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4274823 tn?1388529098

Hypothyroidism and dental health

Has anyone with hypothyroidism got weak teeth? I was eating a salad for lunch and I bit something hard. It was a piece of my eye tooth that broke off just below the gum.

Every night I wear a custom night guard for clenching and grinding.
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1756321 tn?1547095325
My teeth are weak as well.  I was eating a piece of bacon and bit on something hard. I thought it was that small round bone you can sometimes see in bacon rashes but found it was my back molar that had cracked off to the gumline!  My front tooth cracked half off biting into a hard lolly and another back tooth cracked off to the gumline as well.

I've spent thousands on my teeth over the years - 3 root canals, rebuilding my teeth and numerous fillings. The pain of a toothache is terrible but can't beat the agony of an abscess (pressure pushed a hole through my gum!) Some of my teeth have receding gums and I also have TMJ but this condition has improved.


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Excerpt from AltMD article -  The Thyroid and Dental Health Connection...

"The greater risk for infection (or lessened ability to fight it), impaired ability to heal tissues, and poor circulation, and other factors contribute to decreased dental health in hypothyroid adults1. This has been reported as far back as 1888. In the report, tooth decay, teeth suddenly breaking off, swollen, spongy, bleeding and even receding gums have been tied to thyroid issues in the majority of patients suffering from hypothyroidism2.

Further, because hypothyroidism can contribute to jaw muscle spasms, muscle tension and pain, it henceforth can also play a role in developing TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction.  A team of doctors comprised of a dentist (Dr Harold Gelb), endocrinologist (Dr Sonkin) and muscle pain specialist (Dr Kraus) has found that the issue of teeth clenching and TMJ can be resolved upon treating the underfunctioning thyroid."
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4274823 tn?1388529098
Thank you very much for your informative post. I'm sorry to learn of your expensive teeth trouble.  I have to pay for my dental care also.

I have gum recession, too. Several years ago when I was on vacation in the US I had a big bottom tooth break in half when I was eating. I was able to wait until I returned home because I used oil of oregano. Ever tried it?
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
I've had bad teeth all my life, including swollen and receding gums, bleeding when I brush, etc.  My top teeth have all been pulled due to pyorrhea.  On the bottom, I've had one root canal and have worn a partial since I was 23 yrs old. I can't specifically attribute this to thyroid, because I was only diagnosed hypo 6 yrs ago.
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1756321 tn?1547095325
What does oil of oregano do? I never had any teeth issues when I was younger, other than the fluorosis.  I brush and floss daily so I didn't know why my teeth were deteriorating.  I miss my good teeth. :(

There is free dental in Australia but having endured an hour of torture and a badly done job on top of that with the free dentist, I was more than willing to pay for a private dentist!

Barb - all the top teeth! O_O
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
Thank you for your reply. I use a couple or at the most a few drops of oil of oregano in water to rinse my mouth after I brush and floss when I get up and before I go to bed. I found that it kept that broken tooth from getting infected years ago. It's potent so one doesn't need much and it is expensive.

Do you use a soft brush? What motion do you use when you brush?

Earlier this afternoon I went to the dentist.I am thankful that the mystery piece I bit yesterday was neither part of a tooth or filling..Better safe than sorry though!
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
Thanks for your post. I'm sorry to learn about the loss of you top teeth!
Please see my reply to Red_Star.
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
Good news about your teeth.  I also read about coconut oil for tooth decay as well.  I use an electric toothbrush - soft bristles.
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
Thanks for your reply and the tip.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just to add a contrary voice to the mix, I have great teeth despite previously living with undiagnosed hypothyroidism for 10+ years. Never had a cavity in my life. Dental health seems to be genetic more than anything. I have relatives who have pretty bad teeth, and it seems to be mostly on one side of the family. There are family members on both sides of my family who have struggled with hypo- and hyperthyroidism. I don't see a connection between dental health and hypothyroidism in particular.
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
My sister's teeth are still excellent, as mine used to be, but she doesn't have any thyroid symptoms.  I was also hyperthyroid for a year and this caused many health problems including more dental problems; enamel cracked off on quite a few teeth and decay on the surface of many teeth near the gumline.

Thyroid Sexy's facebook page has numerous comments about hypothyroidism causing poor dental health.  I added a few...

"I was wondering about that because ever since I have become hypo my teeth have went bad some kinda seriously and I brush and do everything and they are still bad !!!!"

"You bet it does. I was diagnosed with hashi's when I was 27. I had never had a cavity a day in my life. Intake excellent care of my teeth. I got my first cavity at age 28 a year after being diagnosed. Knocked my dentist over with a feather who's known me my whole life. When he saw that I was diagnosed with thyroid disorder he goes ah!! That explains it. He totally got it!! Too bad he's retired now."

"I was diagnosed with hypothyroid 9 years ago (after the birth of my son) and have had 2 root canals within 3 years. Growing up, I always had perfect teeth. Now, these root canals are becoming all to familiar. Glad to know it's not just me."
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
Thanks for your post.

Symptoms and additional issues vary from person to person.
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649848 tn?1534633700
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1756321 tn?1547095325
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