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Oral Health Connection to Celiac Disease

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, canker sores could be a symptom of Celiac disease.

Celiac disease is a lifelong inherited auto-immune disease where gluten (the proteins found in specific grains, such as wheat) causes an immune-mediated toxic reaction, damaging the small intestine and not allowing food to be absorbed properly. 

Celiac disease can appear at any time during a person's life but specifically after surgery, periods of severe emotional stress, pregnancy, childbirth, or viral infections. It is a multi-system, multi-symptom disease in which several of the bodies systems are affected and there are a myriad of symptoms.  For more information about the symptoms associated with the disease, follow the link at the end of this post. 

Canker sores are small ulcers that appear white or grayish with a red border.  They are not contagious but can return often and several may appear at once. For more information on these sores, see the Word of Mouth post from July 16th.

Currently, the exact cause of these sores is unknown but is thought to be viral or bacterial. Canker sores may be linked to Celiac due to the auto-immune nature of the disease. 


Source: http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/Information/Articles/ADA/2012/article/ADA-08-Oral-health-connection-to-Celiac-disease.cvsp


R. Eric Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
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