If you have experienced cavities,
tooth sensitivity or even tooth decay
you need to read this article NOW!
Since Bari Life was born in a busy bariatric surgery practice, we have great access to the entire process that patients go through. This includes complications that are associated with bariatric surgery.
These include but are not limited to dumping syndrome, bowel obstructions and general bowel function changes. There is, however, a hidden complication that you won’t find much information on or even research for that matter: Tooth decay. Tooth decay is basically damage that occurs when germs (bacteria) in your mouth make acids that eat away at a tooth.
Because so little is known about oral health concerns after bariatric surgery, we decided to do some investigating on our own. We have discussed this issue with other popular bariatric programs and found that many patients are experiencing this issue. We realized through visits to support groups that patients are indeed experiencing oral health issues after surgery.
The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, Dr. Boyce’s practice, has had very few patients who have experienced tooth decay compared to other practices. This piqued our interest so we decided to research this problem for patients after surgery.
What we DO know:
First lets discuss what the current literature on this topic has discovered. As with vitamin supplementation research on bariatric patients, the studies on oral health after bariatric surgery are quite limited. Dr. Boyce’s research on 309 gastric bypass patients is the largest study on the topic of vitamin deficiencies and the efficacy of recommended supplementation after bariatric surgery.
In reviewing the current literature concerning dental manifestations after weight loss surgery we found that all of the literature noted increased dental erosion, increased dental caries (is a breakdown of teeth due to activities of bacteria) and increased dental hypersensitivity after weight loss surgery.
Dental erosion is defined as a chemical dissolution of dental tissues by a chemical process (acid or chelating agents) without bacterial involvement. The acid in the food and drink and gastric acids from vomiting and reflux can lead to the softening of the tooth enamel. As the dental hard tissues soften the area is more susceptible to break down from abrasion. The acidic attack is irreversible.
Most articles blame the increase of exposure to gastric juices because of vomiting and reflux as a reason for the increased erosion after bariatric surgery.
You were probably told by your dietitian to eat several small meals throughout the day to fend off hunger – and it does! However, this may be attributing to increasing a bariatric patient’s risk to developing these dental caries by allowing more bacterial growth compared to eating the usual three meals a day.
Dental Hypersensitivity is reported by a large number of patients after weight loss surgery. One study published in Obesity Surgery found that the most common variable associated with visits to the dentist after surgery was dental hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity represents a condition of presumable complex pathology. Two processes are essential for it’s development:
- 1. Dentin must be exposed through genetic disturbance, enamel defect, loss of enamel (erosion, abrasion, attrition, abfraction), gingival recession with rapid loss of cementum and
2. The dentin tubules must be open to both the oral cavity and the pulp. One interesting study followed 54 patients and found that 25 % of the patients had more tooth decay, erosion and hypersensitivity than before bariatric surgery.
Vitamin deficiencies can also play a part in tooth decay and erosion. Common deficiencies after bariatric surgery include protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, vitamin A, vitamin K, zinc, magnesium and vitamin C. These deficiencies can negatively impact the immune system and bone turnover rate as well as increase the risk of periodontal disease. Protein deficiency occurs in 13%-18% of patients after surgery.
The incidence of vitamin D deficiency may be as high as 63% in patients 1-4 years post bariatric surgery. According to Dr. Boyce 75-80% of his patients have vitamin D deficiencies PRIOR to surgery. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is associated with the risk of osteoporosis and anemia. Vitamin C is frequently deficient among this patient population and can lead to gingivitis and increased gingival inflammation.
So most of the research published about the link between increased tooth decay and bariatric surgery points to vomiting, gastric reflux, reduced saliva, more acidic saliva, vitamin deficiencies and frequent meals.
How do we explain the increased tooth decay of those patients who insist they take their vitamins and have no deficiencies and also do not report excessive vomiting and reflux? There are many patients who fall into this category.
Check out the many patient comments found on Bariatric Surgery Source’s website: Dental Problems After Gastric Bypass Surgery
Our question is, “What kind/form of vitamins are these patients taking?” Most bariatric patients have been instructed to take chewable vitamins after surgery because many of the popular bariatric brands promote chewable vitamins. At the New Life Center for Bariatric surgery, patients are instructed to use Bari Life’s dissolvable powder multivitamins after surgery and many switch to the Bari Life tablet after 4-6 weeks. As you will recall, The New Life Center for Bariatric surgery reports very few cases of tooth decay in patients after surgery. Could chewable vitamins be the culprit or compounding the problem?
Dentists will tell you to avoid gummy vitamins and suggest that chewable vitamins can cause problems for your teeth. One little known disadvantage of chewable supplements is that they may damage tooth enamel. There is some evidence that chewable vitamin C tablets can stain teeth.
The dosage for most bariatric chewable vitamins can be as many as 8-10 large chewable tablets per day. Patients will literally chew their vitamins all day long. Chewable vitamins get stuck in between the teeth and will remain there for long periods of time. According to one article, foods that contain the four fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, K as well as vitamin C is good for your teeth if you do not chew the supplements directly.
Curiouser and Curiouser….
The information provided by the medical community concerning the correlation of tooth decay and bariatric surgery does not mention chewable vitamins, only vitamin deficiencies as a possible cause. One article states that the medical literature has inadequately reported the potential deleterious effects of such surgery on dental health.
The dental professional community makes it very clear that vitamin and mineral supplementation in the form of gummies, soft chews or tablet chewable vitamins can cause problems that can lead to tooth decay and very poor dental health.
