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[latico]

I'm a long-time reader of these boards and intermittent poster.  This is the first thread I have ever started, and I'm so hoping that some of you have stories to share with me.  I have just learned that I need 14 crowns on my teeth, at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars.  Since 2008, I have lost almost all of the enamel on a huge proportion of my teeth, so much so that the doctor wondered if I had bulimia (I don't--I'm 43 and have no desire to throw up, ever).  He now thinks that I have GERD, severe acid reflux.  I am devastated--my teeth look awful, I don't have the money to pay the dentist, and they hurt. I also have MS and chronic pain. 

I would be SO interested to hear anyone else's stories about damaged teeth enamel and its causes!  I would be enormously grateful just to commiserate with someone who has the same problem and can share it with me.  These 'health on the job' threads are wonderfully supportive and I usually feel better just reading them, because it does me good to see all of you support each other.  I've gotten great advice from forumites, too. Thanks in advance for anything you can tell me about acid reflux, tooth enamel and anything else you think is relevant!

[hegemony]

Latico, I don't have any experience with this (other than paying lots of money for dental procedures), but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you're facing this, and I hope you can pinpoint the cause soon.  You might want to look for a second opinion -- the things my dentists have told me varied surprisingly -- but assuming your dentist is right, that &%$^s.

[chaosbydesign]

I do. It's not caused by any underlying medical condition, just that my teeth are kind of too close together and my bottom teeth rub against the back of my top teeth all the time, wearing away the enamel. It doesn't cause any significant problems right now as not enough enamel has gone to make my teeth hurt me, however it is an issue which I will have to deal with at some point in the future. I really need to get them realigned with braces so that the teeth no longer touch each other, but that is not something I am particularly inclined to do until I *really* have to.

[latico]

Thanks so much for the sympathy and shared experiences, Hegemony and Chaos (that's a great conjunction of screen names!).  I can well understand not wanting to endure braces.  All of this happened in 3 years--my tooth photos from three years ago are normal.  Yet another advertisement for regular dental checkups!

[tuxedo_cat]

Latico, I don't have any experience with this (other than paying lots of money for dental procedures), but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you're facing this, and I hope you can pinpoint the cause soon.  You might want to look for a second opinion -- the things my dentists have told me varied surprisingly -- but assuming your dentist is right, that &%$^s.

Yes, definitely see if you can get a second opinion.  A few years ago I was working for a large, very well-respected university and received a promotional postcard from a local "dentist" that seemed to be approved by the university.  It was the shadiest operation I have ever visited.  I showed up for a teeth-cleaning, was examined by a kid about 24 years old (who was filling in that day for the "real" dentist), then handed a menu of urgent dental procedures totalling nearly $1000 that I would have to have done (and paid for out of pocket), and then told that I would have to come back for a second visit to have my teeth cleaned!   It was a complete scam.

I went to a clinic at a dental school the next year and was told my teeth and gums were in perfectly fine health.  If you can find a dental school nearby to have this assessment checked, they will at least be certain to give you an accurate sense of what you need.  For many dental school clinics you probably don't have to prove you are a local resident to be examined, and their fees are very low since their students are doing their training this way and are under the supervision of a certified dentist.  My clinic charged me only $9 for a cleaning and full set of xrays.  They may also have advice about how to manage the cost of whatever repair work you need to have done.

Good luck!

[groundhog]

Untreated/undiagnosed celiac disease causes dental enamel issues, particularly long-term undiagnosed. Celiac prevents the absoption of vitamins and minerals (e.g. Vitamin D, calcium, magnesium) which predispose one to teeth and bone issues such as osteoporosis.  My son has dental enamel problems as I do, along with osteopenia.  

Celiac and GERD are also co-diagnosed often.  

Celiac is an autoimmune disorder (as is MS) and is the only autoimmune disorder where the cause of the autoimmune attack is known: Celiac is caused by ingestion of wheat, rye and barley gluten in those affected individuals.  

It is also known that persons with one autoimmune disease are more susceptible to another autoimmune disease, so a screening for celiac would be warranted in your case.  

