts will uncover how to properly diagnose, treat, and reverse thyroid problems naturally — using doctor-prescribed drugs as a last resort.

You Will Discover
1.Why your thyroid scores are “normal”, but your symptoms are screaming HYPOTHYROID!
2.The iodine controversy: How to navigate the conflicting information about this critical nutrient.
3.The little-known connection between gluten consumption and autoimmune thyroid disorders...
4.FREE and easy at-home testing for evaluating your thyroid health.
5.Gentle detox therapies for reversing Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
6.How to lose weight when your thyroid is off...or has been removed altogether.
7.Which thyroid medications are best…and which are unsafe.
8.The best foods and supplements for lowering thyroid antibodies, naturally.
9.Secrets for shrinking thyroid nodules that your doc never told you about.
10.Grave’s disease: What to do when your thyroid is OVER-active.
11.Fertility Matters: Preconception and prenatal thyroid support.
12.Why thyroid cancer is becoming more common — especially in women.

..And so much more!

Our hand-picked team of functional medical doctors, naturopaths, nutritionists, and health experts reveal how you can regain your energy, lose excess body fat, and heal your thyroid NATURALLY through real food, lifestyle changes, and getting the lab testing you need!
Sign up for free here

To Your Health

Dr. Barbara

The Gluten-Thyroid Connection Interview with Dr. Tom O'Bryan

Looks like I have a third interview for you, this time of Dr. Tom O'Bryan on the subject of thyroid disease and it's link to gluten ingestion in the person who is gluten sensitive. 

He explains what the immune system is built of, and the importance of a healthy bowel. Or the presence of a leaky gut with or without celiac disease. (I use the term gluten sensitivity to include both celiac disease and non-celiac disease, as both conditions are induced by gluten and other parts of grains).

The list of foods I think people should avoid to heal the leaky gut, is a lot longer than what he lists. You will find a comprehensive list of foods to avoid to heal at www.gaps.me ,Dr. Natasha Campbell- McBride's website. For sure stopping gluten from wheat stops the further damage, but, what I have found in practice and in research is that it alone doesn't promote healing. GAPS protocol promotes healing. It is more than a diet.

For those of you who want to learn more about thyroid health from a fine line up of health practitioners including Dr. David Bronstein, there will be a Thyroid Sessions Summit with more info here.

Thanks to Sean Croxton of UndergroundWellness.com and Thyroid Sessions for  the link to The Gluten-Thyroid Connection interview with Dr. Tom O'Bryan. It is just 39 minutes and chock full of useful information, including references to published research for those who want to go deeper. 

To Your Health
Dr. Barbara

Don't Miss The Link to Gluten When Affected by an Autoimmune Disorder-Dr. Shoenfeld Interviewed

Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld

We have known that the risk of developing autoimmune disorders in someone with celiac disease is 12 times the normal rate ( Farrell, NEJM 2002). This is such a high risk that one wonders who is left except those with gluten sensitivity/celiac disease to get auto immune diseases like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Lupus or psoriasis. 

Since 2002 the science of autoimmune disorders has exploded. 
According to one of the top ten lead researchers in the world on autoimmune (AI) disorders, Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld, there are situations that can predict the development of an AI disorder and the lead one is gluten sensitivity. 

And he knows that there are ways to prevent or slow down the onset of an autoimmune disorder and they are all lifestyle stuff:
-exercise
-stop smoking
-eat a healthy diet with lots of vegetables and no grains
-get some sun
-and supplement with vitamin D and I would add omega 3's.

In the interview which is linked below, he talks about the links between autoimmune disease and how the body attacks itself and why.

And the strong protection of vitamin D. 

Thanks to Dr. Tom O'Bryan, who put on the Gluten Summit last November, Dr. Shoenfeld's interview is available. 


Autoimmune disorders can cause recurrent miscarriages, infertility, pregnancy loss after 12 weeks. Hypo or hyperthyroidism, joint destruction from Rheumatoid arthritis or Lupus arthritis, or rashes, or cerebellar ataxia which shows up as a loss of balance not explained by low B12. Cardiovascular disease is very common. Some psychiatric conditions are considered autoimmune with the classic being PANDAS. And so many other disabling conditions as the body is attacking itself. Usually fuelled by gluten and gluten mimicking proteins in grains, and vitamin D deficiency. 

Practically speaking, today it can be hard to get the testing done for every possible antibody linked to every AI disorder, but some can be ordered by your doctor.Until it is possible to do these tests routinely, in practice, I assume everyone with a diagnosis of gluten sensitivity is already making antibodies to a handful of their own tissues, as many studies have shown, even before the person has symptoms. 

The remedies are the lifestyle changes listed above and are founded on a good vitamin D level. All these lifestyle recommendations are good for everyone and have been shown to reduce antibody levels in research settings. 

Do not presume just because you are getting sun exposure or you are taking D3, the real thing, that you have the protective blood levels of vitamin D3, which are 100-150 nmol/l (or 40 -60 ng/ml). Get a blood test.

Some resources for vitamin D are The Vitamin D Society and Vitamin D Council which has a newsletter that you can sign up for.

To Your Health
Dr. Barbara

Lose The Wheat, Lose The Weight: Interview with Dr. Bill Davis

Thanks to J.J. Virgin for publishing her informative interview with Dr. Bill Davis, cardiologist, author of Wheat Belly, and Wheat Belly Cookbook, and personality, having been on the Dr. Oz show. 
Want to know about the introduction of grains into the human diet about 10,000 years ago, he talks about this. The new wheat's impact of peoples' health, he talks about that. 

Easy to listen to while on the treadmill, doing squats or on the trampoline.

Click on this link: http://virgindietcookbook.com/7d7d-billdavis/

To Your Health
Dr. Barbara