It makes sense that when all of these conditions come together, vomiting, reflux, acidic saliva along with food and vitamins sitting for hours in-between teeth, there becomes increased risk for tooth decay. There is no research available discussing the effects of chewable vitamins and tooth decay after weight loss surgery. If you are experiencing excessive tooth decay and have had bariatric surgery you should seek professional medical and dental consultations.
It is extremely important to have your lab work completed at least annually to look for vitamin and mineral deficiencies and have your dentist advise you on the special care for your teeth. You may need to eat less sticky, less acidic foods and avoid chewable vitamins.
You may need to brush and floss more frequently and have regular fluoride treatments to counteract the acidic saliva. It’s actually been proven in studies that elderly people with better oral health are more resistant to all-cause mortality (death from all causes). What’s more – studies prove that people with chronic periodontal disease and exposure to oral bacteria are at greater risk of developing heart disease!
The Bottom Line:
Clearly the dental health of patients after bariatric surgery is something that needs more research in order to determine and treat the cause of increased tooth decay after surgery.
Take care of your teeth!
What are your thoughts on tooth
problems after surgery? Let us know in
the comments below!
Obesity surgery is surely the best method to get back the normal weight that helps in living a healthier life. Really beneficial post creating awareness about this problem.. Loved reading it. Complications are linked to every surgery. It depend on person how to deal with it.
Had the operation a couple of years ago, now at 73 yrs old, having all kinds of dental probs teeth breaking off and having to have five pulled
I have found this article very interesting. I had gastric sleeve surgery on 14 June. Since then I have been to my regular dentist 3 times, he has referred me to periodontist, and I have been to my regular doctor. My blood work shows no deficiencies. I am. In the category of having a vitamin deficiency prior to surgery. Despite various theories and treatments, nothing is showing improvement. After this shot while, my teeth and gums look like that of a meth addict for years. I am very interested in any successful treatments.
I am a roux en y patient and I always have taken care of my teeth. My parents friends would ask if my teeth were fake because of their beauty. My surgery was 8 years ago and I have now lost everyone of them. In 2010 I had to have emergency surgery for a bowel blockage and was put on a feeding tube. I spent I month in the hospital and they thought I was going to have to live on a feeding tube. I wanted Sprite so bad and drank it behind the Dr and nurses back and it got my stomach to start moving again
Had gastric sleeve 2012 my teeth having gotten really bad. Cavities, very dry mouth, bleeding ,hurting etc…….
I was brought to this website due to the fact that my teeth are crumbling like fine china a year out of surgery. Make no mistake, my bypass was the best decision I did for my overall health and I have absolutely no regrets, but I am having to replace lost teeth at an alarming rate. I’ve always taken good care of my teeth so I suspect this surgery has had some negative effect.
I have not seen a lot of difference in my teeth, but my nails were terrible until I got the once a year drip for my bones. They still break some, but for the most part they have gotten harder and also have almost stopped pealing. I am over 8 yrs post-op. They are also very dry and so is my mouth. I don’t go anywhere without my drinks!
My teeth are breaking off at the gum line it’s been about 4 years since my first barbaric surgery the like 2 years since my 2nd one was having complications with a ulcer that caused my 2nd surgery , I did not have perfect teeth I did have a couple fillings in the back teeth but I can show you pictures of my teeth and they was pretty nice for my age , now I only have 4 teeth on the top 2 in the back , one on each side and my two front teeth and one of those is ready to go at any time, I went to a dentist they insisted I go to oral surgery and have all the top ones pulled and then treat the bottom ones , but now the bottom line to the tune of $5,000 dollars of which I could not afford , so now I don’t think I have to worry about dieing from being fat but now from sepsis from bad teeth, I pray that some day that the doctors will advise their patients that this can happen and also to,push the research as to find out the exact reason why this happens and how to,prevent it Thanks for listening
Mrs Robert Blatz
I am a 51 year old white male who had RNY Bypass in 2005. Since my surgery I have experienced alcoholism and have since stopped drinking for 6years. I have spent thousands of dollars on dental work. Many crowns and cavities fixed. I am now going through another round of dental work. I have low B12 and anemia. I talk liquid vitamins to aid in absorption. I have lost 165 pounds after surgery but have recently gained around 30 due to not smoking and getting enough exercise. While I was aware of the issue with alcohol I had not idea about the dental issues but since experiencing the last two bouts of mouth sores and teeth issue due to vitamin deficiency, I will be seeking out more specialized health care than my family doc. Hope this is helpful.
Steve
I haven 8 years with the surgery I have ostopenia. But recently y had two broken tooth. My surgeon didn’t say it had nothing to do with vomiting or anything else. It worries me this could be a very important degeneration of the tooth and surgeons should worn us about what to do! Because obviously all of us vomit a lot. Thank you.
I am going on my tenth year as a gastric bypass…??? Im not going to say survivor because I’m 34 and I weigh almost 65 lbs!!! Yes ladies and gentlemen for your information I’m not embellishing the truth one bit! My teeth have completely rotted out my hair has feel out u throw up every time i eat a single bite but yes I lost weight and I’m not fat anymore!! Yay!! Not. Look I have 2 kids who really need me I’m denied treatment because I can’t afford that high fancy insurance others have I’m begging if there is a dr willing to take me as a patient please feel free to use me v as your guinny pig I’m desperate email me or call 864-251-0593 please help me