Going gluten-free (with or without a diagnosis of celiac) may help some MS and pain symptoms resolve in some (but not all) MS patients. So even without a positive blood test for celiac, you could try to go gluten-free to see if it helps your MS and dental issues.  

Best of luck to you.  

[latico]

I agree that a second opinion is a good idea with dentists.  The guy I see is on the faculty of a major research university, and he himself said "get a second opinion--I won't be offended at all--but I think you will come back here."  The damage is very evident.  I shudder when I look at the photographs he took of the inside of my teeth. 

How interesting about gluten and tooth enamel!  I am actually on a low-fat, high in whole grains diet for MS called the Swank diet, recommended by my doctor.  Wouldn't it be an awful irony if that diet had caused this dental disaster?

Thanks to all for the info--I'm interested in anything and everything you guys have to tell me.  Honestly, it just helps to (virtually) talk about it.  I'm going to buy a lottery ticket later today, on the grounds that if you don't play, you can't win.  The universe owes me some good luck! (I realize all of the flaws in this magical thinking, but somehow it makes me feel slightly less powerless to do it).

[groundhog]

How interesting about gluten and tooth enamel!  I am actually on a low-fat, high in whole grains diet for MS called the Swank diet, recommended by my doctor.  Wouldn't it be an awful irony if that diet had caused this dental disaster?

Great! If you're eating a lot of wheat and whole wheat products, your blood test will be more reliable.  You have very little to lose by having a blood test.   

Here's a recent study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21385364 
Prevalence of celiac disease in multiple sclerosis.
Rodrigo L, Hernández-Lahoz C, Fuentes D, Alvarez N, López-Vázquez A, González S.
SourceHospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33006 Oviedo, Spain. lrodrigosaez@gmail.com

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) is a common systemic disease related to a permanent intolerance to gluten and is often associated with different autoimmune and neurological diseases. Its mean prevalence in the general population is 1-2% worldwide. Our aim was to study the prevalence of celiac disease in a prospective series of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and their first-degree relatives.

METHODS: We analyzed the prevalence of serological, histological and genetic CD markers in a series of 72 MS patients and in their 126 first-degree relatives, compared to 123 healthy controls.

RESULTS: Tissue IgA-anti-transglutaminase-2 antibodies were positive in 7 MS patients (10%), compared to 3 healthy controls (2.4%) (p < 0.05). OR: 5.33 (CI-95%: 1.074-26.425). No differences were found in HLA-DQ2 markers between MS patients (29%) and controls (26%) (NS).We detected mild or moderate villous atrophy (Marsh III type) in duodenal biopsies, in 8 MS patients (11.1%). We also found a high proportion of CD among first-degree relatives: 23/126 (32%). Several associated diseases were detected, mainly dermatitis 41 (57%) and iron deficiency anemia in 28 (39%) MS patients. We also found in them, an increased frequency of circulating auto-antibodies such as anti-TPO in 19 (26%), ANA in 11 (15%) and AMA in 2 (3%).

CONCLUSIONS: We have found an increased prevalence of CD in 8 of the 72 MS patients (11.1%) and also in their first-degree relatives (23/126 [32%]). Therefore, increased efforts aimed at the early detection and dietary treatment of CD, among antibody-positive MS patients, are advisable.

[shrimp]

I had some loss of enamel on my front teeth but the Dentist just put some bonding substance over it and it hid the effect.  The only downside is that I can't bleach my teeth now because then the line shows up.  I am not sure of the cause of the enamel loss but think it was from sucking on lemon drops which I was addicted to at the time.  I've stopped eating them and haven't had any further problems.
No idea if any of this applies to your situation but figured I'd share.

[alleyoxenfree]

I agree that a second opinion is a good idea with dentists.  The guy I see is on the faculty of a major research university, and he himself said "get a second opinion--I won't be offended at all--but I think you will come back here."  The damage is very evident.  I shudder when I look at the photographs he took of the inside of my teeth. 

How interesting about gluten and tooth enamel!  I am actually on a low-fat, high in whole grains diet for MS called the Swank diet, recommended by my doctor.  Wouldn't it be an awful irony if that diet had caused this dental disaster?

You can stay on a whole grains diet like Swank but just change the grains.  It's really quite easy to avoid gluten.  Chime to those you recommend trying it.